Old treasures – new works
The world’s largest monastic library
If you’ve not yet seen this late baroque synthesis of the arts, then you should include it on your trip along the River Enns Cycle Trail: Admont Benedictine Abbey in the Gesäuse region has an extraordinary monastic library and is also home to a Museum of Contemporary Art, a Museum of the Fine Arts and a Natural History Museum.
Old treasures, new works – a visit to Admont Abbey promises both of these unique aspects. In the cosmos of the Abbey Library there are around 70,000 volumes. The entire stock of books comprises about 200,000 volumes. The 1,400 manuscripts are particularly treasured. And did you know that the library has secret doors? They are hard to find as their imitation of the surrounding bookspines is deceptively realistic. This preserves the homogeneous look of the space.
You’ll only find them if you look. The hidden doors will be revealed to you on individual guided tours of the library. In addition to this cultural heritage, the abbey also offers a colourful and diverse collection of contemporary art. As well as Styrian artists such as Erwin Wurm and Werner Reiterer, there are around 170 predominantly Austrian artists.
Around the abbey are peaceful outdoor areas including an idyllic pond and a herb garden, which was created in 1998. Anyone interested in medieval writings can go on search for traces of literature around the abbey. The Literature Trail focuses on the Admonter Bartholomäusaus, a classic of German-language medical literature from the fifteenth century.
Author: Julia Einfalt
Further recommendations, tips and news
Landscapes influence people and people influence landscapes. Austria has a lot to tell you about.
Childhood memories
Der Donauradweg ist ein Abenteuerland für die ganze Familie: er ist gesäumt von Abenteuer-Spielplätzen, tollen...
tip
The urban farmer
Twice a week the Cathedral Square in St. Pölten is transformed into a paradise for lovers of farmers’ markets....
tip
Nostalgia meets zeitgeist
Styria’s oldest river swimming pool is surrounded by old trees and now also features a modern family swimming pool....
tip
Dem Heiligen Martin sei Dank
The “Martiniloben” celebrates the Feast Day of St. Martin, patron saint of Burgenland, with an impressive culinary...
tip
A blossoming business in traditional costumes
The fashion label FREIWILD in the Mostviertel region unites the fast rhythm of the urban world as well as slower...
tip
When the Wachau is decked in pastel
The Wachauer Marille is one of the most popular types of apricot in the world, and rightly so: nowhere else in the...
tip
Pealing pears
The PearHouse at Ardagger Abbey an interactive tasting centre where you can experience pears with all five senses....
tip
An architectural jewel at the foot of the Grimming
A fascinating world of mountains and culture in the Enns Valley: from the peak of the Grimming to the cultural...
tip
No folding now!
The well-known author Karin Wasner explains how a bet changed her attitude to cycling on the Traisen Valley Cycle Trail....
tip