Heiligenkreuz Monastery

Austria's second oldest Cistercian abbey, the Heiligenkreuz Monastery, founded in 1133, takes its name from the relic of a cross which an Austrian duke presented to the monks of the monastery. The collegiate church, the last resting place of several members of the House of Babenberg, was built in the 12th C. The buildings were renovated in the 17th and 18th C. and enlarged by the addition of a large courtyard with a two-story arcade and a gate tower. The richly decorated Trinity Column and the Joseph Fountain are modeled on the work of the Venetian Baroque sculptor Giovanni Giuliani (1663-1744) who lived in the monastery from 1711 until his death. On the west facade of the triple-naved church is a group of three windows typical of Cistercian churches. The Romanesque long house, with massive pillars, is in stark contrast to the bright Gothic choir with valuable 13th C. stained glass windows.