Benedictine Abbey of Kremsmünster
Since 777, a monastic community has lived, prayed, and worked in the Benedictine Abbey of Kremsmünster. Today, 39 monks strive to implement the teachings of the 1,500-year-old Rule of Saint Benedict in the 21st century. The monastery is, above all, a place of spiritual life, which finds diverse expression: in the liturgy, as a spiritual center for its parishes, and in its commitment to culture and education in the high school and the monastic collections. Furthermore, the abbey is also an important business and employer.
The Benedictine spirit should be felt everywhere, as Benedict writes in the chapter on the monastery's artisans:
"So that God may be glorified in everything." (RB 57.9)
The order's founder, Benedict, already assumed that monks could work and support themselves.
The monastery thus offers a variety of businesses and products:
Gardening, winery, monastery shop, forestry, event location & rental
The Observatory:
A Universe in Miniature
The view of the night sky has always fascinated people. Celestial phenomena have been observed in the observatory for centuries. Today, the impressive telescopes are on display as exhibits in the Natural History Museum. Even a sextant by Johannes Kepler and a valuable collection of globes fascinate visitors in the astronomy hall. To this day, the weather is actively recorded in the tower's weather chamber. This continuous series of measurements, which has been in place since 1762, is of great importance for climate research today.
The Library:
The library is a central space for a monastery, as reading and studying are an inseparable part of monastic life. Over the centuries, the monks in Kremsmünster have not only studied the Bible or theology, but have also collected books from a wide variety of fields. Today the library contains around 230,000 volumes.