Schönbühel Monastery

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Schönbühel Monastery

The former Servitenkloster Schönbühel is located on a rock 500 m downstream from Schönbühel Castle (in Schönbühel on the Danube ) on the right bank of the Danube and was built from 1666. In 1980 the Servite monks left the monastery; it is looked after as a parish church today.

Monastery history

In 1666, Count Conrad Balthasar von Starhemberg (1611 / 12-1687) exclaimed, owner of Schloss Schönbühel and extensive possessions in Dunkelsteinerwald and the forest area , the Servite after Schönbühel an der Donau to build a monastery on the ruins of the popularly called Teufelsgschloß known Rock. Conrad Balthasar is the father of Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg , who made a name for himself as a defender of Vienna during the 2nd Turkish siege . This Teufelsgschloß was probably the remains of a wall from a medieval Danube observation point. There are also legends about these walls. For example, Plöckinger's "Wachausagen" says about the origins of the monastery:

Tomb of Christ Chapel

“In the place of the small monastery Schönbühel on the Danube, a knight's castle once stood on the rock rising from the Danube. But it was already completely dilapidated; Spirits were at work in it. The pious Count Starhemberg, who was lord of the castle at Schönbühel, had the little monastery built for the Servites in order to end the spook. "

In the year of her calling, the construction of a tomb chapel began and the first mass was celebrated on Christmas Eve in 1667. In 1669 a calvary was added. In that year a parish was set up in Schönbühel under the care of Servite Fathers ; the castle church served as a parish church.

A replica of the Bethlehem Grotto was built from 1670 to 1673 or 1675 . This construction goes to Eleonora de Gonzaga , widow of Emperor Ferdinand III. , back, which thus complied with a request of Count Conrad Balthasar. She obtained plans for the original and decided on the square near Schönbühel, as this situs was very similar to the one in Bethlehem, and there could not be a more convenient opportunity to set up this holy prayer far and wide . The foundation of the convent then became legally binding for 5 priests and 2 lay brothers in 1672. After that, the monastery was part of the small pilgrimage sites of the baroque Austria sacra . The replica of the Holy Sepulcher was very popular and was visited by many pilgrims . Emperor Leopold I was among them in 1675. Many processions from the surrounding areas to the pilgrimage church were created in the period that followed. When the plague reached its peak in 1679, the reputation of the Schönbühel pilgrimage strengthened, as the church is dedicated to the plague saint Rosalia . A Scapular Brotherhood was founded and "Miracle Books" report numerous answers to prayer in cases of illness.

Southeast view of the monastery church
Parish church

The monastery flourished until the Josephine era. Since 1786 the pilgrimage church of the monastery has also been a parish church, as the castle church was increasingly falling into disrepair. The interventions in the spiritual life, the restrictions on the baroque pilgrimage and devotion as well as the reduced number of priests led to a crisis in the monastery. The dissolution of the convent had already been decided, but was then rejected again because the parish rights lay on the monastery church.

In the coalition wars of 1805 and 1809 there was looting by French troops. As a result of this and the loss of foundations, the monastery got into a difficult situation. Church and monastery buildings were neglected and began to deteriorate. In the 19th century the abolition of the monastery was considered several times. Princess Elisabeth of Bavaria , who later became Empress Sisi, visited the monastery in 1844. This scene is also re - enacted in the first part of the Sissi films .

The renovation of the buildings began in 1967; a further structural deterioration was prevented, but the lack of priests in the Servite order caused the fathers to leave in 1980. According to the foundation contract, the monastery buildings were returned to the castle.

In the former monastery, St. Mass celebrated regularly; devotions also take place; a touristic visit is possible. The parish of Schönbühel has been run by the Göttweig monastery since it was abandoned by the Servites .

Surroundings of the monastery complex

Chapel on the footpath to the monastery

On the way from the village to the monastery there is a stand-alone chapel with an enclosed spring. It used to be very popular with pilgrims. In the chapel there was a copy of the miraculous image of Maria von Scharten and a statue of St. Rosalia .

Calvary

Calvary

The Kalvarienberg can be reached via a staircase directly at the door of the monastery. The figures show the change in style from early to late baroque.

Via sacra

At the instigation of Count Conrad Balthasar von Starhemberg, after the monastery was founded, a via sacra from Schönbühel via Aggsbach-Dorf to Maria Langegg was laid out. It connected the two pilgrimage sites looked after by the Servites to form the “Our Lady of Sorrows”. There were 15 rosary chapels along the way . 5 of them are still preserved. They are simple, compact buildings with a gable roof that house a deep niche that ends in a rounded arch at the back. At one of these chapels there are the remains of a tower wall. This so-called “Blashaus” had the purpose of announcing the nearby toll station in Aggsbach-Dorf to the passing ships with a horn .

Tavern house

In 1887 the philosopher Franz Brentano (1838–1917), a nephew of the poet Clemens Brentano , bought the tavern house next to the monastery. He converted it to his summer residence and settled there. The former Catholic priest, who had left the Church, maintained good contacts with his neighbors in the Servite monastery.

literature

  • W. Häusler: History of the Servite Monastery Schönbühel. Dissertation, Vienna 1969.
  • Gerhard Floßmannm: The Melk District: Volume 2 of a District Studies: A culture and travel guide. 1994, pp. 251-256.
  • NN Plöckinger: Watch statements. No. 15, p. 24.
  • Walpurga Oppeker: The Servitenkloster Schönbühel in pictures: additions to the building history. In: The Waldviertel. Issue 77/3, 2008, pp. 241-255.
  • Matthias J. Pernerstorfer (ed.): Construction and refurbishment of the "Godly House Bethlehem" in the Schönbühel Monastery on the Danube . Hollitzer, Vienna 2019 ISBN 978-3-99012-782-7 .

Web links

Commons : Schönbühel Monastery  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 48 ° 15 ′ 46 "  N , 15 ° 22 ′ 37"  E