Rein#

Rein, Styria, small rural settlement in the district of Graz-Umgebung, alt. 453 m, old monastic settlement north-west of Gratwein, located in the municipality of Eisbach. - Rein Bundesgymnasium (federal secondary school), Institute for Artistic Design of the Technical University of Graz, home economics school. Founded in 1129, Rein has the oldest Cistercian monastery (in uninterrupted existence) in Austria; originally Romanesque collegiate church, 1738-1747 Baroque alterations, lively eastern façade, frescoes (1766) by J. A. Moelk, high altar painting (1779) by M. J. Schmidt, sepulchral chapel with tomb of Duke Ernst der Eiserne (died 1424); monastery building with homage hall and "Steinerner Saal" hall; Gothic cruciform chapel (1406); cloister (alterations around 1600); "Neuer Konvent" building with arcades (1628). Customs: "Schluesselfest" celebration on White Sunday after Easter (deanery celebration and church dedication day) as a symbol of the bonds that exist with the monastery.

Literature#