!!!Göttweig

Goettweig, Lower Austria, Benedictine abbey near the market town of 
Furth. From the late Neolithic period to the Romans, settlements on 
Goettweig mountain. The abbey was founded by Bishop Altmann von Passau 
(Augustinians) in 1083 and taken over by the Benedictines in 1094; the 
Benedictines were given large estates and several parishes in this 
area. It burned down in 1580 and was rebuilt by C. Biasino. During the 
17%%sup th/%  and 18%%sup th/%  centuries, abbots like G.  Bessel were 
powerful and influential men in the Goettweig region. In 1718 the 
abbey was again destroyed by a fire, and partly rebuilt according to 
construction plans by J.L. von Hildebrandt. The only remaining 
building from the early Baroque period is the Eretrudis chapel. - 
Collegiate church: Gothic choir (1402-1431), early Baroque nave 
(1620), classical façade, lavish ornamentation and furnishings 
from the late Baroque period, crypt with tombstone of the founder. The 
abbey´s staircase (Kaiserstiege, with fresco by P. Troger) is 
considered one of the main works of Austrian Baroque architecture. The 
abbey comprises the magnificently decorated prelacy and state rooms 
(Fuerstenzimmer). It houses an art collection and the biggest private 
collection of graphic art in Austria and hosts special art 
exhibitions. - With 30 parishes, Goettweig Abbey is an important 
centre of pastoral work.

!Literature
G. Lechner and H. Fasching, Stift Goettweig, 1977; 900 
Jahre Goettweig, exhibition catalogue, 1983; Geschichte des Stiftes 
Goettweig, Studien und Mitteilungen aus dem Benediktinerorden 94, 
1983.


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