G.C3.B6ttweig Abbey Wachau

göttweig abbey, seen stein

göttweig abbey, benedictine monastery near krems, founded monastery of canons regular blessed altmann, bishop of passau. known austrian montecassino named after original benedictine monastery in italy. high altar of church dedicated in 1072, monastery wasn t founded until 1083: foundation charter, dated 9 september 1083, still preserved in abbey archives.

by 1094 discipline of community had become lax bishop ulrich of passau, permission of pope urban ii, introduced rule of st. benedict. prior hartmann of st. blaise s abbey in black forest elected abbot. brought him st. blaise s number of chosen monks, among whom blessed wirnto , blessed berthold, later abbots of formbach , garsten respectively. under hartmann (1094–1114) göttweig became famous seat of learning , strict monastic observance. founded monastic school, organized library, , @ foot of hill built nunnery believed ava, earliest german-language woman poet known name (d. 1127), lived anchorite. nunnery, afterward transferred top of hill, continued exist until 1557.

erentrudis chapel

during 15th , 16th centuries, however, abbey declined rapidly between 1556 , 1564 had no abbot @ all, , in 1564 not single monk left here. @ crisis imperial deputation arrived @ göttweig, , elected michael herrlich, monk of melk abbey, abbot. new abbot, held office until 1604, restored monastery spiritually , financially, , rebuilt after had been entirely destroyed fire in 1580.

abbots distinguished during reformation george falb (1612–1631) , david corner (1631–1648), opposed spread of protestantism in district.

imperial staircase: apotheosis of charles vi (fresco paul troger, 1739)

in 1718, monastery burnt down , partially rebuilt on grander scale during abbacy of gottfried bessel (1714–1749) designs johann lucas von hildebrandt inspired escorial, scheme lavish abbot gottfried deposed because of it. fresco decorating imperial staircase considered masterpiece of baroque architecture in austria. executed paul troger in 1739, represents holy roman emperor charles vi apollo.

the abbey complex part of unesco heritage, located on forested hill, few miles away krems. church in complex has 2 unconventional towers flat pyramidal shape. there 4 tuscan columns built between towers. painted in pink on exterior, while interiors painted in gold, brown , blue colours. altar built in 1639 impressive , high , has backdrop of glass windows. casket of abbey s founder, ornamental organ front dated 1703, altmann crypt , choir stalls seen behind altar.

other notable architectural features seen in west wing of abbey are: 3 storied kalserstiege built in 1738, baroque staircases (known imperial staircase) ceiling painted fresco paul troger theme of emperor karl vi s apotheosis (dated 1739). museum here, accommodated in former chambers of emperor , prince, holds every year, vivid display of abbeys art collections.

the abbey has library of 130,000 books , manuscripts, , particularly important collection of religious engravings, besides valuable collections of coins, antiquities, musical manuscripts , natural history, of survived dangers of world war ii , immediate aftermath without loss.

since 1625, abbey has been member of austrian congregation, within benedictine confederation.