Description: On the way from Vienna to Salzburg, you can visit the Melk Abbey - the pearl of the Austrian Baroque!
Melk Abbey is one of the most famous monasteries in the world. It is situated above the town of Melk on a rocky hillside overlooking the River Danube in Lower Austria, adjacent to the valley of the Wachau.
Leopold I, who in 976 as the Margrave of land were handed over today's south-western part of Lower Austria, Melk has made his residence. His heirs were decorated castle priceless treasures and relics, but in 1089 the Margrave Leopold II gave the castle of the monks benediktiantsam Lambaha thus was founded a monastery benediktiantsev. Ever since then, and now here continuously by the rules sv.Benedikta monks live and work
The school was founded in 12 century, and the monastic library soon became renowned for their extensive collection of manuscripts. Scriptoriums monastery was also the main place for the preparation of manuscripts. In the 15 th century abbey became the center of Melk reform movement, which has stepped up the monastic life in Austria and southern Germany.
Abbey, which we see today was built between 1702 and 1736 based on sketches by Jacob Prandtauer. Because of its fame and academic growth, Melk managed to escape elimination during the reign of Emperor Joseph II, when many other Austrian monasteries were destroyed between 1780 and 1790.
Abbey managed to survive and during other threats to its existence - during the Napoleonic wars, as well as during poslenatsistskogo Anschluss, which took control of Austria in 1938, when the school and most of the abbey were confiscated by the state. The school was returned to the abbey after the Second World War and now serves nearly 900 students of both sexes.
Marble Hall.
On the ceiling frescoes by Paul Troger (1731) depicting Pallas Athena in a chariot - a symbol of wisdom, to the left of Athens you can see the Hercules, symbolizing strength. The inscriptions above the doors - quote from the rules Sv.Benedikta: "Hospites tamquam Christus suscipiantur" (Guests must be accepted as Hritos) and "Et omnibus congruus honor exhibeatur" (Everyone should have a befitting honor). Served as a dining room for members of the imperial family, as well as for receiving guests during the festivities.
The walls are decorated with marble from gypsum, but the door inserts and nozzles above the doors are made of this Salzburg marble. Architectural painting around the ceiling frescoes Troger owned by Gaetano Fanti.
Library.
Beautiful artwork libraries shows little respect for the monks in this room. Ceiling frescoes by Paul Troger (1731/32) - a symbolic image of faith as opposed to a secular scenes of the Marble Hall. In the center is a female figure, an allegory of the Faith, it is surrounded by four groups of angels, depicting the cardinal virtues: wisdom, courage, prudence, justice. Four wooden sculptures, placed on either side of the door are images of four faculties: theology, philosophy, medicine and law.
Monastic church - is the culminating point of tours of the monastery, beautiful premises in the Baroque style. At 1701g at the insistence of Abbot Berthold Dietmeyra and the plans of Jacob Prandtayura was conceived a complete upgrade of the church. Famous masters participated in its decoration. Antonio Bedutstsi (interior architecture, sketches for murals), Johann Michael Rottmayr (frescoes, icons), Paul Troger (icons), Giuseppe Galli-Bibin (project of the department and the main altar), Lorenzo Mattilli (designs for sculptures) and Peter Viderin (sculpture).
love baroque! I think it's awesome!
Also in the Abbey is a park, but again because of the weather, we only skimmed it ....
Park Monastery and the garden pavilion with famous frescoes by Johann Wenzel Bergl can be viewed May to October. The park was divided v1750g Baroque, and in 1822 was largely redesigned in the English style. In the park grow old linden trees that are already 250 years old!
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