Abbeys | Where Christian monks and nuns lived in seclusion.

Michelsberg Abbey in Bamberg

Photo of Michelsberg Abbey in Bamberg taken from the grounds of the New Residence (Neue Residenz).

This Baroque abbey still offers the remains of a medieval monastery in its basement, one can reach by an elevator. The complex also includes a theme garden dedicated to the different world religions located not far away from the monastery.

Sundial at Seitenstetten Abbey

The inscription “Ora et Labora” refers to the motto of the Benedictines. It translates into “Pray and Work”. The depiction is located on a chimney of Seitenstetten Abbey (Stift Seitenstetten). This is a large Benedictine monastery in the Austrian region of Mostviertel.

Sundial at St Peter’s Archabbey in Salzburg

The sundial is located in a courtyard of St. Peter’s Archabbey (Erzabtei St. Peter) in Salzburg. The two crossed keys under the picture represent the coat of arms of the abbey. The old man seems to be Saint Benedict, whose attributes rule book and raven are to be seen. I wonder what the raven is…

Sundial on Reichenau Abbey

This sundial is located on a wall of Reichenau Abbey on Reichenau Island. It shows not only the motto ‘Pray and Work’ (ora et labora) but also Saint Pirmin, the founder of Reichenau Abbey. The two snakes refer to the fact that he is considered to be a patron against snake bites.

Sundial at Millstatt Abbey

Sundial displaying the martyrium of Saint Sebastian seen at the inner court of Millstatt Abbey.

Sundial at the cloister of Millstatt Abbey

Sundial seen at the Romanesque cloister courtyard of the former Millstatt Abbey in the Austrian state of Carinthia.

Sundial at St Peter’s Arch Abbey in Salzburg

Sundial in one of the inner yards of St Peter’s Arch Abbey (Erzabtei St. Peter) in Salzburg. The Benedictine monastery in the Austrian city of Salzburg was founded in 696 and is considered to be one of the oldest monasteries in German-speaking area.

Lambach Abbey in Upper Austria

View of Lambach Abbey taken on a train journey from Salzburg to Linz. The abbey is a Benedictine monastery. The Baroque theater inside the building is considered as the oldest still in use theater in Austria. [German]

The golden stove of Altenburg Abbey

On my walk through the basement vaults of Altenburg Abbey I came across this reconstruction of a Gothic tower stove. While unearthing the old monastery the workers discovered 62 tiles showing Bible stories, saints, emblems and symbols. They were probably created in the years between 1480 and 1510.

Orangery at Klosterneuburg Abbey

After a walk through the seven gardens of Klosterneuburg Monastery (Stift Klosterneuburg) near Vienna I also visited the orangery of the monastery. Inside I was very surprised by this ensemble including an old world map showing the route of an exploring journey done by the Austrian ship ‘SMS Novara‘.

Roman fort in Klosterneuburg

This exhibition room of Stift Klosterneuburg (Klosterneuburg Monastery) displays ancient Roman pieces. They are from an ancient predecessor settlement of today’s Klosterneuburg. The name of the Roman place is uncertain. Suggestions are Arrianis, Asturis, Cannabiaca or Quadriburgium.