G�ttweig Abbey

The Benedictine Abbey of G�ttweig towers above the eastern edge of the world-famous Danube valley in the Wachau area at an altitude of 449m. It is located south of the town of Krems an der Donau. It was added to the world cultural heritage list in 2001. Today it is not only a very attractive tourist destination for guests from all over the world, but with a community of 50 monks also a spiritual centre of Lower Austria.

The centre of the abbey is the Mari� Himmelfahrt convent church, where the life of the Benedictine monks that is based on �ora et labora� (pray and work!) has been focused for more than 900 years.
The cloister � which is thanks to its fantastic mountain location referred to as �Austrian Montecassino� � was founded by St. Altmann, bishop of Paussau, as an Augustinian canon convent in 1083. In 1094 it was handed over to Benedictine monks. Altmann also put the monks in charge of the spiritual guidance of some parishes. Today the monks are in charge of 30 parishes and considerably contribute to the inhabitants� spiritual guidance. On August 8, 1091 bishop Altmann died in Zeiselmauer � today a precious silver reliquary holds his bones in the crypt of the convent�s church.

Only a few remains of the medieval buildings of G�ttweig Abbey(the Erentrudis chapel dating back to 1072, the old castle, the crypt and the church choir) survived the disastrous fire catastrophe in 1718. The convent was rebuilt in Baroque-style. The imperial architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt made the plans for this magnificent convent. Building works started in 1720 under Abbot Gottfried Bessel and were completed to 2/3. The museum in the emperor�s wing represents Baroque splendour. The monumental imperial staircase with a roof fresco by Paul Troger dating back to 1739 is one of the most beautiful and biggest Baroque staircases of Europe. Also worthwhile are the imperial and royal rooms that serve as exhibition rooms for the �G�ttweig Abbey Stories � exhibition.

G�ttweig Abbey Offers Many Surprises:

The Benedictine abbey is not only attractive because of the unique view you enjoy from there but also because of its important cultural heritage. Today it is a renowned and well frequented place for meeting, orienting, searching and arriving. Benedictie principles are up-to-date and meet the longing of many: searching for god, prayer, stability, respect for the individual, hospitality for the spiritually homeless people of today. Many experience a participation in the prayers, even if they only listen, as an encounter with god. Mass is a �filling station� giving new power for everyday life.
The convent at the end of the Wachau area is known throughout Europe as a place for meeting. The annual 2-day �European Forum Wachau� in G�ttweig attracts numerous international top politicians, VIPs, economists and journalists. They discuss the future of the EU and develop strategies. � Thanks to the renovation and extension of the abbey�s restaurant and the events area with the new Brunnensall hall (capacity: 300 persons) seminars and congresses can be hold there.
The new offers of the St. Altmann Exerzitienhaus building are truly innovative: besides well-tried courses like bible weekends, single and silent retreats, new weekend offers aim at persons that don�t usually feel at home in the catholic church, but have a spiritual longing and accept the hospitality of the abbey: offers for divorced and remarried persons, offers for persons who have left the catholic church but still believe. More and more persons spontaneously ask: �Can I come for a couple of days to slow down and find myself? Can I speak to a monk?� Many people look for and appreciate spiritual guidance. In 1997 the successful �Holidays in a Abbey� program started and shows that people from all over the world find an oasis in the abbey. Benedictine hospitality does not only include active Catholics but all people who look for peace and spiritual guidance.

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