Cloister
Construction of the cloister did not begin until 30 years after the monastery was founded. It was one of the largest in Austria, with sides measuring around 40 m. It was completed in 1260, after 30 years of construction.
The cloister (usually built onto the church to the south) takes its name from the fact that processions are held in it, with a cross being carried in front.
In addition to this spiritual significance (including reading, praying, meditating), the cloister also has a very practical function: it connects all the rooms in the monastery with each other, and also with the church.
The ribbed vault and the arched openings rest on almost 400 marble columns.
The number of them per bay is not the same - a lot of medieval numerical symbolism can be found in them.
An endless variety of different keystones (behind some of them birds nest), consoles, cluster pillars and capitals document the famous Cistercian architecture.
Well house
After the monastery's first heyday, the Reformation brought about a major decline. Instead of 100 monks, there were only six.
But things improved again in the Baroque period. In the 17th century, a philosophical and theological college was founded, which existed until the 19th century.
In 1810, there was a devastating fire. The medieval refectory, the monks' dormitory, the Sebastian Chapel and the well house were lost. The medieval well house was destroyed in a fire at the monastery in 1810, so it was rebuilt in the historicist style in 1886.
The cloister is otherwise only glazed on the north side. These are windows from the 14th century that were once installed in the church on Annaberg (a few kilometers away).
Chapter room
The chapter room takes its name from the daily reading of a chapter from the Rule of Saint Benedict.
The square room was created in the earliest construction period - probably from 1202.
Today it serves as a winter church and prayer room for the congregation.