Description of the attraction
Engelszel Abbey is the only Trappist monastery in Austria. It was a former Cistercian monastery located in Upper Austria. The monastery was founded in 1293 by Bishop Bernhard as a Cistercian monastery. In 1295 monks from Vilchering lived in the monastery. During the Reformation, there was an economic and spiritual decline, the monastery for some time passed into private ownership. In 1618, Wilhering Abbey intervened, deciding to provide financial support for the restoration of the abbey. On Easter Sunday 1699, a fire broke out in Engelszel Abbey, which caused new financial difficulties. In 1746, Leopold Reichl, the last and greatest of the abbots of Engelszel, began to rebuild the abbey, using his own funds as well.
In 1786, the abbey was dissolved by Emperor Joseph II, and the building was used for social events. The building was used again as a Trappist monastery in 1925 by refugees. These were German monks expelled from Olenberg (an abbey in Alsace) after the First World War, who found temporary refuge in Banz Abbey, but felt the need for a permanent residence. In 1931, Engelszel was elevated to the rank of abbey, and Gregory Eisvogel was appointed abbot.
In early December 1939, the monastery was confiscated by the Gestapo, and the community of 73 people was evicted from the abbey. Four monks were sent to a concentration camp, while others were imprisoned or drafted into the army. At the end of World War II, only a third of the community returned to the abbey. However, they were joined by refugees from a Bosnian Trappist monastery, along with their abbot.
Since 1995, Marian Hauseder has been appointed abbot of Engelszel Abbey. Currently, the abbey is home to 7 monks.
