Monastery under monastery:

“Double monastery” tells 880 years

The season at the Waldviertel Benedictine Abbey of Altenburg starts on May 1st.(Bild: dieter schewig)

To travel through the centuries, you literally only have to go "one floor down" at Altenburg Abbey in the Waldviertel. This is because the baroque monastery was built above the former monastery, which was inaccessible for almost an eternity. For the opening of the season in the double anniversary year, the focus is now on this.

The Waldviertel Benedictine monastery in Altenburg is looking forward to an extraordinary season this year, which begins on May 1st: a double anniversary is being celebrated there with 880 years of monastery history and 30 years of the "monastery under the monastery". It was not until 1994 that the monastery, which had long been lost beneath the 17th century baroque jewel, was made accessible to others.

Monastery built on top of monastery
"Today it is almost unbelievable that our baroque monastery was built directly on top of the medieval complex. It is always an experience to walk through the witnesses of former monastic life as an incomparable journey through the centuries," emphasizes Prior Michael Hüttl. For the anniversary, the focus is therefore on the two eras of the monastery's history, which took place directly on top of each other and began in 1144. After 20 years of planning, the "old walls" were combined with 21st century architecture to create an exciting whole.

Prior Michael Hüttl and Abbot Thomas Renner (from left) stand in front of the largest collection of Baroque paintings in Austria (Bild: c Andreas Anker)

The historic architectural jewel in the Horn district is hoping for many guests.(Bild: Stift Altenburg)

The venerable walls of several eras have been combined with modern architecture to form a new unit over the course of 20 years of planning.(Bild: Dieter Schewig)

Diverse program of events
As Altenburg Abbey is richly endowed with nature and tranquillity, the program includes many cultural highlights as well as spiritual and botanical events. For more information, please call 02982/3451-0 or send an e-mail to [e-mail].