Franziskanerkloster Münster

The first settlement of the Friars Minor, a branch of the Franciscan Order, took place in Münster in 1247. From 1284, a monastery and a Gothic church in the mendicant style were built. This convent was part of the Custody of Westphalia within the Cologne Franciscan Province. Following the order's split in 1517, the Münster convent joined the Minorites. The monastery survived the Reformation and the Anabaptist period (1533–1535) but had to be refurnished. From 1619, it served as the novitiate for the Westphalian Minorites until it was dissolved in 1811 during secularization. The Minorites did not return to Münster; the monastery church later became the Protestant Apostelkirche. The Franciscan Observants established their own settlement in Münster in 1614, initially in vacant buildings. Despite resistance from the Minorites, they received permission from the Archbishop of Cologne. From 1627, the convent belonged to the Saxon Franciscan Province. Between 1629 and 1634, new monastery buildings and a church were constructed on Bergstraße. This monastery became the main monastery of Saxonia, the seat of the Provincial Minister, and the main study monastery for theology. The Observants enjoyed great popularity and, in the late 18th century, provided lecturers at the University of Münster. This monastery was also secularized in 1811. After war damage, the former Observant church has served as the Protestant University Church since 1961. Following initial relaxations of monastic laws, the Franciscan Observants returned to Münster in 1853. In 1860, they began constructing a “residence” at Hörster Tor, a smaller monastery with a focus on pastoral care. During the Kulturkampf, this monastery was closed from 1875 to 1887.

The Franciscan Monastery is located in the city of Münster, which is situated in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

The former monastery churches of the Minorites and Observants are now used as Protestant churches, with the Observant church also serving as a concert venue. The Minorites did not return to Münster after secularization. The Franciscan Observants founded a new monastery in the 19th century, whose use after its closure during the Kulturkampf is not fully apparent from the facts.

• Kettelersche Kurie (Residence, approx. 261 m away)
• Bischöfliches Palais (Residence, approx. 281 m away)
• St.-Paulus-Dom (Sacred building, approx. 323 m away)
• Landsbergsche Kurie (Residence, approx. 457 m away)