SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL CENTRE OF UPPER STYRIA
Admont Benedictine Abbey: the abbey’s history since 1074
History of Admont Abbey: its foundation in 1074
The history of Admont Abbey begins with a foundation by St Hemma of Gurk. This was established in 1074 by Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg. The first monks came from the Benedictine Abbey of St Peter in Salzburg. Today, the abbey is the oldest surviving monastery in Styria, where diversity is both evident and actively fostered.
Following the turmoil of the Investiture Controversy, Admont rapidly grew in importance. It thus became a monastic centre for the whole of southern Germany and Austria. As part of the Hirsau Reform, Admont also reformed 25 abbeys. Furthermore, thanks to its scriptorium, founded in the 12th century, Admont became a spiritual and cultural centre. In 1120, a convent governed by the Rule of St Benedict was incorporated into the abbey; it remained in existence until the Reformation. The nuns there earned a distinguished reputation through their high level of education and literary work.
Abbot Engelbert of Admont (reigned 1297–1327) was one of the most versatile scholars of his time. Indeed, he left behind more than 40 scholarly treatises, both major and minor. However, the Turkish Wars and the Reformation triggered a period of decline. Subsequently, the Counter-Reformation brought new prosperity to the abbey. In 1644, the Gymnasium (Grammar School) was founded. Furthermore, magnificent works of art were created in the 17th and 18th centuries through the work of the embroiderer Frater Benno Haan (1631–1720) and the abbey sculptor Josef Stammel (1695–1765).
The Baroque period, the monastery fire and a new beginning
Amidst the flurry of building activity during the Baroque period, the architect Johann Gotthard Hayberger began a major refurbishment of the monastery complex around 1735. The work was subsequently continued by the Graz-based master builder Josef Hueber. In the process, he also constructed the world-famous The library hall.
In 1865, a major fire destroyed the entire monastery, with the exception of the library. In the years that followed, most of the monastery buildings were rebuilt. The Admont Abbey Church Rebuilt on the old foundations. It is Austria’s first major Neo-Gothic religious building.
During the economic crisis of the 1930s, the monastery was only able to ensure its survival by selling valuable art treasures. Following its expropriation by the Nazi regime in 1939, the monks finally returned to the monastery in 1945.
Today, Admont Abbey is a spiritual, cultural and economic centre of supra-regional importance. The abbey has 26 Parishes incorporated. The abbey is responsible for appointing the parish priest and for maintaining the parish church and the vicarage. In addition, the abbey supports a care home in Frauenberg an der Enns and runs a secondary school which currently has around 450 pupils. Around 500 lay staff are employed in the abbey’s commercial enterprises.
The monastery’s main cultural attraction: the Baroque library and the museum, which opened in 2003 Major museum. Since 17 March 2017, Abbot Gerhard Hafner has been the head of the Admont monastic community, which currently comprises 23 fellow monks. His motto is: „Love one another, just as I have loved you!“ (Gospel of John)
