Falkenhagen Abbey

Falkenhagen Abbey is a former Cistercian nunnery at the foot of the Köterberg in Lügde in the former Land Lippe.

Count Volkwin IV of Schwalenberg was involved in the murder of Cologne Archbishop Engelbert I in 1225. He was sentenced to build a monastery on his land as an act of atonement. In 1246, he followed the judgment and founded a monastery in Burchhagen. This was moved to Falkenhagen in 1247 and placed under the order of the Cistercian nuns.

During the Everstein Feud, the monastery was devastated in 1409. The nuns were able to flee to Brenkhausen Abbey. Wilhelmite brothers from Witzenhausen settled in the devastated monastery. Archbishop Dietrich of Cologne then transferred the monastery to the Order of the Holy Cross (Crutched Friars). In the Soest Feud, the monastery was devastated again in 1447. The monastery could be rebuilt again. After the Reformation, the monastery was dissolved in 1596.

After the dissolution, a dispute arose over the monastery's property between the sovereign of Lippe and the Bishop of Paderborn. Eventually, three-quarters (including the church and monastery) were awarded to the Count of Lippe and one-quarter to the Bishop. In 1604, the Bishop transferred his share to the Jesuits with the task of caring for the Catholic parish.

The former monastery church and the monastery buildings are now owned by the Protestant parish.