Description of the attraction
The Cistercian Abbey of Schlierbach is located in Austria, in the city of the same name. The original building of the nunnery was built in 1355, but already around 1556, just after the Reformation, the monastery was abandoned. In 1620 the monastery resumed its work, and in 1672-1712 it was rebuilt in the Baroque style.
Due to the unrest in the country and during the Napoleonic Wars, Schlierbach Abbey fell into disrepair again, and was restored only towards the end of the 19th century. In the 20th century, things in the monastery improved: glass production and cheese making brought large incomes. Now, not only the abbey is open to visit, but also various monastic workshops. Tourists can also dine at the monastery restaurant.
The Schlierbach Convent was founded in 1355 by Eberhard von Wallsee, who ruled the province of Upper Austria. The monastery was founded in the building of the former castle of the Wallsee family, and on February 22 of the same year the first novice nuns arrived at the monastery. At the same time, a cloister was added to the abbey.
The main attraction of the abbey is the Gothic wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary, dating from 1320. It is now housed in the baroque covered gallery of the abbey. According to legend, this statue was brought from Swabia by the first novices of the newly opened monastery.
During the Reformation, the abbey was abandoned for 64 years, at first it was ruled by Lord Losenstein, head of Upper Austria, and later the Schlierbach Abbey was transferred to the management of the "Scottish" monastery in Vienna and the Kremsmünster Abbey. In 1620, the Schlierbach Abbey was converted into a Cistercian men's monastery, and monks from the Rhine Abbey, located near Graz, arrived here. In the years 1672-1712, the monastery was rebuilt in the Baroque style, construction work was carried out under the direction of the famous architect of the time, Pietro Francesco Carlone. The main cathedral itself was completed in 1680-1682, the ceiling of the church is especially bright and elaborately decorated.
In 1770, an organ appeared in the main cathedral, now only the frontal part remains of it, and the operating organ itself is a modern one, made in 1985. The modern building of the library was built in 1712 and is a cruciform ceremonial hall with Corinthian wooden columns. It is worth noting that due to poor organization, the collection of books remained rather modest by the end of the century. Moreover, due to the turbulent situation in the country, many books were hidden in storage, then lost, and only in 1974-1975 the library was finally restored.
Schlierbach Abbey fell into decay in the second half of the 18th century, during the reign of Emperor Joseph II, which was facilitated by the reforms carried out by him, limiting the power of the Roman Catholic Church. At the beginning of the 20th century, the economic growth of the abbey began, largely due to the fact that in 1884 a glass workshop was opened at the monastery, which won world recognition. It was the glass workshop of the Schlierbach Abbey that prepared the stained glass windows for the Resurrection Chapel in Brussels, built in 1907.
Since 1925, a school has been operating at the monastery, which in 1938 took up missionary work, going on a mission to the Brazilian state of Bahia. The Margret Bilger Gallery is also open at the monastery, where works from wood and glass are presented by the artist herself and various other exhibitions of contemporary art are held.
The abbey is also famous for its cheese dairy, opened in 1924, where St. Severin's cheese is made, the recipe for which was made by Father Leonard in 1920 and dedicated to St. Severin of Norick, the patron saint of Austria and protector from hunger. Visitors to the abbey can taste a variety of cheeses and sample the monastery's wines, cider and beer.
