The famous King Carlemagne (Charles the great) wanted to Christianise the Saxons. His son decided in 812 to found an abbey near the Weser. In 822 monks from France built a monastery called Nova Corbeia after their original abbey Corbie in Picardy. Thus Corvey abbey was founded.
It was gifted the remains of Saint Vitus and attracted many pilgrims and by that got rich. The first stone church was erected in 844. The abbey became famous for its school.
In the 12th century a town surrounded the abbey but the citizens of nearby Höxter got so jealous as Corvey had a Weserbridge they attacked and raised the town to the ground.
It ceased to be an abbey in 1792 and was turned into a castle in 1834.
Although most of the church is now Baroque there is still some left of the one that goes back a 1000 years. The Abbey itself is serene and beautiful. The castle is famous for its multi room library. In the garden priest who resisted against the Nazis are buried.
The whole complex oozes "In the name of the Rose". The surrounding Weserbergland is beautiful with low hills with meadows and forests and a meandering river. There are many castle ruins or country estates to visit and picturesque villages and small towns.
