Heiligenkreuz Monastery in Austria, Lower Austria health resort
Rating: 7,6/10 (203 votes)  The Cistercian monastery of Heiligenkreuz is located in the south of the Vienna Woods. Just 13 kilometers from Baden. The monastery was founded in 1133 and has continued to function since then. Count Leopold III became the founder of the monastery. The monastery was consecrated in the name of the Holy Cross in the same year. In 1188, Duke Leopold the Fifth presented a gift to the abbey – A cross containing fragments of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord, which he received from King Baldwin the Fourth. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the abbey was often threatened by fires, floods and epidemics. The monastery was seriously damaged during the Turkish wars. During the reign of Joseph II, Heiligenkreuz miraculously managed to avoid dissolution. During the Second World War, the existence of the monastery was under threat. Some monks were arrested by the National Socialists, and a significant part of the territory was taken from the monastery. At the end of the war, the territory was returned to the abbey. Currently, the architecture of the monastery church contains elements of the Gothic and Romanesque styles. The oldest parts of the temple are the transept and nave, which are also examples of Romanesque architecture in Austria. The Heiligenkreutse monastery is distinguished by the bell tower, built in the northern part in the 18th century in the Baroque style. As a rule, there are no bell towers in Cistercian churches. We also recommend reading Donau-Auen National Park in Austria, Lower Austria resort Topic: Heiligenkreuz Monastery in Austria, Lower Austria health resort. |
