Monastery Altenburg (Stift Altenburg) description and photos - Austria: Lower Austria (Topic)

Stift Altenburg monastery description and photos - Austria: Lower Austria. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Stift Altenburg.

Photo and description

Altenburg Abbey is a Benedictine monastery located in Altenburg in Lower Austria. The monastery was founded in 1144 by the Countess of Hildenburg. The abbey was built under the direction of the architect Josef Muungenast in the Baroque style. Many outstanding masters and artists worked on this project: Paul Troger created frescoes, Franz-Joseph Holdzinger worked on stucco molding, and Johann Georg Hoppl was engaged in interior decoration with marble.

In 1793, Emperor Joseph II forbade the admission of new novices to monastery, but unlike many other monasteries in Austria, Altenburg managed to avoid closure.

In 1940, the activities of the abbey were suspended due to the Nazis, and already in 1941 the monastery was completely dissolved: the abbot was arrested. Since 1945, the premises have been used as barracks for the Soviet occupation forces.

After the end of World War II, the monastery was rebuilt under the leadership of Abbot Mavr Knappek. In 1961, Abbot Moor created a boys' choir, which began to tour various countries in Europe, Israel, Japan and Brazil.

The treasury of the monastery and the library are interesting to explore, especially the unique paintings of the walls and ceiling of the abbey.

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Topic: Monastery Altenburg (Stift Altenburg) description and photos - Austria: Lower Austria.