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, 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 away. 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 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" referred to, it is the world's largest monastic library. Built in the 18th century in the magnificent Baroque style, it is a masterpiece of architecture. The bookshelves of the monastery library are decorated with intricate 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, and almost 1,000 hand-printed incunabula and early prints. The works are also exhibited on request. Visitors can explore the monastery library on their own or as part of a guided tour. The experienced guides provide interesting insights into history. They also show you the library's secret entrances. The entrance fee also includes the Natural History Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Gothic Museum and the Hannes Schwarz collection, which are well worth seeing.
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 facade 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 Stiftsgarten 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.