Kloster Mariabrunn, Penzing, Monastery and museum in Penzing district, Vienna, Austria
Kloster Mariabrunn is a Baroque monastery complex in Penzing with an attached pilgrimage church that serves the local community. The two-story structure features two courtyards of different sizes connected by a central cross-wing.
The monastery was completed in 1655 by architect Domenico Carlone as a religious center for the region. Major expansions between 1726 and 1739 likely included design work by Lucas von Hildebrandt on the cross-wing section.
The pilgrimage site draws visitors interested in its devotion to Mary through a 16th-century statue at the church altar, which has shaped its spiritual character for centuries. The fountain in the courtyard with a replica of the statue reflects this ongoing religious tradition.
Today the monastery buildings house a federal research and training center focused on forestry and natural resources on Hauptstrasse 7. Access may be limited since the building serves as a working facility, though parts of the courtyard are often visible from the street entrance.
From 1813 to 1875 this site housed Austria's Imperial Forestry Institute, making it a key location in the country's scientific development before later becoming part of a natural resources university. This unexpected connection between a pilgrimage church and forestry research shaped much of its later purpose.
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