Monastery Millstatt
   Photo: Monastery Millstatt

Millstatt Monastery - a former monastery located in Millstatt am See in Carinthia. It was founded in 1070 and for centuries was the spiritual and cultural center of Carinthia.

Millstatt was founded by brothers Aribot II and Potto from the Bavarian family Aribonidov. Abbey flourished under the patronage of Pope Calixtus II, and in 1245 the abbot Millstatt even got the right to sew papal vestments of the archbishop of Salzburg. The brightest period in the development of the abbot of the monastery fell to Otto III. At that time it was written many valuable manuscripts, countless impressive foundations made donations to the monastery.

Millstatt in 1274 was destroyed by fire, restoring the Abbot Otto IV, the work was done until 1291.

When the Emperor Frederick the monastery fell into disrepair: morality has degenerated, the building gradually fell apart, and abbots were incompetent. We had to cope with the huge debts of the monastery and put in order the abandoned buildings. Besides, Millstatt was heavily devastated by the Turks in 1478, and later the Hungarian troops in 1487. Management of the monastery passed to Maximilian I, but the situation was difficult, the control has been partially lost. Millstatt occurred peasant uprisings and spread the Protestant faith.

In 1598 when Archduke Ferdinand II the creation of the Jesuits College in the capital of Styria (now University of Graz), which due to their income was to finance Millstatt. The monks did not like the harsh measures the pressure of the Jesuits. In 1737, discontent grew into open rebellion when many peasants took up arms and broke into a monastery. In 1773, the monks were forced to leave Millstatt and all possessions were transferred to the government.

Naiboee interesting part of the monastery - the courtyard with two-story Renaissance arches, built in the 16th century. Since the church is related convent cloister of the 12th century, decorated with columns with images of animals, plants and people. Romanesque portal in the church was established in 1170 by master Rudger. In the side chapel of the tombstones are masters of the Order of St. George, who once belonged to the monastery.

Since 1977, the church is owned by the local parish, and all the other buildings of the former monastery belong to the Austrian State Forestry Commission.

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Monastery Millstatt