Segers-Glocke, Christiane [Hrsg.]; Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege [Hrsg.]; Institut für Denkmalpflege [Hrsg.]; Balck, Friedrich [Bearb.]: Arbeitshefte zur Denkmalpflege in Niedersachsen: Aspects of mining and smelting in the Upper Harz Mountains (up to the 13th/14th century) - in the early times of a developing European culture and economy (St. Katharinen: Scripta Mercaturae Verl., Heft 22.2000)

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burghers and the Cistercians because of exemptions from property taxes, excises
(Akzisen), tolls, tariffs or market fees. Usually they paid a larger amount about
once a year to the municipality to prevent quarrels and to buy themselves out of
any further levies. Inside the walls of large cities such as Cologne one finds
despite all difficulties quite a large number of Cistercian urban estates
(Stadthöfe)53.
The monastery of Walkenried attempted as early as the 12th century to get a
foothold in a small town in its vicinity. The Walkenried estate official
(Ministeriale) Bertold left his farm at Nordhausen at some point between 1127
and 1178 - the exact date is not known - to Abbot Heinrich I. and received the
same in feu for the children of his daughter54. In the year 1209, comprehensive
privileges were granted to the monastery by emperor Otto IV. After that the
monks of Walkenried were exempted from all levies and taxes of the city of
Nordhausen. No tolls had to be paid on the goods and transports of the
monastery. In addition, the monastery was freely permitted to exchange silver and
currency, which is surely an indication of the mining activities at Walkenried55. In
1219, Emperor Frederic II. renewed the privileges of the monastery in
Nordhausen. Explicitly mentioned are the exemption from tolls and tariffs on
sales and purchases, the exemption from imperial and local taxes and the right to
exchange money and precious metals freely with the burghers56 57.
For the first time the document from 1209 also mentions an urban estate
(Stadthof) of the Walkenried monks in Goslar. As was mentioned earlier Emperor
Otto IV. confirmed the property of the monastery in Goslar: curiam et areas,
quas possidet praedictum monasterium in Goslaria'\ These rights were extended
further in the document issued by King Henry VII. The ruler exempted the
monastery from taxes and any duties levied on the sale or purchase of goods on
the market. Furthermore, he placed the monastery under the special protection of
the imperial sheriff of the town58. In the course of the 13th and 14th century, the

53 Steinwascher 1981, 71-76: On the immunity of Cistercian urban estates.
Steinwascher 1981, 15-67: In Cologne alone there were more than 20 urban estates of
the Cistercians. Schich 1980, 228.
54 Grotefend 1852, 20 Nr. 19. Schich 1980, 224.
55 Grotefend 1852, 60-62 Nr. 70; ibid. 61.
56 Grotefend 1852, 86 Nr. 103.
57 Grotefend 1852, 60-62 Nr. 70; ibid. 60.
58 Grotefend 1852, 110-111 Nr. 149. Compare also Beddies 1996, 36.