Stift Admont

About the museum

Admont Benedictine Abbey was founded in 1074 by Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg, based on an endowment by Saint Hemma of Gurk. In the Middle Ages Admont was a spiritual and cultural centre, which from the 12th to the 16th century also included a convent of nuns. After difficult years during the Reformation, the abbey enjoyed a new heyday in the Baroque period.

The complex received its centrepiece in 1776: to plans by the master builder Josef Hueber, the library hall, about 70 metres long, was built on commission of Abbot Matthäus Offner. Bartolomeo Altomonte created the seven ceiling frescoes, the abbey sculptor Josef Stammel the sculptures, including the group of the "Four Last Things". Around 60,000 volumes stand in the hall; the entire holdings comprise about 200,000 works, including more than 1,400 manuscripts and 530 incunabula. The devastating abbey fire of 1865 destroyed mainly the older parts of the buildings, after which the monastery was rebuilt.

As early as the Baroque era there was a "Musaeum" for natural objects; in 1809 a natural history cabinet followed, which burned down in 1865. Father Gabriel Strobl then built up a new natural history collection, including one of the most important insect collections in Europe. In 2003 the abbey opened a large museum combining old and new: a Natural History Museum and an Art History Museum, since 2017 a Gothic Museum with the Mayer Collection, a Museum of Contemporary Art with commissioned works from the series "Made for Admont", and a museum workshop for children. Benedictine monks still live in Admont today, running parishes, a secondary school and commercial enterprises.

Highlights

• Late Baroque library hall of 1776, the largest monastic library hall in the world
• Ceiling frescoes by Bartolomeo Altomonte and sculptures by Josef Stammel
• Natural History Museum with historic rooms and Father Gabriel Strobl's insect collection
• Gothic Museum with the Mayer Collection of late Gothic sculpture
• Museum of Contemporary Art with the collection "Jenseits des Sehens" ("Beyond Seeing") for blind and sighted visitors
• Abbey gardens with herb garden and Baroque chapels

Permanent exhibitions

• Weltgrößte Klosterbibliothek – The late Baroque hall of 1776 unites architecture, frescoes by Altomonte and sculptures by Stammel with around 60,000 volumes.
• Kunsthistorisches Museum – Admont's art treasures from the Middle Ages to the present, with a focus on the embroideries of Brother Benno Haan and the carvings of Josef Stammel; on the same floor the Gothic Museum shows the Mayer Collection.
• Naturhistorisches Museum – Rooms partly preserved in their historic state with taxidermy specimens, minerals, Father Gabriel Strobl's insect collection, wax fruits and a room on the Gesäuse National Park.

Founded

1074

Operated by

Benediktinerstift Admont

Director

P. Maximilian Schiefermüller OSB

Admission & discounts

Discounts only against ID and exclusively at the day ticket office; individual tickets cannot be reserved. Admission includes the library and all museum areas; the library can also be visited without a tour.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the abbey, the library and museum are accessible without barriers. The collection "Jenseits des Sehens" brings together art for blind and sighted visitors, and the courtyard garden has an "Invisible Garden". Animals are not allowed in the museum, except assistance dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly

Museum workshop for children aged 5 to 14 with workshops such as papermaking, monastery medicine or writing like a monk; in the programme "Museum mit allen Sinnen" ("Museum with All Senses"), objects from the Natural History Museum may be touched. During the summer holidays there are children's programmes for 6- to 12-year-olds (max. 10 children, registration required).

Getting there & parking

By car via the Pyhrn Autobahn A9, exit Ardning, then about 10 km on the B146 to Admont; alternatively from the north-east via Amstetten, Weyer and St. Gallen, from the east via Eisenerz and the Gesäuse, or from the south via the Kaiserau road.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Restaurant Stiftskeller with beer garden on the abbey grounds; monastery shop with books, regional products and wines from the abbey's own winery, accessible without a museum ticket.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Concerts, readings and conferences at the abbey on request via the contact form; weddings, christenings, family celebrations and corporate events in the Stiftskeller.

Plan your visit