The former Benedictine monastery was founded in 1135 by the Emperor Lothar II. The church is famous for its stone sculptures at the apse by an artist who came from upper Italy shortly after the foundation.
The interior of the church is decorated today with late 19th century wall paintings. After medieval wall paintings were found and uncovered from 1887-89 the interior was completely repainted during a drastic renovation campaign under the direction of August Essenwein.
Since the 1980s the paintings have been examined, documented and saved by the Preservation Office of the state of Lower Saxony.
