Trappist Abbey Engelszell (Stift Engelszell) description and photos - Austria: Upper Austria (Topic)

Trappist Abbey Engelszell (Stift Engelszell) description and photos - Austria: Upper Austria. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Stift Engelszell.

Photo and description

Engelszel Abbey is the only Trappist monastery in Austria. It was a former Cistercian monastery located in Upper Austria. The monastery was founded in 1293 by Bishop Bernhard as a Cistercian monastery. In 1295 monks from Vilchering lived in the monastery. During the Reformation, there was an economic and spiritual decline, the monastery for some time passed into private ownership. In 1618, Wilhering Abbey intervened, deciding to provide financial support for the restoration of the abbey. On Easter Sunday 1699, a fire broke out in Engelszel Abbey, which entailed new financial difficulties. In 1746 Leopold Reichl, the last and greatest of the abbots of Engelszel, began to rebuild the abbey, using his own funds as well.

In 1786, the abbey was dissolved by Emperor Joseph II, and the building was used for social events. The building was again used as a Trappist monastery in 1925 by refugees. These were German monks expelled from Olenberg (an abbey in Alsace) after the First World War, who found temporary refuge in Bantz Abbey, but felt the need for permanent residence. In 1931, Engelszel was elevated to the rank of abbey, Gregory Eisvogel was appointed abbot.

In early December 1939, the monastery was confiscated by the Gestapo, and the community, numbering 73 people, was evicted from the abbey. Four monks were sent to a concentration camp, while others were imprisoned or drafted into the army. At the end of World War II, only a third of the community returned to the abbey. However, they were joined by refugees from the Bosnian Trappist monastery, along with their abbot.

Since 1995, Marian Hauseder has been appointed abbot of Engelszel Abbey. The abbey is currently home to 7 monks.

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Topic: Trappist Abbey Engelszell (Stift Engelszell) description and photos - Austria: Upper Austria.