Knechtsteden Abbey (Delhoven)

The monastery's foundation dates back to 1130, when Hugo von Sponheim, Dean of Cologne Cathedral, endowed the Knechtsteden manor to the Premonstratensian Order, inspired by Archbishop Friedrich I. Construction of the abbey began a few years later. The basilica was built between 1138 and 1181 in Romanesque style. The monastery repeatedly suffered destruction due to armed conflicts, such as the Battle of Worringen in 1288 and the Neuss Feud in 1474. The eastern apse, in particular, was so severely damaged that it had to be rebuilt in Gothic style in 1477. In the early 18th century, many buildings were reconstructed in Baroque style, including the gatehouse in 1723.