On the banks of the Weser on the outskirts of Höxter lie the Carolingian westwork and the Civitas Corvey. In the town centre, half-timbered buildings from the Weser Renaissance shape the townscape. This offers different options for planning a trip: Corvey, with its Carolingian heritage, museums and town history, or routes along the Weser that can be combined with cultural experiences.
World Heritage, Library and Town History
The Carolingian westwork is the only surviving building from the Carolingian era. Archaeological remains of the original imperial abbey complex have been preserved, and only some have been excavated. The contrast between the surviving building and the partially excavated remains shows two different ways in which Corvey’s history has been handed down.
The Princely Library in Corvey houses around 75,000 volumes in 15 rooms. Its bookcases date from the late Classicist and Biedermeier periods. The newly designed permanent exhibition “The Millennium of the Monks” opened in Corvey for the 2024 season. Media stations and precious exhibits bring the Golden Age of the monks to life. Check the current exhibition details before your visit.
Music is also part of Corvey’s cultural programme: since 1954, every year in May and June, the Corvey Music Weeks have brought renowned ensembles and soloists from Germany and abroad to the Imperial Hall and the Corvey Abbey Church. If you would like to plan your trip around the event, check the dates and programme for that year.
In Höxter’s town centre, the Forum Jacob Pins features a permanent exhibition about the artist. It includes a film about his life, paintings, woodcuts and his tools. The Museum im Hütteschen Haus is housed in a 1565 architectural monument from the Weser Renaissance and has a professional collection of more than 15,000 objects from the past 140 years. The many magnificent half-timbered buildings from the Weser Renaissance continue to shape the townscape. The historic town trail in Höxter is 4.51 km long; route details may change.
Garden Park, Promenade and Routes Along the Weser
The Huxarium Garden Park connects the historic half-timbered town with the World Heritage Site in Corvey. It offers three large playgrounds and a marble run, making the park a family-friendly destination too. In the Archaeological Park, augmented reality applications on smartphones or loanable tablets bring the Market Church, the stone Weser bridge and medieval scenes into view. Check before your visit whether the required devices are available. During live excavations, visitors can work with trowels and uncover hidden history; dates and opportunities to take part may vary.
At the foot of the Carolingian westwork lies the Remter Garden, with roses, perennials, and vegetable and medicinal plants. The Weser promenade between the old town and the Corvey World Heritage Site includes a widened main path, a narrow riverside path along the historic towpath, and a high-level path offering a broader perspective. Each type of path gives the route between the town and Corvey its own character.
Plan a Cultural Stay or Cycling Days
Corvey is directly on the Weser Cycle Route and the R1 European Cycle Route between Höxter and Holzminden. The Weser Cycle Route to Höxter is passable and signposted throughout on both sides. When planning your route, two different details are relevant: Corvey’s location on both cycle routes and the stated passability of the Weser Cycle Route to Höxter.
If you are looking for hotels in Höxter, use your travel plans as a guide: would you like to focus on historic sites, the Weser promenade or cycling? Check accommodation availability for your travel dates.
Discover more destinations: Warburg, Marienmünster, Merlsheim, Bad Driburg, Borgentreich, Brakel, Nieheim, Gehrden
Return to the regional travel overview: Höxter.
