Hohenbusch Manor

Haus Hohenbusch (Latin: in alto busco, Hohenbusch, or Conventus Altinenmoris, Hohenbusch Monastery) is a former monastery of the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross (Ordo sanctae crucis - O.S.C) and is located southwest of the city of Erkelenz (Heinsberg district) on the road between Matzerath and Hetzerath. The A46 motorway runs north of the complex. A high wall encloses Haus Hohenbusch with its buildings, former gardens, meadows, and orchards. The former monastery is now owned by the city of Erkelenz. A support association looks after the complex, especially the manor house.

Neighboring monasteries of the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross were located in Aachen, Brüggen, Dülken, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Maaseik (NL), Maastricht (NL), Roermond (NL), Schwarzenbroich Monastery near Gürzenich (Düren), Venlo (NL), Wegberg, and Wickrath.

In 1147, the ministerial Rudolphus and his wife Emertrudis donated the allod Hoenbusc to the Marienstift Aachen. In 1226, Emperor Frederick II confirmed the foundation's possession of Hoimbuchs. In 1302, the Order of the Holy Cross founded a monastery in Hohenbusch. The clerics of the order were later called Canons Regular of the Holy Cross. In 1305, the dean and chapter of the Aachen foundation transferred Hohenbusch to the order against payment of an annual rent of 4 Aachen guilders. In 1560, eight priests and eight lay brothers lived in the monastery.

In 1634, the Bishop of Roermond consecrated a new church, which was built parallel to the manor house. In 1677, a novitiate was established. In 1707, the order erected the so-called central building in the courtyard, and in 1716, the west wing was built. In 1720, the monastery completed the south wing.

In 1795, the monastery's ledger listed the following monastic possessions: 12 Morgen near Lövenich, 252 Morgen near Matzerath, 580 Morgen near Doveren, the Hetzerather Hof with 60 Morgen, 207 Morgen near Baal, 140 Morgen of forest near Hetzerath, a mill in Doveren, the tithe from Matzerath (480 Morgen) and from Beeck (220 Morgen). In 1798, 13 religious lived in the monastery.

On August 8, 1802, the monastery was dissolved due to the secularization by the French. At that time, nine religious were still there, among them the last prior, Conrad Ohoven. The church and two wings of the monastery buildings were demolished.

Between 1802 and 1983, the former monastery was used as an agricultural estate. This is also when the name "Haus Hohenbusch" emerged. In 1983, the city of Erkelenz bought Haus Hohenbusch and the associated farmland, approximately 70 hectares. In 1990, the North Rhine-Westphalia State Cultural Days were held. At the same time, the former monastery was presented to the general public for the first time.

Library

The monastery possessed a large library with manuscripts and early prints from the 14th and 15th centuries. The manuscripts were produced in the monastery's scriptoria on parchment. The names of some scribes are known.

Most of the collection was lost in the turmoil after the secularization. However, some books have been preserved and are located in the Archbishopric Diocesan and Cathedral Library in Cologne.

Other Monastery Inventory

After the dissolution, the inventory was sold, given away, and "squandered" (the current location of some items is known): the organ, the pulpit, and the choir stalls are now in the Reformed Church of Linnich, the confessional is in the church of Gerderath, the statue of Saint Odilia in Wockerath, and the Madonna in Golkrath.