Herzogenburg Monastery


Herzogenburg Monastery is an Augustinian monastery located in Herzogenburg in Lower Austria. Founded in 1112 by Augustinian Canons, the monastery was refurbished in the Baroque style in 1714 by Jakob Prandtauer, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, and Josef Munggenast.

History

The monastery was founded in 1112 by Ulrich I, Bishop of Passau, at St. Georgen an der Traisen, now in Traismauer, at the confluence of the Traisen with the Danube. In 1244 because of frequent flooding it was moved up-river towards Herzogenburg. From 1714 the buildings were refurbished in the Baroque style by Jakob Prandtauer, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, and Josef Munggenast. The monastery was able to survive the dissolutions enforced by Emperor Joseph II in the late 18th century. Until 1783 the monastery was in the Diocese of Passau, afterwards in the Diocese of St. Pölten.

Monastery Church

The monastery church was established in about 1014 by Emperor Henry II and is dedicated to Saint Stephen the Protomartyr. In 1112 bishop Ulrich I gave the benefice of Herzogenburg to his newly founded monastery at St. Georgen, which moved to Herzogenburg in 1244.
There are few remains of the Gothic church. The architect of the present church building was Franz Munggenast. The rebuilt church was dedicated on 2 October 1785 and was the last significant Baroque church built in Austria.

Art collection

The emphasis of the collection is on late Gothic works such as panel paintings, sculptures and stained glass windows. The great banqueting hall, the treasury, and the monastic library, as well as the coin cabinet, underline the art-historical importance of the priory in Lower Austria. The Baroque picture gallery is also notable, and does not only contain religious works. A particular curiosity is a well-preserved Roman helmet, dating from about 150 A.D., which was found in a gravel pit in the vicinity.

Provosts

  1. Wisinto
  2. Raffoldus
  3. Ludger
  4. Hartwig
  5. Adalbert
  6. Berthold
  7. Wisinto II.
  8. Albert
  9. Hermann
  10. Heinrich
  11. Herbord
  12. Engelschalk
  13. Ortlof
  14. Ekhard
  15. Wolfker von Wielandstal
  16. Trost
  17. Herlieb von der Mühl
  18. Siegfried von Wildungsmauer
  19. Nikolaus I. Payger
  20. Johannes I. Schnabl
  21. Johannes II.
  22. Jakob I.
  23. Martin I.
  25. Martin II. Schenk
  26. Johannes III.
  27. Johannes IV.
  28. Ludwig Gössel
  29. Wolfgang
  30. Thomas I. Kasbauch
  31. Georg I. Eisner
  32. Kaspar Grinzinger
  33. Johannes V. Bernhard
  34. Bernhard I. Schönberger
  35. Philipp von Maugis
  36. Bartholomäus von Cataneis
  37. Johannes VI. Pülzer
  38. Johannes VII. Glaz
  39. Jakob II. Reisser
  40. Georg II. Brenner
  41. Paul Zynkh
  42. Johannes VIII. Rausch
  43. Ulrich Höllwirth
  44. Melchior Kniepichler
  45. Johannes IX. Hanolt
  46. Nikolaus II. Hay
  48. Johannes X. Bauer
  49. Joseph I. Kupferschein
  50. Anton Sardena
  51. Maximilian I. Herb
  52. Wilhelm Schmerling
  53. Leopold von Planta
  54. Frigdian I. Knecht
  55. Stephan Peschka
  56. Augustin Beyer
  57. Michael Teufel
  58. Aquilin Leuthner
  59. Bermhard II. Kluwick
  60. Karl Stix
  61. Josef II. Neugebauer
  62. Norbert Zach
  63. Frigdian II. Schmolk
  64. Georg III. Baumgartner
  65. Ubald Steiner
  66. Georg IV. Hahnl
  67. Thomas II. Zettel
  68. Clemens Moritz
  69. Maximilian II. Fürnsinn