Description of the attraction
The Abbey of St. Paul im Lavantal is a Benedictine monastery located on the banks of the Lavant River in Carinthia. The monastery is located 400 meters above sea level on a rocky hill. Most of the currently existing buildings of the monastery were built in the Baroque style in the 17th century. The 13th century cathedral church has survived from the old buildings.
The monastery was founded in 1091 by decree of the ruler of Carinthia on the site of the ancestral castle. In 1367, a fire that began with the burning of the towers destroyed part of the monastery. The destroyed buildings were soon repaired.
In the 15th century, during the enmity between Duke Frederick and Count Celje, who later became the abbot of the monastery, John I (1432-1448), the monastery was plundered, as a result of which many things from the collection were destroyed. Abbot John II of Esslinger (1455-1483) strengthened the defenses of the monastery by rebuilding the gates and walls. The fortifications were so good that even the invasion of the troops of the Hungarian king Matthew Corvinus in 1480 did not disturb the peace of the abbey.
In 1787, Emperor Joseph II dissolved the monastery, but already in 1809, under the leadership of Abbot Berthold Rottler, the monks from the newly opened Abbey of St. Blaise in the Black Forest moved to St. Paul im Lavantal.
In 1940, the monastery was disbanded again by the National Socialists, the monks were able to return only in 1947. Today it is the oldest active monastery in Carinthia.
The Romanesque church is of particular interest. its apse is decorated with ancient frescoes "Adoration of the Magi" and "Christ on the Throne". In the richest collection of the monastery museum you can see ancient vestments and old folios, engravings by Albrecht Durer and paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, as well as other works of art and rarities.
