Stiftsbibliothek Klosterneuburg, Augustinian monastery in Klosterneuburg, Austria.
Klosterneuburg Monastery is an Augustinian complex overlooking the Danube, with a light grey Gothic abbey church flanked by two tall towers topped by pale green spires, each with a clock and cross. A long wing with a green copper dome and red-tiled roofs connects to the church, and a broad paved terrace leads to the base.
The monastery was founded in 1114 by Leopold III and Agnes of Germany, becoming a center for religious and educational work. It shaped the spiritual and cultural life of the Danube region for centuries.
The Verduner Altar, completed in 1181 by Nicholas of Verdun, consists of 45 gilded copper plates in three parts, modelled on Byzantine paragons. It was later adapted into a winged altarpiece in 1330/31, and its back panels carry four Passion paintings from 1331. Visitors can see it in the abbey church.
The grounds are open daily, and guided tours lead through the church, museum, and wine cellars. Wear sturdy shoes as the route covers multiple levels and some paths are uneven.
The monastery's wine estate is among Austria's oldest and largest, and its cellars lie beneath the abbey buildings. The Klosterneuburg monastery library, housed in a Baroque hall, holds around 300,000 volumes and medieval manuscripts. Visitors often pass the library without noticing it.
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