Stiftsrestaurant und Orangerie

The Stiftsrestaurant is open daily from Wednesday to Sunday during the season with hot meals. Products from the region are always freshly prepared and served in the Stiftsrestaurant. The pastries and ice cream creations taste twice as good in the orangery in the historic prelate's garden. Open daily from Easter to October 31.

Thousands of years of cultural heritage

The Zwettl monks have traditionally devoted themselves primarily to pastoral care. Their history begins in 1138: Hadmar I von Kuenring founds a monastery near the town of Zwettl and calls Cistercian monks from Heiligenkreuz to the Waldviertel. They erect the medieval buildings of the monastery and create an economic basis by cultivating the land. In the course of the wars and reformations of the 15th and 16th centuries, the monastery declined. It was not until the middle of the 16th century that it flourished again. At the end of the 18th century, political pressure led to a far-reaching change in monastic life: the monks increasingly turned their attention to pastoral care in the 15 parishes entrusted to them. The monastery survived the two world wars and the Nazi era unscathed. In the 1990s, the monastery founded the Higher College for Environment and Economics, and for almost 100 years, the educational building has offered adult education. Forestry and fish farming form the mainstay of the monastery. Extensive renovation work at the end of 2013 allowed the monastery to shine in new splendor today.

Art historical jewel

Cloister, well house, chapter house, dormitory, scriptorium and necessarium - from an art-historical perspective, the monastery is home to outstanding examples of medieval architecture. In the course of the large-scale baroqueization under Abbot Melchior Zaunagg, the church was also given a new appearance: A monumental tower façade welcomes the visitor, while the interior is dominated by the mighty high altar, 16 side altars, the inlaid choir stalls and the famous Egedacher organ.A new library was also created and decorated by Paul Troger with the deeds of Hercules in five vaulted panels. The treasury provides an insight into the spirituality of earlier times. You will never cease to be amazed here.

Blooming paradise

The prelate's garden is not the only eye-catcher: monks have lovingly created places around the monastery that are reminiscent of paradise. From time immemorial, they have been spaces for tranquillity, contemplation, enjoyment and relaxation.

Baroque pleasure

Baroque music lovers in particular flock to the abbey in summer: During the "Zusammenspiel" concert festival, the collegiate church and library provide the perfect backdrop for unforgettable performances.