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Heiligenkreuz Monastery Description
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
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Hobbies & Activities category: Architecture - Romanesque;  Significant work of art;  Architecture - Gothic;  Library;  Christian sites;  Architecture - Baroque or Rococo;  Standalone sculpture, statue or fountain
Heiligenkreuz Monastery Highlights

Abbey Chapter Room

Adjoining the Heiligenkreuz Abbey cloister is the Chapter Room, in the floor of which can be seen the memorial slab of Frederick II, who died in battle against the Hungarians in 1246; his death saw the end of the Babenberg reign in Austria.

Abbey Church

On the west facade of the triple aisled church will be seen a group of three windows typical of Cistercian churches. The Romanesque main nave, lined by massive pillars, is in sharp contrast to the
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Abbey Cloister

The Cloister south of the Heiligenkreuz Abbey church (guided tours only) is in a style transitional between Romanesque and Gothic (1220-50). Its 300 columns are of red marble. Worth noting are the
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Abbey Courtyard

The Heiligenkreuz Abbey buildings are grouped around a spacious courtyard. It contains a richly decorated Trinity Column and the Baroque Josefsbrunnen (fountain), designed by the Venetian sculptor
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Abbey Library

The Heiligenkreuz Abbey possesses a large Library (visit by application) with valuable manuscripts of the 11th- 13th C., some of them written in the abbey itself. In the Abbey Museum (west wing of
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Hours
April 1 to October 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:009:009:009:009:009:009:00
Closed11:3011:3011:3011:3011:3011:3011:30
Open13:3013:3013:3013:3013:3013:3013:30
Closed17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
November 1 to March 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open13:3013:3013:3013:3013:3013:3013:30
Closed16:0016:0016:0016:0016:0016:0016:00
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