Lorsch Monastery

Lorsch Monastery

Picture: A.Murmann CC BY-SA 4.0

In 764 the monastery Lorsch was founded by the Franconian count Rupert and was also mentioned in documents. In 772 it was transferred to King Karl (Charlemagne), who raised the monastery to an imperial monastery and equipped it with many privileges.

The gatehouse or king’s hall dates back to the 9th century and shows several stylistic elements of the time through its construction. Among them are early medieval architecture, Roman architecture and internal wall paintings from the Carolingian period. There are few buildings from that time which are still as well preserved as in Lorsch. This is why this place is so special. The monastery belongs the the UNESCO world heritage since 1991.

An outstanding document from the Middle Ages is the monastic pharmacopoeia from the 8th century. It is the oldest medical book in Germany. It is fitting that for centuries the monastery was a centre for economic, cultural and political affairs in Europe. The Lorsch Library was an important part in Charlemagne's new educational policy. Under Charlemagne, attempts were made to collect and copy as many ancient writings as possible in order to save them from destruction.

The pharmacopoeia is of historical and scientific importance and has a considerable influence on modern medicine. It has been part of the World Heritage List since 2013.