Heiligenkreuz Abbey, monastery in Heiligenkreuz, Lower Austria
Heiligenkreuz is a Cistercian abbey in the Wienerwald, 15 km west of Vienna. Its Romanesque nave, west facade and transept were completed in 1187, with a Gothic choir hall added by 1295. The complex is built around a courtyard with a baroque Trinity column by Giuseppe Giuliani (1739), and the church tower, finished in 1674, carries a green onion dome.
Founded in 1133 by Leopold III of the Babenberg dynasty, the abbey received its first monks from Morimond under abbot Gottschalk. The Romanesque church was consecrated in 1188, and the Gothic choir and cloister were completed by 1295. In 1683 Turkish troops set fire to the monastery, destroying its library; reconstruction in the Baroque style followed.
The name Heiligenkreuz means Holy Cross, after the relic of the True Cross that Leopold V donated on 31 May 1188. The monks still sing Gregorian chant daily; in 2008 they recorded the album Chant — Music for Paradise. About 70 monks live here, and the abbey serves 18 parishes in Lower Austria.
The abbey lies in Heiligenkreuz in the Wienerwald, about 15 km west of Vienna. Visitors are admitted only with clear restrictions, so check tour times before setting out. The complex is entered through a large courtyard with a Baroque Trinity column by Giuseppe Giuliani (1739).
The abbey preserves an important relic: a piece of the cross of Christ kept in the church and revered by believers and visitors. Additionally, the monks have recorded their Gregorian chants which have been distributed as CDs worldwide.
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