Admont Abbey

Brief information:

• What is Admont Abbey and where is it located? Admont Abbey is an impressive Benedictine monastery located in the town of Admont in Styria. It is the largest monastery in the country and is picturesquely situated on the edge of the Gesäuse National Park.
• What makes Admont Abbey so special and unique? Admont Abbey is known for its magnificent monastery library, which is considered the largest monastery library in the world It houses an impressive collection of over 200,000 books, including rare manuscripts, incunabula and valuable prints.
• How old are the books in the monastery library at Admont Abbey? The majority of the books in the monastery library at Admont Abbey date from past centuries, some even from the Middle Ages. They are historical works that provide insight into the intellectual development and knowledge of past eras.
• Can you visit the monastery library in Admont Abbey? Yes, here you can find the Opening hours
• How much is the entrance fee? Here you can find the Library entrance fees. Admission to the monastery is free.
• Where exactly is the pen located? Kirchplatz 1, 8911 Admont

Admont Abbey, idyllically situated in the picturesque region of the Austrian Alps, is a cultural jewel that attracts visitors from all over the world. With its magnificent architecture, impressive works of art and famous monastery library Admont Abbey is an essential destination for those interested in culture and history. The library and museum of Admont Abbey welcome around 60,000 to 70,000 visitors every year.

Admont Abbey in general

Admont Abbey, founded in 1074, is the largest monastery in Austria and an important spiritual center. With its magnificent baroque architecture and impressive size, the monastery radiates a majestic aura. It is surrounded by a breathtaking natural landscape and is located just a few minutes' drive from Gesäuse removed.

In addition to the monastery library, Admont Abbey also houses a magnificent abbey church and an abbey museum in which art-historical treasures are exhibited. The abbey garden invites you to linger and relax and offers a wonderful view of the surrounding landscape.

The monastery library

The monastery library in Admont Abbey is undoubtedly the main attraction for visitors. Completed in 1776, the monastery library was used in the past as “Eighth Wonder of the World” called, it is the world's largest monastic library. It was built in the 18th century in the magnificent Baroque style and is a masterpiece of architecture.

The bookshelves of the monastery library are decorated with artistic wood carvings and house an impressive number of valuable books, including rare manuscripts, historical works and scientific treatises. The Ceiling frescoes by the renowned artist Bartolomeo Altomonte tell allegorical stories and give the library a fascinating artistic dimension.

The library contains around 70,000 items, and the monastery's entire book collection comprises 200,000 volumes. These include over 1,400 manuscripts, some of which are medieval, as well as almost 1,000 hand-printed incunabula and early prints. The works are also exhibited on a case-by-case basis.

Visitors can explore the monastery library on their own or as part of a guided tour. The experienced guides provide interesting insights into the history. They also show you the secret entrances to the library

The entrance fee also includes the Natural History Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Gothic Museum and the Hannes Schwarz collection.

The pen

Admont Abbey itself is a place of great cultural significance. In addition to the monastery library, it houses a magnificent abbey church that impresses with its baroque architecture. Admission is free.

The facade The collegiate church impresses with its magnificent design. Statues, columns and ornaments adorn the façade and give it a majestic character.

In the Interior of the Collegiate Church An impressive world of art and spirituality opens up to visitors. Paintings, sculptures and artistic frescoes adorn the walls and tell stories from the Bible and Christian tradition. The main altar of the collegiate church is particularly worth seeing.

The Abbey Garden invites visitors to take a stroll and offers a relaxing retreat in the midst of nature. Here you can enjoy the beauty of the landscaped gardens, the fragrant flowerbeds and the picturesque views of the surrounding mountain landscape.