In the former Benedictine abbey, guests encounter a multi-layered monastic history and world-class art. Four focal points form the core of an impressive collection. The surrounding area on the border between Münsterland, Teutoburg Forest and Sauerland also offers many places to stop for refreshments and activities, ranging from a cycle tour to a visit to the castle and a relaxing evening at the spa.
The Liesborn Abbey Museum is one of the most important museums for art and cultural history in North Rhine-Westphalia: it exhibits art from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, which can be seen in stone and wooden sculptures, liturgical vestments and goldsmith's work. Landscape, architectural and historical paintings in the baroque abbey building bear witness to the artistry of Dutch and Flemish master painters who wrote stylistic history with their works in the 17th century. Jan van Goyen, Pieter van Lint, Josse de Momper the Younger and Jacob de Wit are among them.
Art from the 19th century is another focal point of the collection at the museum, which is located in Liesborn next to pretty avenues, green wooded areas and tranquil fields: Paintings from the region reflect the multifaceted artistic developments that were taking shape in the Prussian province of Westphalia at this time. Europe's largest collection of crucifixes, which includes modern and contemporary positions alongside art-historical treasures, is also outstanding in the museum's holdings. Works by Joseph Beuys, Francis Bacon, Marc Chagall, Salvador Dali and Jonathan Meese take up religious traditions, but juxtapose them with new social and socio-critical perspectives. Visitors can trace the transformation from the Romanesque images of Christ to the Gothic depictions of suffering to the modern, diverse works.
Finally, if you want to immerse yourself in the eventful history of the rural monastery, the portrait painting of Charlemagne is the first link to the past of today's cultural and meeting centre. According to legend, the king of the Frankish Empire was the founder of Liesborn Abbey, whose roots go back some 1200 years. Visitors will recognise from the architectural diversity that the building in the southern part of Wadersloh had different functions at different times.
Presumably founded around 815 as a ladies' convent between woodland and meadows, the complex became the seat of the monks of the Benedictine order in 1131. After several centuries of fires, destruction and rebuilding, the Baroque heyday began after the Thirty Years' War in the 17th and 18th centuries with Abbot Gregor Waltmann, who was responsible for the renovation of the monastery in the Baroque style. Architectural features such as the three-winged façade or the representative portal with open staircase perfect the magnificent image, which was further emphasised by the addition of the north wing between 1739 and 1755.
Today, in addition to the main building, the 15th century abbey church of St Cosmas & Damian zu Liesborn, with its Romanesque tower dating from around 1100, nestles up against the former convent building, and the extension, which was built directly to the north behind the abbey house for the Regionale 2004, are well worth a visit. The futuristic-looking cuboid, which is painted entirely in pastel green, houses temporary exhibitions on a wide variety of topics.
Cultural highlights in the surrounding area
The Liesborn Abbey Museum is located on the WasserWegeWinkel cycle route and the 100 Castles Route. Travellers who don't have their own bike with them can hire e-bikes from Hotel Karger in Wadersloh for a tour to explore the surrounding area.
If you get hungry in Wadersloh, you can enjoy a delicious meal at the "Zum Lieschen" restaurant or the "Fuchshöhle" restaurant. The former is just a few minutes' walk from the museum and boasts a cosy atmosphere. The latter is run by the third generation of the family and focuses on seasonal specialities and homemade cakes.
Guests visiting Liesborn Abbey on a day or weekend trip should definitely make a detour to Rheda-Wiedenbrück after their visit. There you will find the Radio and Telephone Museum and the picturesque Rheda Castle. The latter is best known for its double chapel from the Staufer era and the valuable museum library, which can also be visited on a public guided tour between March and October.
Further south-east of Wadersloh, Lippstadt is around 20 minutes away by car. Here, a hike along the Lippe floodplain is recommended to combine a cultural and nature experience. The chocolate museum "Peters Schokowelt" adds a gourmet experience on top. Here, visitors can learn about the history of chocolate, taste chocolate, marvel at chocolate sculptures, learn about the craft of a confectioner and practise making their own chocolates.
In the winter months, the Walibo-Therme in Lippstadt promises relaxation with its bathing, sauna and wellness area. In the summer months, canoe tours start on the River Lippe, which can be booked and lead to the neighbouring village of Benninghausen, for example.
Accommodation tip: Land Pension Haus Ottensmann or holiday flat on the historic Widekind-Buschulte farm in Wadersloh
