Heiligenkreuz Abbey
Bundesdenkmalamt
Lower Austria
Disclaimer
The Secretariat of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Heritage Centre do not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information or documentation provided by the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention to the Secretariat of UNESCO or to the World Heritage Centre.
The publication of any such advice, opinion, statement or other information documentation on the World Heritage Centre’s website and/or on working documents also does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of UNESCO or of the World Heritage Centre concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its boundaries.
Property names are listed in the language in which they have been submitted by the State Party
Description
There are only few monasteries in Europe that have maintained their monastic tradition continually from the 12th century to our times and also the respective buildings in both their functional and representative purposes. Heiligenkreuz is an outstanding example of this continuity embodied in the Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque components of the monastery premises where the typical features of a medieval Cistercian monastery are reflected as impressively as the architectural history and development of a structure that has grown since medieval times and incorporated examples of all later epochs. The fact that the monastic function has also been fully maintained, i.e. the medieval monastery structures are still used in the way originally intended, and thus are appropriately preserved, illustrates the full dimension of the spiritual,but also of the historical, artistic and cultural importance of such a place. The medieval parts of the monastery complex (church,cloister,living quarters) which are of exceptional value in terms of architectural history and house, inter alia, top examples of medieval glass paintings,are enriched by Baroque additions to interiors and furniture, and also feature an extensive library and collection of atr treasures. Heiligenkreuz is a synonym for monastic tradition and its responsibility for the historic heritage.