Seitenstetten Abbey: Baroque Benedictine Monastery in the Mostviertel

In the heart of the Mostviertel rises Seitenstetten Abbey, a Benedictine monastery continuously inhabited for over 900 years. Behind the sprawling monastic complex lies one of the most impressive collections of baroque art and monastic scholarship in Lower Austria.

Eleven Centuries of Monastic History

Founded in 1112, the abbey has survived wars, reformations, and waves of dissolution, and remains today the home of an active Benedictine community. The complex's present baroque form, with its expansive courtyards and distinctive church tower, largely dates back to the 18th century.

Library and Imperial Wing

The abbey library ranks among Austria's most significant monastic book collections, with elaborately painted ceilings and thousands of historic volumes. In the imperial wing, built for visits from the ruling house, courtly splendor and monastic restraint meet in an architectural contrast that can be explored on guided tours.

The Historic Monastery Garden

Surrounding the abbey lies a historic garden with old trees, herb beds, and geometrically arranged paths, counted among the finest monastery gardens in the Mostviertel. Between the church, the library, and the garden, a visit to Seitenstetten easily fills an afternoon that goes far beyond an ordinary church tour.