Altenburg Abbey, Benedictine monastery in Altenburg, Austria.
Altenburg Abbey is a Benedictine monastery distinguished by its oval-shaped church and a three-story library that spans approximately 48 meters. The interior spaces and dome ceiling are covered with extensive frescoes that display the richness of Baroque design.
The monastery was founded in 1144 by Countess Hildeburg of Poigen-Rebgau and later suffered severe destruction during the Hussite Wars and the Swedish invasion of 1645. The Baroque form visible today emerged from rebuilding efforts that followed these destructive periods.
The gardens here combine five distinct areas inspired by world religions with natural spaces like ponds and wildflower meadows. Visitors walk through these areas and experience how spiritual ideas are reflected in the landscape design.
The monastery is located about 30 kilometers north of Krems an der Donau and welcomes visitors during regular opening hours. You can explore the grounds at your own pace or join guided tours that lead through the Baroque rooms and buildings.
Excavations from 1983 to 2005 revealed 12th-century walls and a 13th-century Romanesque cloister hidden beneath the current Baroque structure. These discoveries show that the monastery was built on earlier foundations and preserves layers of its complex past.
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