Austrian Abbeys around Linz : Saint Florian & the Abbey of Kremsmünster for you.

Each and every year, I am amazed at the openness of the monasteries & abbeys in Austria. “Kremsmünster accommodates the oldest public school in Austria”, says Father Daniel, and smiles. “It was opened in 1546, almost 800 years after the foundation of the monastery in 777!” Fascinated, Angelika Mandler and I have been listening to him for about an hour now – and completely forgotten about the time. The monastery walls, with their hundreds of years of cultural history, have a lot to offer. In any case, more than we can see in just one afternoon.

 

And, wait: A vegan restaurant and a wine cellar in a monastery?!

“You have a whole selection of different vegan menus?”, I exclaim in surprise as we sit together having dinner with Father Klaus at the abbey restaurant of Saint Florian. “I mean, this is really something, you know!”, I add. Father Klaus is visibly proud and delighted. The combination of a vegan restaurant, overnight stays in the monastery as well as a visit to the (world) famous Bruckner organ is totally unique, I believe. Both abbeys, St. Florian as well as Kremsmünster, do not lack real attractions to discover.

Ankommen .. Aufleben. Gemütlich die Stimmung schon beim Empfang, wie hier im Benediktinerstift Kremsmünster ...

Arriving at the Benedictine Abbey of Kremsmünster …

 

Ankommen .. Aufleben. Gemütlich die Stimmung schon beim Empfang, wie hier im Benediktinerstift Kremsmünster ...

… we love the views across the Alps further south …

 

... zauberhaft die (Abend)Stimmung im Stift Sankt Florian ...

… just as much as we love arriving at the monastery of Saint Florian later that day …

 

... und hier nächtigen wir : Die wohl „luxuriöseste Klosterzelle“ des 21. Jahrhunderts!

… and this is where you get to stay: Perhaps the most luxurious monastery stay you have ever dared to think of!

 

Vegan ist in (und schmeckt obendrein vorzüglich) : Warum nicht auch im Kloster?

Vegan menus: Why not have them in a monastery, too?

 

Der Besuch im Kloster zeigt : Auch Patres sind längst weltoffen, vernetzt und überaus offenkundig unterwegs! Prost mit Pater Klaus Sonnleitner vom Stift Sankt Florian.

Cheers to our happy exchange, having dinner with Father Klaus Sonnleitner at the Abbey of Saint Florian.

 

The museums, the abbey churches as well as the libraries of both abbeys around Linz invite you to come and marvel at the collected knowledge of centuries of European history.

As an “old bookworm”, my heart always rejoices in such time-honored library rooms like we can see at the abbeys of Kremsmünster and Saint Florian. Amazement, fascination, curiosity, admiration, and respect for the thousands of people (and books) boil up inside of me, books which hold centuries of knowledge as a unique reflection of European cultural history. The Abbey of Kremsmünster alone welcomes 20.000 visitors each year, which besides its library houses the famous “Tassilo Cup” dating back to the year 700. On special occasions, it is brought out of its glass paneling: How does it feel, I wonder, to drink from a 1300-year-old pitcher?

Begleitet uns weiter hinein in das Stift Kremsmünster ...

Join us as we keep discovering the abbey of Kremsmünster …

 

... vorbei an tief versunkenen Kreativ-Kurs-Teilnehmern (so ein Malkurs im Stift würde mir auch sehr gefallen!) ...

… past this group of creative travellers, sitting across the abbey walls as part of a painting course (I would love to do that too!) …

 

... heiter (und modern) gestalteten Museumsräumen ...

… love the modern museum rooms too …

 

... der Freude von Pater Daniel, uns zahlreiche geschichtliche Details rund um die klösterlichen Museumsammlungen ...

… the joy of Father Daniel, highlighting different museum exhibits …

 

... bis hin zur mächtigen Bibliothek des Stiftes: Neben Tausenden von Büchern beherbergt das Stift Kremsmünster übrigens auch die größte Globensammlung Österreichs nach Wien!

… all the way to the precious abbey library here!

 

Die Stiftskirche Kremsmünster : Ein eigenes Prachtwerk für sich ...

And if you enter the abbey church, be ready to be knocked off your feet with all its Baroque splendour …

 

... sowie analog dazu auch die des Stift Sankt Florian ...

… equally to be seen in the abbey church of Saint Florian (“the heaven is said to rise here”) …

 

... der prachtvolle Marmorsaal, welcher für Veranstaltungen und Festivitäten aller Art genutzt wird ...

… and look at the marble hall, palace-like, at the abbey of Saint Florian, used as a stage for all kinds of events …

 

... sowie auch hier die Stiftsbibliothek Sankt Florian, "zum Verlieben schön" und erneut von der herzlichen Begegnungskultur der hier ansässigen Mönche gezeichnet.

… as well as the library, equally proud and bountiful, which we are led to discover with the charming local monks.

 

Unique to Saint Florian: An experience of the world-famous Bruckner organ at close quarters – above, below, and behind the scenes!

My friend Angelika especially, was very moved at being offered the chance to play the mighty organ of the world-famous composer Anton Bruckner, and then to look behind the scenes of the same, 7.380 (!) pipe-strong instrument. It became even more special when Father Klaus Sonnleitner offered to take us down to the last resting place of Anton Bruckner, whose tomb lies directly below the beloved and perfected organ he played during his lifetime. Check this out.

Bereit für die Entdeckungen im Stift Sankt Florian ..?

Ready to discover what lies behind the abbey walls of Saint Florian ..?

 

Direkt unter der Orgel ruht hier Anton Bruckner ...

Treasures, such as the tomb of world-famous composer Anton Bruckner for instance …

 

... nur wenige Meter darüber spielt heute der erfahrene Organist Pater Klaus Sonnleitner ...

… now played by Father Klaus Sonnleitner, who is a talented organist …

 

... blicken wir mit ihm hinter die Kulissen der gewaltigen Orgel ...

… we take a look behind the scenes of this mighty instrument together with him …

 

... Angelika ist gerührt, denn sie darf heute hier Platz nehmen und spielen!

… before Angelika herself is invited to play!

 

Unique to Kremsmünster: Natural (garden) treasures.

Until 15 October 2017 still, you can spend a whole day or a whole weekend in Kremsmünster following the so-called “Dreiklang der Gärten”: The abbey park as well as the surrounding town gardens invite you to linger and discover their treasures. Angelika and I muse about learning yet another superlative: The fig house of Kremsmünster Abbey is the oldest greenhouse in Europe! Do also make sure you climb the nearby Sternwarte (possible as part of a guided tour): The view from the top of the building as well as the scientific collection inside will inspire you!

Spaziergang durch den schönen, frühlingshaften Stiftsgarten in Kremsmünster ...

Spring walk through the abbey park in Kremsmünster …

 

... die Erklimmen der angrenzenden Sternwarte lohnt alleine schon wegen der Ausblicke, sowie auch ...

… walking up the Sternwarte, the highest building around …

 

... aufgrund der facettenreichen Ausstellung hier, die vom kleinsten Kolibri Südamerikas bis hin zu den schrillsten Insekten reicht, die (reisende) Schüler des Stiftes im Laufe vieler Jahrhunderte zusammengetragen haben.

… is worth it as much for its exhibition of natural history artefacts …

 

Extra zur Landesgartenschau eröffnet: Die "Blumenkapelle" des Stiftes, ein wunderschön und zugleich einladender Ort.

… as well as an exhibition of the so-called “flower chapel” here.

 

Prost mit Pater Daniel Silorsch zum Abschied im Weinkeller des Stiftes! :D

Thank you, and Prost, dear Father Daniel Silorsch, over saying goodbye with a good glass of wine in the abbey wine cellar! 😀

 

My dear colleague & friend Angelika has also published the following blog posts & photographs about her visit:

 

Disclaimer: We have been invited on this trip to the abbeys of Saint Florian & Kremsmünster. All opinions are my own.

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