Garsten Abbey
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Garsten Abbey (Stift Garsten) was a Benedictine monastery in Garsten near Steyr in Austria.
[edit] History
The abbey was founded in 1080 by Ottokar II of Styria. In 1787 it was dissolved by Emperor Joseph II. It was perhaps best-known for its first abbot, Berthold of Garsten, a champion of the Hirsau Reforms. The abbey was for centuries the religious, spiritual and cultural centre of the Eisenwurzen region.
From 1625 until its dissolution Garsten Abbey was a member of the Benedictine Austrian Congregation.
[edit] Abbey church
The abbey church still survives. It was built by the Carlone family of master builders and is considered one of the most beautiful examples of High Baroque architecture in Austria. Particularly notable are the stucco work and the Dutch tapestries. The Losenstein chapel, the sacristy and the summer choir are also of especial interest.