Order of Augustinian monastery Vorau - one of the oldest monasteries in Austria and one of the main attractions of the federal state of Styria.

Vorau Monastery was founded in 1163 by order of the Margrave of Styria Ottokar III. Supervised the construction of the Salzburg Archbishop Eberhard I, he is sent to his handicap and the first inhabitants - the monks of the monasteries of Salzburg and Seckau.

Vorau monastery always had a powerful patron. His special status indicates right abbots wear at solemn worship episcopal vestments, granted in 1452 by Pope Nicholas V, as well its own coat of arms and the resolution to have the armory obtained from Emperor Frederick III in 1453.

Throughout its history, the monastery suffered several devastating fires. We do not protect the monastery walls, and from the strong outbreaks of plague raging across Europe and which claimed thousands of lives. In the middle of the 15th century, because of the constant threat of attack, for safety reasons, the monastery was thoroughly fortified and turned into a pretty powerful fortification, surrounded by a deep moat, which can be cross only by a drawbridge.

In 1940 the monastery was under the control of the Nazis, and the monks were forced to leave the holy abode. The first monks were able to return to the monastery only in May 1945, as the fighting monastery complex has undergone significant destruction, immediately took up his recovery.

Perhaps the only building of the monastery Vorau hardly suffered during the Second World War - the Collegiate Church, built in 1660-1662 years by the architect Domenico Skiassia. The internal decoration of the temple in the style of High Baroque of the first half of the 18th century. Special attention certainly deserve the main altar of the church, designed by the famous sculptor and architect Matthias Shteynlem and made entirely of wood (although it may seem that some of its elements are made of marble) and the sacristy, decorated with stunning murals working talented Austrian painter Johann Hakhofera .

A special pride is the library of the monastery, which has a unique collection of 40,000 volumes, including incunabula and 206, as well as more than 400 ancient manuscripts. Among the most valuable specimens in the collection is worth mentioning the so-called "Imperial Chronicles" and "The Gospel of Fora". Available in the library and two antique globe (both date back to the 17th century). The first - a model of the globe, made in accordance with the concepts of the world in the 17th century, in the second you will be able to see a map of the sky that same period.