Photo: Abtei Seckau

Benediktinerabtei Seckau

Seckau, Styria

Despite difficult times with two dissolutions, the monastery on the south side of the Seckauer Zinken and the Hochalm has remained a spiritual center. As a former Augustinian Canons Regular monastery and former bishop's see, it looks back on more than 850 years of history and development, encompassing all stylistic epochs from Romanesque to 20th-century art. Particularly worth seeing are the Romanesque crucifixion group, the Habsburg Mausoleum, and Herbert Boeckl's Seckau Apocalypse in the Engelkapelle, all of which can be visited and explained during a guided tour through the "World of Monks." However, in Seckau there is not only great interest in art and cultural tours – many of the numerous guests from Austria and abroad are interested in the multi-award-winning distillery in the cellar and the guided tours offered there with tasting of the Seckau monastery schnapps and liqueurs. A visit to the monastery shop, a stop at the local restaurants, or a hike to the Seckauer Hochalm (Hochalmkirche "Maria Schnee") round off an excursion. History: Since the 12th century, the miraculous image "Our Dear Lady of Seckau" in the Romanesque basilica has captivated visitors. In 1883, Benedictine monks from Beuron took over the historic building and continue to shape monastic daily life through the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours and various other tasks, including with the nearly 300 students of the Abbey Gymnasium. In 2014, the 850th anniversary of the consecration of the Seckau Basilica was celebrated. Despite multiple destructions and two periods of dissolution, the monastery on the Seckau plateau has always been able to rise anew. In 2017, the Seckau Basilica underwent extensive interior renovation with generous support. The results in the Habsburg Mausoleum and the Bishop's Chapel are particularly worth seeing. A new natural stone floor, drained and cleaned sandstone and vaulted surfaces, repaired stained-glass windows, new benches, and new lighting and sound technology make services and monastery tours unforgettable experiences once again. Those seeking their own quiet prayer will find it particularly here. In 2018, the Diocese of Graz-Seckau commemorated its founding 800 years ago. Seckau thus looks back on centuries of eventful history. Today, it is one of the oldest and most precious cultural jewels of Styria.