Don Quijote de Viena
Wien, 1. Bezirk - Benedictine Abbey of Our Dear Lady of the Scots, Abbaye bénédictine de Notre-Dame-aux-Écossais, Abbazia benedettina di Nostra Signora di Scozia, Abadía Benedictina de Nuestra Señora a los Escocés (Schottengasse/Freyung)
(further information and pictures you can see by clicking on the link at the end of page!)
Schottenstift
Schottenstift Exterior - © Schottenstift
In the heart of Vienna lies the abbey of Our Lady to the Scots, the habitat of Benedictine monks who know themselves addressed by this sentence from the book of Psalms in person.
By the aim of the search for God and by the concrete form of life the monks are associated with the many Benedictine monks and Benedictine nuns all over the world. In addition, they know themselves in solidarity with all people of good will, like them, seeking true life.
Schottenstift - © Schottenstift
Following the Benedictine rules, the monastery but provides also very specific services. In the spirit of Benedictine hospitality the Schottenstift offers »monastery for a limited time", in the as a bed and breakfast run Benediktushaus guests from all over the world are welcome. The pastoral and spiritual care are just as much part of everyday life of the members of the Convention as the teaching in the traditional Scots high school and youth work in the basement. In the spirited Scots parish a lively cultural activity can unfold.
History of the Schottenstift
Duke Henry II Jasomirgott made Vienna the residence of Babenbergerreiches (Kingdom of the Babenberg). To emphasize the importance of the new capital, he convened in 1155 iroschottische (Irish-Scottish) monks from the St. Jakob monastery in Regensburg to Vienna. The new foundation in the first place should be a place of prayer, but then also a place where pilgrims and guests could find admission, a refuge for asylum seekers (the name "Freyung" still today reminds of that) and a center of cultural life.
Scots Church - © S. Gaube, Citype Scots Church - © S. Gaube, Citype
In the years from 1160 to 1200 outside the former city limits arose a mighty Romanesque church, which was a lot bigger than today's church, and the eastern part of the Roman church reached about 25 meters beyond the east wall of the present house of worship. In 1200, the church and convent were consecrated by the Bishop of Passau Wolfger von Ellenbrechtskirchen. Already in 1276 much of this troublesome erected complex fell victim to a fire. Earthquakes in the years 1348 and 1443 again left traces of destruction. In the mid-15th Century thus arose a new monastery.
Scots Church - © S. Gaube, Citype
In 1418 the era of Irish-Scottish monks ended, since in the course of the Melker Reform they were encouraged also to integrate locals into their ranks because junior staff more and more became sparse. The Iroschotten but prefered to return to their mother abbey in Regensburg. The name "Scots" but remained to this day.
Schottenstift Deed - © Schottenstift
Deed of Foundation
The fundamental redesign of Scots Abbey falls in the 17th and 18th Century. 1648, the present church was completed, in the following decades the monastery complex was changed from its very foundations.
Decisive role in these buildings had Abbot Carl Fetzer (1705-1750). Today's "Schottenhof (Court)" under abbot Andreas Wenzel (1807-1831) by the architect Josef Kornhäusel was classicist redesigned. The intensive study of science and close ties to the in 1365 founded University of Vienna resulted yet in the times of irish-scottish monks in the emergence of a first library. Although from those roots today almost nothing remains, the number of medieval manuscripts and incunabula in the following centuries grew. In this regard, wrote Albert P. Huebl (1867-1931) all currently valid printed catalogs. During the reorganization of the monastery, a new library hall was built under Abbot Andreas Wenzel for printed books, whose current division Vincent P. Knauer (1828-1894) had created. Under his leadership, a handwritten nominal catalog of books was created in 1883.
In 1807 on the request of the emperor it came to the foundation of the "Schottengymnasium" which took up the old school tradition of the house on the Freyung and should it continue. The prestigious school has become a main area of work of the monks. Concerning the building structure, the two world wars the Schottenstift on the whole has survived intact, for the Convention itself they entailed great damage, be it the economic troubles after the first world war or the great human bloodletting in the years 1939 to 1945. Numerous brothers fell in the war or did not return, the gates of the school remained closed from 1938 to 1945. The Second Vatican Council for the Scots Abbey, too, entailed the profound reflection upon the peculiarities of the monastic life and the tasks, which a Benedictine community in the world of today should and can shoulder.
The museum in Schottenstift
Schottenstift - © Schottenstift
Important art dating back several centuries
The Vienna Schottenstift on Freyung is among the most important Benedictine monasteries in Austria. Yet in the 15th Century, the Abbey of the Scots developed into a center of the Vienna spiritual and city life. Not coincidentally shows the Scots masters altar the first topographically correct view of the city of Vienna. The reign of Barockabtes (Baroque abbot) Carl Fetzer (1705-1750) was an economic and cultural heyday. The 1826-1832 by Josef Kornhäusel designed Prelature now houses the "Museum in the Abbey of the Scots". In addition to an extensive collection of paintings, furniture, tapestries, vestments and liturgical utensils and vestments, it shows an impressive documentation of the monastery history.
Schottenstift - © Schottenstift
Scots Champion - © Schottenstift Scots Masters - © Schottenstift
The high altar of the original Gothic collegiate church was removed about 1640. Today, the altar of the "Wiener Scots Master (Schottenmeister)", originating from 1469 to 1480, is a masterpiece of late Gothic painting in Austria and the center of the museum in Schottenstift. History, development process, workshop operations, among others, illustrates an informative documentary, which complement the successor works to Flemish painting of the 17th Century by Josse de Momper the Younger and David Vinckboons.
In Schottenstift the Interested visitor finds in addition to major religious paintings (among others by Peter Paul Rubens, Jan Cossiers and Giovanni Battista Pittoni), portrait and landscape painting of the 17th and 18th Century (eg by Johann Christian Brand, Christian Seybold, Christoph Paudiss and Simon de Vos) and Vienna Biedermeier painting by Johann Baptist Drechsler, Johann Knapp, Thomas Ender and Johann Peter Krafft. Works of the Dutch and Austrian still life painting of the 17th and 18th Century complement the valuable private collection. The large-sized former Baroque high altar painting by Joachim von Sandrart »The heavenly glory" (1671) in Prälatensaal is, like the lecture hall with works of Austrian baroque painters, as Peter Paul Strudel and Tobias Pock, integrated into the museum complex.
Wien, 1. Bezirk - Benedictine Abbey of Our Dear Lady of the Scots, Abbaye bénédictine de Notre-Dame-aux-Écossais, Abbazia benedettina di Nostra Signora di Scozia, Abadía Benedictina de Nuestra Señora a los Escocés (Schottengasse/Freyung)
(further information and pictures you can see by clicking on the link at the end of page!)
Schottenstift
Schottenstift Exterior - © Schottenstift
In the heart of Vienna lies the abbey of Our Lady to the Scots, the habitat of Benedictine monks who know themselves addressed by this sentence from the book of Psalms in person.
By the aim of the search for God and by the concrete form of life the monks are associated with the many Benedictine monks and Benedictine nuns all over the world. In addition, they know themselves in solidarity with all people of good will, like them, seeking true life.
Schottenstift - © Schottenstift
Following the Benedictine rules, the monastery but provides also very specific services. In the spirit of Benedictine hospitality the Schottenstift offers »monastery for a limited time", in the as a bed and breakfast run Benediktushaus guests from all over the world are welcome. The pastoral and spiritual care are just as much part of everyday life of the members of the Convention as the teaching in the traditional Scots high school and youth work in the basement. In the spirited Scots parish a lively cultural activity can unfold.
History of the Schottenstift
Duke Henry II Jasomirgott made Vienna the residence of Babenbergerreiches (Kingdom of the Babenberg). To emphasize the importance of the new capital, he convened in 1155 iroschottische (Irish-Scottish) monks from the St. Jakob monastery in Regensburg to Vienna. The new foundation in the first place should be a place of prayer, but then also a place where pilgrims and guests could find admission, a refuge for asylum seekers (the name "Freyung" still today reminds of that) and a center of cultural life.
Scots Church - © S. Gaube, Citype Scots Church - © S. Gaube, Citype
In the years from 1160 to 1200 outside the former city limits arose a mighty Romanesque church, which was a lot bigger than today's church, and the eastern part of the Roman church reached about 25 meters beyond the east wall of the present house of worship. In 1200, the church and convent were consecrated by the Bishop of Passau Wolfger von Ellenbrechtskirchen. Already in 1276 much of this troublesome erected complex fell victim to a fire. Earthquakes in the years 1348 and 1443 again left traces of destruction. In the mid-15th Century thus arose a new monastery.
Scots Church - © S. Gaube, Citype
In 1418 the era of Irish-Scottish monks ended, since in the course of the Melker Reform they were encouraged also to integrate locals into their ranks because junior staff more and more became sparse. The Iroschotten but prefered to return to their mother abbey in Regensburg. The name "Scots" but remained to this day.
Schottenstift Deed - © Schottenstift
Deed of Foundation
The fundamental redesign of Scots Abbey falls in the 17th and 18th Century. 1648, the present church was completed, in the following decades the monastery complex was changed from its very foundations.
Decisive role in these buildings had Abbot Carl Fetzer (1705-1750). Today's "Schottenhof (Court)" under abbot Andreas Wenzel (1807-1831) by the architect Josef Kornhäusel was classicist redesigned. The intensive study of science and close ties to the in 1365 founded University of Vienna resulted yet in the times of irish-scottish monks in the emergence of a first library. Although from those roots today almost nothing remains, the number of medieval manuscripts and incunabula in the following centuries grew. In this regard, wrote Albert P. Huebl (1867-1931) all currently valid printed catalogs. During the reorganization of the monastery, a new library hall was built under Abbot Andreas Wenzel for printed books, whose current division Vincent P. Knauer (1828-1894) had created. Under his leadership, a handwritten nominal catalog of books was created in 1883.
In 1807 on the request of the emperor it came to the foundation of the "Schottengymnasium" which took up the old school tradition of the house on the Freyung and should it continue. The prestigious school has become a main area of work of the monks. Concerning the building structure, the two world wars the Schottenstift on the whole has survived intact, for the Convention itself they entailed great damage, be it the economic troubles after the first world war or the great human bloodletting in the years 1939 to 1945. Numerous brothers fell in the war or did not return, the gates of the school remained closed from 1938 to 1945. The Second Vatican Council for the Scots Abbey, too, entailed the profound reflection upon the peculiarities of the monastic life and the tasks, which a Benedictine community in the world of today should and can shoulder.
The museum in Schottenstift
Schottenstift - © Schottenstift
Important art dating back several centuries
The Vienna Schottenstift on Freyung is among the most important Benedictine monasteries in Austria. Yet in the 15th Century, the Abbey of the Scots developed into a center of the Vienna spiritual and city life. Not coincidentally shows the Scots masters altar the first topographically correct view of the city of Vienna. The reign of Barockabtes (Baroque abbot) Carl Fetzer (1705-1750) was an economic and cultural heyday. The 1826-1832 by Josef Kornhäusel designed Prelature now houses the "Museum in the Abbey of the Scots". In addition to an extensive collection of paintings, furniture, tapestries, vestments and liturgical utensils and vestments, it shows an impressive documentation of the monastery history.
Schottenstift - © Schottenstift
Scots Champion - © Schottenstift Scots Masters - © Schottenstift
The high altar of the original Gothic collegiate church was removed about 1640. Today, the altar of the "Wiener Scots Master (Schottenmeister)", originating from 1469 to 1480, is a masterpiece of late Gothic painting in Austria and the center of the museum in Schottenstift. History, development process, workshop operations, among others, illustrates an informative documentary, which complement the successor works to Flemish painting of the 17th Century by Josse de Momper the Younger and David Vinckboons.
In Schottenstift the Interested visitor finds in addition to major religious paintings (among others by Peter Paul Rubens, Jan Cossiers and Giovanni Battista Pittoni), portrait and landscape painting of the 17th and 18th Century (eg by Johann Christian Brand, Christian Seybold, Christoph Paudiss and Simon de Vos) and Vienna Biedermeier painting by Johann Baptist Drechsler, Johann Knapp, Thomas Ender and Johann Peter Krafft. Works of the Dutch and Austrian still life painting of the 17th and 18th Century complement the valuable private collection. The large-sized former Baroque high altar painting by Joachim von Sandrart »The heavenly glory" (1671) in Prälatensaal is, like the lecture hall with works of Austrian baroque painters, as Peter Paul Strudel and Tobias Pock, integrated into the museum complex.