Kloster Neustift

About the museum

The Abbey of Novacella (in German Kloster Neustift) was founded in 1142 by the Bishop of Bressanone, Hartmann, as an Augustinian canonry, and is still inhabited today by Regular Canons. Over the centuries it has been a centre of faith, learning and culture: the abbey school, with a boarding house, dates back to 1160, and vine cultivation is documented from its origins.

The complex includes the minor basilica with Baroque frescoes and rococo stuccoes, the Gothic cloister with cross vaults and late Gothic frescoes, the library with almost 100,000 volumes and precious manuscripts, and the picture gallery with altarpieces and Gothic panel paintings. A special room is the 18th-century Chinese Cabinet, restored between 2020 and 2021.

The abbey was suppressed in the Napoleonic period and restored in 1816. During the Second World War it was used as a supply depot and partly destroyed; it has been restored since 1949. Today it is a living abbey, with a museum, wine shop, cellar, tavern, garden and training centre.

Highlights

• Minor basilica with Baroque frescoes and rococo stuccoes
• Gothic cloister with cross vaults and late Gothic frescoes
• Library with almost 100,000 volumes and a precious collection of manuscripts
• Picture gallery with Gothic panel paintings
• 18th-century Chinese Cabinet, restored in 2020–2021
• Abbey garden and cellar with wine shop

Permanent exhibition

• Museo dell'abbazia: basilica, chiostro, biblioteca e pinacoteca – Route through the Baroque basilica, the Gothic cloister with late Gothic frescoes, the library, the picture gallery with Gothic panel paintings and the 18th-century Chinese Cabinet.

Founded

1142

Operated by

Canonici regolari agostiniani dell'abbazia di Novacella

Visitors per year

approx. 43,186

Admission & discounts

The museum ticket includes the audio guide.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: not available
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

No information on accessibility is available. Dogs are not admitted.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The abbey is about 3 km from Bressanone, in the direction of the Val Pusteria.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Osteria dell’Abbazia, cellar with wine shop and the abbey’s online shop; the garden with the Pozzo delle Meraviglie (Well of Wonders) can be visited from May to October.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit