Herzogenburg Monastery
Founded in the early 12th century by a German bishop from Passau, the Augustinian Herzogenburg Monastery, A-3130 Herzogenburg (tel. 02782/83113), 11km (7 miles) south of Traismauer, has a long history. The present complex of buildings comprising the church and the abbey was reconstructed in the baroque style. Fischer von Erlach, a master of the style, designed some of the complex. The art painted on the high altar of the church is by Daniel Gran, and the most outstanding works owned by the abbey are a series of 16th-century paintings on wood, displayed in a room devoted to Gothic art. The monastery is well known for a library containing more than 80,000 works.
Entrance is 6€ ($7.80) for adults, 4€ ($5.20) for students, and 3€ ($3.90) for adults over 65. You can wander around alone or participate in a guided tour, departing daily at 9, 10, and 11am, and at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5pm. The monastery is open only April to October daily from 9am to 6pm. There's a wine tavern in the complex where you can grab some Austrian fare while sampling the local grapes.
Getting There -- Located 16km (10 miles) south of the Danube, the monastery is reached by taking Wiener Strasse (Rte. 1) out of St. Pölten. Head east for 13km (8 miles) toward Kapelln, and turn left at the sign along a minor road to Herzogenburg.
