Timeline of the Abbey
The timeline traces the history of Admont Abbey: from its foundation in 1043 to the book restoration in 2015.
Admont Abbey Timeline: Founding and the First Centuries
1043: Gift
Saint Hemma gives the Salzburg Archbishop Balduin large parts of her possessions with the express wish to found a monastery by the river Enns.
1074: Founding
On 29 September 1074, Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg consecrated Admont Abbey, the first monastery on Styrian soil. The first monks came from the Benedictine Abbey of St Peter in Salzburg.
1103: First election of an abbot
For the first time, the monks of Admont elected an abbot themselves: Heinrich I (from Kremsmünster). However, he died in 1112 in the swollen River Enns.
1120: Frauenkloster
That year, a convent governed by the Rule of St Benedict was attached to the abbey; its nuns earned a distinguished reputation for their high level of education and literary output. The convent eventually ceased to exist during the Reformation.
1137: Attel Abbey
Abbot Wolfold has the Benedictines of Admont Abbey resettled to Attel Abbey in the Upper Bavarian district of Rosenheim. It is disbanded in 1803.
1152: Fire
In the night of 10-11 March, there is a fire in the heating plant right in the middle of Admont Abbey. An eyewitness account by Father Irimbert is available in Code 16 of the Abbey Archive between the commentary on the Books of Kings. The newly erected buildings are consecrated in autumn.
1165, first "own" abbot
With Abbot Liutold, the Admont conventuals for the first time elect a confrère from among their own ranks as abbot.
Priests, mitred priests and archabbots
1189: Parishes
This year, the monks elected Rudolf II as Abbot of Admont. During his tenure, many parishes came under the jurisdiction of Admont Abbey. Admont monks still look after many of them today. Here is a List of parishes.
1230: Mitre
Pope Gregory IX allows the abbots of Admont to wear a mitre in solemn masses. The first abbot to wear a mitre is Berthold I.
1261: Famine
In this year, a great famine breaks out and the monks flee to the Salzburg Mother Monastery of St Peter and stay there for two years.
1275: Abbot Henry II.
That year, the monks elected Heinrich II as abbot. Owing to his business acumen, he is also known as the “second founder’. He later served as governor of Styria. He is the only abbot of Admont to have been murdered, a crime committed in 1297 by his nephew at Kaiserau.
1297: Abbot Engelbert Poetsch
In choosing Engelbert Poetsch as abbot, the monks selected one of the most versatile minds of medieval Austria. The monastery has held his memory in high esteem since time immemorial: at times, he has even been tacitly counted amongst the ranks of the saints. For centuries, a member of the monastery has borne his name.
Reforms, Humanism and the Reformation
1399: Other parishes
Other parishes fall within the remit of the monastery.
1410: Frauenberg an der Enns
This year, the pilgrimage church Frauenberg an der Enns is mentioned for the first time in a document. At that time, antipope John XXIII granted various indulgences.
1451: Salzburg Reformation
A resolution passed by the Salzburg Synod reforms all Benedictine monasteries in the archdiocese and in the suffragan dioceses. This so-called “Melk Reform’ is intended to ensure that life is lived in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict through a stricter way of life and greater discipline.
1483: Abbot Antonius
That year, Emperor Frederick III appointed Abbot Antonius Gottesgnad, a Minorite friar from Venice, to Admont. He is regarded as an outstanding representative of Humanism. As well as acquiring numerous precious manuscripts for the library, he also laid the foundation stone for the Frauenberg Maria Rehkogel pilgrimage church in what is now Bruck/Mur.
1581: Reformations
The Reformation fell on fertile ground in Admont; only two monks now remain at the monastery. The convent is abandoned entirely. That year, Johannes IV Hofmann, from St Lambrecht, takes over as abbot. Under his leadership, however, the monastery experienced a revival: 24 monks took their vows before him. He is also regarded as the driving force behind the Counter-Reformation in the Enns Valley.
Admont Abbey in the Baroque period
1628: Urban Weber;Urban Weber is elected 47th Abbot. He is called the "third founder" because of his huge construction work. In his time, 15 confrères made their profession.
The monks elected Urban Weber as the 47th abbot. Because of his extensive building projects, he is known as the “third founder’. During his tenure, 15 fellow monks took their vows.
1644: Founding of the Secondary School (Gymnasium)
Abbot Urban founded the grammar school and, amongst other things, had a Baroque vicarage built in Frauenberg an der Enns. In the same century, an embroidery school also flourished under the guidance of Brother Benno Haan, who was originally from Copenhagen; this school produced a collection of magnificent Baroque liturgical textiles. As part of the intense building activity during the Baroque period, the architect Johann Gotthard Hayberger began a major refurbishment of the monastery complex around 1735, which was continued by the Graz-based master builder Josef Hueber.
1675: Abbot Adalbert Heufler
This year, the monks have elected Adalbert Heufler, from Rasen and Höhenbühel – a great patron of the Frauenberg pilgrimage church on the River Enns – as abbot.
1680: Fire in the armoury
A fire destroys the Abbey's armoury.
1726: Joseph Stammel
This year, Joseph Stammel, an important artist for Admont, begins his work.
1786: Leoben Secondary School
Admont Secondary School is relocated to Leoben.
The Abbey Fire, Reconstruction and War
1865: Abbey fire
In 1865, a major fire destroyed large parts of the monastery, with the exception of the library. In the years that followed, most of the monastery buildings were rebuilt. The Admont Abbey Church It was rebuilt on the old foundations and is Austria’s first major Neo-Gothic religious building.
1869: Consecration of the church
After the devastating fire, the new abbey church is consecrated.
1883, Kastner & Öhler
The first one is opening at the Admonterhof in Graz Kastner & Öhler.
1898: Museum of Natural History
Father Gabriel Strobl builds the Museum of Natural History.
1906: Emperor Franz Joseph
Emperor Franz Joseph visits Admont Abbey.
1911: First electrical power station
The monastery commissions its first power station in Mühlau.
1939, World War II
The Nazi regime confiscates all the assets of Admont Abbey; the monks are forced to leave the monastery.
1945: Return
After the end of World War II, the monks are allowed to return back to the monastery on 17 October.
Admont Abbey in the 20th century
1974: 900th anniversary
To mark its 900th anniversary, the abbey is building a new school building in Admont. As of this year, the school is also admitting girls.
1996: Abbot Bruno Hubl
Bruno Hubl was elected abbot. At the monastery, Abbot Benedikt Schlömicher appointed him prior in 1978; he also served as novice master and was a member of various liturgical committees. Following the sudden resignation of Abbot Benedikt Schlömicher, the monks of Admont Abbey elected Fr. Prior Bruno Hubl as abbot on 1 August 1996. He received the benediction on 1 September 1996 in the abbey church from Bishop Johann Weber.
He is a member of the Presidium of the Austrian Benedictine Congregation until 2009 and has a seat in various diocesan and supraregional bodies. His tenure includes the restoration of large parts of the monastery complex and the world-famous monastery library, as well as construction of the new museum and the meeting house in Graz, which opens on 6 October 2002.
On 23 March 2009, Abbot Bruno announced his resignation. However, at the abbot’s election on 27 April, his fellow monks re-elected him. On 30 April, after three days’ reflection, he resumed his post. In his acceptance speech, he emphasised that he had been serious about resigning. However, the trust placed in him by his fellow monks persuaded him to accept the office of abbot once again.
Museum and library
2003: Opening of the museum
Since 2003, Admont Benedictine Abbey has been home not only to a late Baroque abbey library but also to a large museum, which extends across two wings of the building over four storeys. The exhibits include medieval manuscripts and early printed books, art from the Middle Ages to the present day, and a natural history collection. It also offers a multimedia presentation of the abbey, special exhibitions and a panoramic stairways.
2008: Restoration of the library
Restoration of the library: This project of the century was successfully completed. Since the completion of the library hall in 1776, never before have such works been carried out: During three major phases of work from 2004 to 2008, all the stone and metal parts, the ceiling frescoes, the entire sculpture decoration and all the wooden components were restored. The entire inventory of books, about 70,000 of them, was cleaned and examined for possible damage. Over 5,000 books have been restored. During this restoration phase, the Abbey Library remained open to visitors.
2015: Cleaning books
The Abbey Library's entire Baroque collection of books was cleaned after necessary fumigation (pest infestation). 70,000 books were competently cleaned and rearranged. The project is expected to be completed by 2016.
The Abbey Archive also offers modern equipment, which makes it easier for users to do research on and study the valuable collections.