Schlierbach Abbey

Geschichte

Schlierbach Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in Schlierbach, Austria founded in 1355, and rebuilt in the last quarter of the 17th century. The original foundation was a convent for nuns, abandoned around 1556 during the Protestant Reformation. The abbey was reoccupied as a monastery in 1620, and rebuilt in magnificent baroque style between 1672 and 1712. The monastery again went into decline with the upheavals before, during and after the Napoleonic era. It recovered only towards the end of the 19th century. In the 20th century the abbey established a viable economy based on a glass works, school, cheese manufacturing and other enterprises. The abbey is open to visitors, who may take tours, attend workshops and dine at the monastery restaurant.HistoryConventThe convent of Aula Beatae Virginis was established in 1355 by Eberhard von Wallsee, governor of Upper Austria, in a castle that he owned. The abbey became the home of Cistercian nuns, who took up residence on 22 February 1355. Schlierbach was also called Marien Saal . A 1762 description noted that it was "situate on an eminence, which gives it the agreeable prospect of the beautiful Kremsthal. This cloyster was erected in the year 1355, and is possessed of the citadels of Mossenbach, Hochhaus near Forchdorf, and Grub or Muhlgrub." The Schöne Madonna sculpture held by the abbey was made for Albrecht II around 1340 and donated to the nuns.During the Protestant Reformation the convent closed down around 1556 and was neglected for 64 years. In the 1570s the abandoned convent's properties were being profitably administered by the governor of Upper Austria, Dietmar, Lord of Losenstein. From about 1594 to about 1600 Johann Stainsdorfer of the Schotten Abbey was the administrator, and then the Kremsmünster Abbey took over administration.