Austria
Benedictine Abbey of St. Paul
With one of Europeâs largest art collections, an impressive library, and idyllic setting, this medieval monastery is a wonder.
About
Built at the end of the 12th century, the monastery has operated almost continuously since it was founded. The cross shaped Romanesque basilica combines the regional styles with traditional Italian Romanesque architecture, such as the capitals and massive pillars. After a fire in 1367, a Gothic vault was added with 44 frescoes by the South Tyrolean masters Friedrich and Michael Pacher, while much of the rest of the interior dates from the 18th century. The monasteryâs museum is a marvel, containing medieval gold work and textiles, to Baroque treasures, to a gallery with works from Rubens, Van Dyck, and Holbein. The abbey library has over 180,000 books and manuscripts from the 5th through 18th centuries. They sold their copy of the Gutenberg Bible to The US Library of Congress after the war to finance the restoration work.
Practical
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