Description of the attraction
The Abbey of Marienberg, also known as Monte Maria, is a Benedictine abbey located in the town of Mals in South Tyrol in the very north of Italy. It was founded in 1149 or 1150 by Ulrich von Tarasp and other aristocrats. Standing at an altitude of 1340 meters above sea level, this abbey is considered the "highest" in Europe. The building clearly shows the features of the Baroque style with some Romanesque elements, and inside the old frescoes are perfectly preserved.
The history of the founding of the abbey dates back to the Frankish king Charlemagne, who between 780 and 786 founded a Benedictine monastery near Toubre, a town on the Vinschgau valley bordering Switzerland. At the end of the 9th century, the Benedictine monastery was disbanded and reopened as a monastery for both sexes. About two hundred years later, another reorganization took place, when Eberhard of Taraspsky built a monastery in the town of Scuol in the Inn valley, where the male population of the Tubre monastery moved. The nuns stayed where they were. In 1131, Ulrich von Tarasp summoned monks from the German monastery Ottobeuren to Tubra - an influx of novices made it possible to turn the monastery into an abbey. So in 1149 a new commune called Marienberg appeared on a hill near the village of Burgusio.
About a hundred years after its founding, a serious conflict broke out at the abbey. It was plundered twice, and in 1304 the abbot Herman was killed. Then an outbreak of plague broke out, as a result of which almost the entire population of the abbey died, with the exception of four people. Among the survivors were the abbot Vigo and the novice Gosvin, who later became a priest and chronicler of the abbey's history. He wrote the history of Marienberg: the first book tells about the founding of the abbey, the second about the history of the abbots, and the third lists the privileges granted by the popes and rulers. Gosvin was also the court priest of the Austrian Duke Leopold III.
In 1418, Marienberg was burned to the ground and later rebuilt. After a short period of abandonment in the 16th century, several German monks rebuilt the abbey and expanded it. In 1634 it became part of the Benedictine Congregation of Swabia. A little later, the library was significantly increased, and the younger novices were charged with completing school. In 1724, the abbot John Baptist Murr founded a humanistic school in Meran, which to this day is run by the monks of the abbey. Today Marienberg specializes in adult education: the abbey hosts weekend courses and long-term educational programs. In addition, you can book a special tour here to get to know this ancient building and the history of its inhabitants.
