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Melk Abbey

Melk Abbey (German: Stift Melk) is a Benedictine abbey above the town of Melk, Lower Austria, Austria, on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube river, adjoining the Wachau valley.[1] The abbey contains the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of several members of the House of Babenberg, Austria's first ruling dynasty.[2]

Melk Abbey
Native name
German: Stift Melk
Melk Abbey
LocationAustria
Coordinates48°13′41″N 15°20′02″E / 48.22806°N 15.33389°E / 48.22806; 15.33389Coordinates: 48°13′41″N 15°20′02″E / 48.22806°N 15.33389°E / 48.22806; 15.33389
AreaEurope
ArchitectJakob Prandtauer
Architectural style(s)Baroque
Location of Melk Abbey in Austria

History

The abbey was founded in 1089 when Leopold II, Margrave of Austria gave one of his castles to Benedictine monks from Lambach Abbey. A monastic school, the Stiftsgymnasium Melk, was founded in the twelfth century, and the monastic library soon became renowned for its extensive manuscript collection. The monastery's scriptorium was also a major site for the production of manuscripts. In the fifteenth century the abbey became the centre of the Melk Reform movement which reinvigorated the monastic life of Austria and Southern Germany.[3]

Today's Baroque abbey was built between 1702 and 1736 to designs by Jakob Prandtauer. Particularly noteworthy are the abbey church with frescos by Johann Michael Rottmayr and the library with countless medieval manuscripts, including a famed collection of musical manuscripts, and frescos by Paul Troger.

Due to its fame and academic stature, Melk managed to escape dissolution under Emperor Joseph II when many other Austrian abbeys were seized and dissolved between 1780 and 1790.[4] The abbey managed to survive other threats to its existence during the Napoleonic Wars, and also in the period following the Anschluss in 1938, when the school and a large part of the abbey were confiscated by the state.

The school was returned to the abbey after the Second World War and now serves nearly 900 pupils of both sexes.

Since 1625 the abbey has been a member of the Austrian Congregation, now within the Benedictine Confederation.

In his novel The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco named one of the protagonists "Adso of Melk" as a tribute to the abbey and its famous library.

Among its alumni was the nineteenth-century Austrian dramatist and short-story writer, Friedrich Halm.

Melk Abbey is also the metaphorical climax ("a peak in a mountain range of discovery") of Patrick Leigh Fermor's autobiographical account of his walking tour across pre-WW II Europe in A Time of Gifts, which includes a description of the abbey at that time. [5]

The abbey is part of Wachau Cultural Landscape, a World Heritage Site.

Restoration Efforts

The first fire at Melk Abbey and its invaluable library was in 1297. This left the structures destroyed. [6] This fire, plague and famine led to the “Melk Reform” movement in the early fifteenth century. Most of the manuscripts Melk is famous for housing were saved by Monks. During the 1683 Turkish invasion, the Melk Abbey also suffered devastation. [7]

The abbey that stands today, built in 1702, caught fire in 1974. This second fire marred the ornamented rooms and damaged the interior and its art, [8] leading to its restoration from 1978 to 1995. [6] The nave of the abbey was a part of the restoration. Eight pounds of gold bullion was used to restore the statues and altars. The restoration process also focused on the church’s frescoes and brown marble columns. The Marble Hall, a popular guest attraction, was also restored during this period. These restoration efforts leave the abbey similar to its 1740 grandeur. [8]

In July 2019, Christine Glaßner, from the Austrian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medieval Research, while researching the abbey's archives, discovered a previously unknown strip of parchment—measuring 22 centimetres (8.7 inches) by 1.5 centimetres (0.59 inches)—bearing 60 partial lines of the poem Der Rosendorn. The parchment, which had been subsequently recycled into the binding of a much later book, has been dated to around 1300; this is nearly 200 years earlier than it was previously thought to have been written.[9]

Euro commemorative coin

 
Jesus of Nazareth on the Cross, Stift Melk

Melk Abbey was selected as the main motif of a 10 euro collectors' coin: the Austrian Melk Abbey commemorative coin, minted on April 18, 2007. The obverse shows a view up to the façade of the abbey church and its two side wings from a low level. The twin baroque towers and the great dome of the church behind them can be seen. In the lower right corner the coat-of-arms of the Abbey of Melk (the crossed keys of St. Peter) can be seen.

Gallery

References

  1. ^ "Melk, Niederösterreich". Encyclopedia of Austria. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  2. ^ Ellegast, Dr. Burkhard (1998). Melk Abbey. Melk: Stift Melk. p. 51. ASIN B000N48KHS.
  3. ^ Toke, L. (1911). "Abbey and Congregation of Melk". The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  4. ^ Trotter, Henry (1911). "Danube" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 819–823, see page 820, para 3. The Danube between Linz and Vienna is renowned for its picturesque beauty and the numerous medieval and modern buildings of historical and archaeological interest which crown its banks. The splendid Benedictine monastery of Melk ....[is] among the most interesting.
  5. ^ Fermor, Patrick Leigh (2005). A Time of Gifts: On Foot to Constantinople. New York, pp. 172–77.
  6. ^ a b Kummer, E. (2003), "Melk, Abbey of", New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 2nd ed, Gale, pp. 478–479
  7. ^ Gordan, Lucy. "Melk Abbey-A Microcosm of Austrian History". German Life. 16 (1): 44–47.
  8. ^ a b Lewis, Paul (Jan 12, 1986). "An Abbey's Grandeur Restored in Austria: At Melk, lavish baroque ornamentation is refurbished". New York Times: 19, 34.
  9. ^ Connolly, K. (2019). . The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.

External links

  • Official website  

melk, abbey, german, stift, melk, benedictine, abbey, above, town, melk, lower, austria, austria, rocky, outcrop, overlooking, danube, river, adjoining, wachau, valley, abbey, contains, tomb, saint, coloman, stockerau, remains, several, members, house, babenbe. Melk Abbey German Stift Melk is a Benedictine abbey above the town of Melk Lower Austria Austria on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube river adjoining the Wachau valley 1 The abbey contains the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of several members of the House of Babenberg Austria s first ruling dynasty 2 Melk AbbeyNative name German Stift MelkMelk AbbeyLocationAustriaCoordinates48 13 41 N 15 20 02 E 48 22806 N 15 33389 E 48 22806 15 33389 Coordinates 48 13 41 N 15 20 02 E 48 22806 N 15 33389 E 48 22806 15 33389AreaEuropeArchitectJakob PrandtauerArchitectural style s BaroqueLocation of Melk Abbey in Austria Contents 1 History 2 Restoration Efforts 3 Euro commemorative coin 4 Gallery 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditThe abbey was founded in 1089 when Leopold II Margrave of Austria gave one of his castles to Benedictine monks from Lambach Abbey A monastic school the Stiftsgymnasium Melk was founded in the twelfth century and the monastic library soon became renowned for its extensive manuscript collection The monastery s scriptorium was also a major site for the production of manuscripts In the fifteenth century the abbey became the centre of the Melk Reform movement which reinvigorated the monastic life of Austria and Southern Germany 3 Today s Baroque abbey was built between 1702 and 1736 to designs by Jakob Prandtauer Particularly noteworthy are the abbey church with frescos by Johann Michael Rottmayr and the library with countless medieval manuscripts including a famed collection of musical manuscripts and frescos by Paul Troger Due to its fame and academic stature Melk managed to escape dissolution under Emperor Joseph II when many other Austrian abbeys were seized and dissolved between 1780 and 1790 4 The abbey managed to survive other threats to its existence during the Napoleonic Wars and also in the period following the Anschluss in 1938 when the school and a large part of the abbey were confiscated by the state The school was returned to the abbey after the Second World War and now serves nearly 900 pupils of both sexes Since 1625 the abbey has been a member of the Austrian Congregation now within the Benedictine Confederation In his novel The Name of the Rose Umberto Eco named one of the protagonists Adso of Melk as a tribute to the abbey and its famous library Among its alumni was the nineteenth century Austrian dramatist and short story writer Friedrich Halm Melk Abbey is also the metaphorical climax a peak in a mountain range of discovery of Patrick Leigh Fermor s autobiographical account of his walking tour across pre WW II Europe in A Time of Gifts which includes a description of the abbey at that time 5 The abbey is part of Wachau Cultural Landscape a World Heritage Site Restoration Efforts EditThe first fire at Melk Abbey and its invaluable library was in 1297 This left the structures destroyed 6 This fire plague and famine led to the Melk Reform movement in the early fifteenth century Most of the manuscripts Melk is famous for housing were saved by Monks During the 1683 Turkish invasion the Melk Abbey also suffered devastation 7 The abbey that stands today built in 1702 caught fire in 1974 This second fire marred the ornamented rooms and damaged the interior and its art 8 leading to its restoration from 1978 to 1995 6 The nave of the abbey was a part of the restoration Eight pounds of gold bullion was used to restore the statues and altars The restoration process also focused on the church s frescoes and brown marble columns The Marble Hall a popular guest attraction was also restored during this period These restoration efforts leave the abbey similar to its 1740 grandeur 8 In July 2019 Christine Glassner from the Austrian Academy of Sciences Institute of Medieval Research while researching the abbey s archives discovered a previously unknown strip of parchment measuring 22 centimetres 8 7 inches by 1 5 centimetres 0 59 inches bearing 60 partial lines of the poem Der Rosendorn The parchment which had been subsequently recycled into the binding of a much later book has been dated to around 1300 this is nearly 200 years earlier than it was previously thought to have been written 9 Euro commemorative coin Edit Jesus of Nazareth on the Cross Stift Melk Melk Abbey was selected as the main motif of a 10 euro collectors coin the Austrian Melk Abbey commemorative coin minted on April 18 2007 The obverse shows a view up to the facade of the abbey church and its two side wings from a low level The twin baroque towers and the great dome of the church behind them can be seen In the lower right corner the coat of arms of the Abbey of Melk the crossed keys of St Peter can be seen Gallery Edit West view of Melk Abbey North side of Melk Abbey and entry of Melk river into the Danube View from the south Main entrance Prelate s courtyard Melk Abbey at night Melk Abbey at night from the old town Aerial view Leopold Altar painting by Georg Bachman 1650 Choir stalls Pulpit The ceiling Melk Abbey Library Staircase between the library and church Church of the Abbey Frescoed ceiling of the church Cupola of the church The Triumph of the Monk by Johann Michael Rottmayr Melk Abbey Melk Abbey Margravine Swanhilde s altar eleventh century St Benedict s triumphal ascent to Heaven also by Rottmayr Painting on the ceiling of the marble hall Melk Abbey in 1672 before its renovation by Jakob Prandtauer References Edit Melk Niederosterreich Encyclopedia of Austria Retrieved 8 January 2013 Ellegast Dr Burkhard 1998 Melk Abbey Melk Stift Melk p 51 ASIN B000N48KHS Toke L 1911 Abbey and Congregation of Melk The Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Retrieved 8 January 2013 Trotter Henry 1911 Danube In Chisholm Hugh ed Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 7 11th ed Cambridge University Press pp 819 823 see page 820 para 3 The Danube between Linz and Vienna is renowned for its picturesque beauty and the numerous medieval and modern buildings of historical and archaeological interest which crown its banks The splendid Benedictine monastery of Melk is among the most interesting Fermor Patrick Leigh 2005 A Time of Gifts On Foot to Constantinople New York pp 172 77 a b Kummer E 2003 Melk Abbey of New Catholic Encyclopedia vol 2nd ed Gale pp 478 479 Gordan Lucy Melk Abbey A Microcosm of Austrian History German Life 16 1 44 47 a b Lewis Paul Jan 12 1986 An Abbey s Grandeur Restored in Austria At Melk lavish baroque ornamentation is refurbished New York Times 19 34 Connolly K 2019 Medievalists Excited at Parchment Fragment of Vagina Monologue The Guardian Archived from the original on 27 July 2019 Retrieved 28 July 2019 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stift Melk Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Melk Abbey amp oldid 1135093416, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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