Stift Dürnstein

About the museum

Its beginnings go back to 1372, when a chapel of St Mary was consecrated in Dürnstein, for which Elisabeth of Kuenring had donated her property. In 1410 her heir Otto of Maissau founded a monastery there and brought in Augustinian canons from Wittingau in Bohemia. In the 15th century the church, cloister and conventual building were built, whose layout also determined later alterations.

From the late 17th century the complex was given a Baroque makeover. Provost Hieronymus Übelbacher was formative; from 1710 he had the convent, church, cloister and the striking blue tower renewed and set the theological programme. Those involved included Joseph Munggenast, Jakob Prandtauer and Matthias Steinl; the abbey church, remodelled in 1721–1724, has a rotating tabernacle in the form of a globe and a Baroque organ from 1724.

Under Emperor Joseph II the abbey was dissolved in 1788 and handed over to the Augustinian canons' abbey of Herzogenburg, which has looked after it to this day. A comprehensive restoration followed in the 1980s.

In winter 2018/19, previously inaccessible rooms were converted for the permanent exhibition "Entdeckung des Wertvollen", which since 2019 has conveyed the guiding ideas of the building – the good, the beautiful and the true. The building also houses a parish house, a primary school, apartments and event rooms.

Highlights

• Blue Baroque tower and Danube terrace with views into the Wachau
• Permanent exhibition "Entdeckung des Wertvollen"
• Abbey church with rotating globe tabernacle
• 15th-century Dürnstein Madonna and the Dürnstein monstrance
• Gothic pillared hall with town model
• Baroque cloister and crypt

Permanent exhibition

• Entdeckung des Wertvollen – Tour through previously inaccessible rooms from the Gothic pillared hall via the Danube terrace to the abbey church, organised around the good, the beautiful and the true; on show are, among other things, the Dürnstein Madonna, the monstrance and a town model.

Operated by

Augustiner-Chorherrenstift Herzogenburg

Admission & discounts

20% discount with a DDSG Blue Danube ticket; guests of the Wachaubahn receive the audio guide free of charge. Conversely, DDSG grants 20% off Wachau boat trips with the abbey ticket.

Accessibility

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

The exhibition is accessible by lift without barriers (Euro key required, staff will help). One step at the church entrance; a ramp is laid out if needed. Accessible toilet reached via the abbey courtyard. There are no disabled parking spaces in the old town; they are located outside the centre, and access for drop-off and pick-up is possible. Companions free if noted in the ID.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

Free family activity booklet with tasks on the exhibition; in the creative room the church tower can be rebuilt with building blocks. Children's tours by prior booking; for school classes from grades 1–9 an abbey tour (approx. 1 hr.) and the themed tour "Why is the tower blue?" (approx. 1.5 hrs.). Baby changing table in the accessible toilet.

Getting there & parking

From Vienna via the A1 to the St. Pölten junction and the S33 towards Krems (or S5), from Krems the B3 to Dürnstein; from Linz/Salzburg via the A1 to the Melk junction and the B3. Bicycle racks in front of the abbey portal.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Lockers

Museum shop (also the ticket desk) with devotional items, gifts and regional products; lockable luggage lockers; bicycle racks in front of the abbey portal.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 120 guests.

Banquet hall with ceiling fresco by "Kremser Schmidt" and views of the Danube (up to 120 people, theatre-style seating), two Künstlerbund rooms (approx. 50 people each) for concerts, conferences and exhibitions; all rooms on the 1st floor with lift. Abbey church for weddings, christenings and wedding anniversaries, crypt for small celebrations (approx. 30 seats).

Plan your visit