Klosterneuburg Monastery in Austria, Lower Austria health resort
Rating: 7,5/10 (1303 votes)  Klosterneuburg Abbey, located on the Danube coast, near Vienna, is an Augustinian monastery that currently houses a museum. The abbey was founded by the Austrian Count Leopold III in 1114. According to legend, Agnes, Leopold's wife, lost her favorite scarf during a walk, which was carried away by a gust of strong wind. A few years later, Leopold found the scarf while hunting. He also argued that it was thanks to the image of the Virgin Mary that appeared to him that he was able to discover the lost thing. After that, Leopold erected a monastery on this site. And today this scarf can be seen in the museum of the monastery. Another legend says, that the abbey was built to atone for murder. After his death, the count was buried in the crypt of the main temple, the altar of which was decorated with gilded tiles from the 12th century, made by the master Nicholas on biblical themes. In 1222, the Chapel of Speziosa was consecrated, which today is the oldest Gothic building in Austria. In the 15th century, during the reign of Abbot George Muestinger, a seminary was established – here maps were created and celestial bodies studied. In 1634, during the reign of the Habsburgs, most of the monastery buildings acquired the Baroque style, designed by architects Joseph Emaluem Fischer von Erlach and Jacob Prandtauer. After the death of Charles the Sixth, reconstruction work was suspended. In 1882, restoration work began on the main church, led by Friedrich von Schmidt. At the same time, bell towers were created, which can be observed today. During the Second World War, the monastery was disbanded – some of the monks were sent to the army, the other part was exiled, a small part was shot for anti-fascist ideas or sent to prison.   
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