Description
A visit to the "Trogerstift" - the baroque jewel of the Waldviertel region
In 1144, Countess Hildburg hands over the Benedictine monastery at Altenburg to the Bishop of Passau. With twelve monks from St. Lambrecht in Styria, Christian Benedictine life begins in the region - in place of an "old castle" of the lords of the Poigreich. The history of the monastery is characterized by destruction and reconstruction. After the Reformation and the Thirty Years' War, work began on renovating the monastery complex in the 17th and 18th centuries. Under Abbot Benedikt Leiß (1648-1658), the old monastery was abandoned in order to rebuild it in a new, larger and more contemporary way. Under Abbot Maurus Knappek (1947-1968), the "ruin" was transformed back into a monastery and opened to all.
The monastery beneath the monastery
For centuries, the remains of the medieval monastery complex lay hidden beneath the magnificent baroque building. Now these almost forgotten witnesses to monastic life have been uncovered again. Chapter house, cloister, scriptorium - a guided tour takes you on an exciting journey back in time to centuries long past. A unique opportunity to discover two monastery complexes in direct comparison with each other.
Frescoes by master craftsmen
The art-loving Abbot Placidus Much gathered the best craftsmen and most talented artists of his time in Altenburg to realize his dream of universality. The collegiate church, imperial staircase and library bear the famous signature of Paul Troger! The South Tyrolean painter created a total of 10 dome frescoes for the monastery. In 1731 and 1733, he frescoed the vaulted areas above the organ loft, the presbytery and the main dome, which covers more than 700 m².
A total work of art
The Creation Garden, Apothecary Garden and Cloister Garden as well as the Garden of Religions and Silence - the green spaces touch all the senses! Just like the concerts of the Allegro Vivo chamber music festival or performances by the Altenburg Boys' Choir. This is where great art meets connoisseurs!
Arnold Collection
In the Arnold Collection, paintings from Austrian and southern German Baroque painting are on display in three rooms, including works by Paul Troger, Michael Rottmayr, Franz Spiegler and Martin Johann Schmidt.
The exhibits in the Sainitzer Collection transport visitors to the almost forgotten world of Baroque devotional paintings and fascinate them with their fine craftsmanship.
Both collections are exclusively open to the public once a month, with the curator giving guided tours of the collections on selected dates.
