Hoch-Elten

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Hoch-Elten is a part of the German village of Elten, located at the top of the Eltenberg in the German border municipality of Emmerich. Hoch-Elten and the Eltenberg are landscape-wise a part of the Dutch forest area Montferland.

Around 967, Count Wichmann IV, Count of Hamaland, founded the women's abbey of St. Vitus on the Eltenberg. His daughter Liutgard of Elten became the first abbess of the Stift Elten. In 1811, Napoleon, who occupied this part of the Rhineland, ordered the dissolution of the abbey. Around 1832, the abbey was largely demolished. Only a few buildings, including the St. Vitus Church, have been preserved.

On April 23, 1949, among other places, Elten and Hoch-Elten were assigned to the Netherlands as compensation for the German occupation during World War II. This lasted until the area was returned to Germany on August 1, 1963.

The current Roman Catholic St. Vitus Church on the Eltenberg dates from 1677, was heavily damaged in 1945 due to military actions, but has since been restored.

Jos van Nistelrooy