Photo: KSL - René Knabl

Benediktinerstift St. Paul | Schatzhaus Kärntens

St. Paul im Lavanttal, Carinthia

ausstellungmuseumstour

Nestled in the fertile landscape of the lower Lavanttal, St. Paul's Abbey rises on a rocky cone. Where once a Roman fort and later the castle of the Spanheimers stood, Benedictine monks from the famous Hirsau monastery settled in 1091. A checkered history knows times of prosperity and decline. One of Austria's most comprehensive private art collections gives the now flourishing abbey the title "Treasury of Carinthia". The abbey houses significant art treasures from the Middle Ages, such as the large reliquary cross of Queen Adelheid of Hungary, the so-called Adelheid Cross. An enormous collection of valuable oil paintings also brings European culture to life in St. Paul. Enriched by the graphic collection, which comprises approximately 15,000 sheets, an encounter with almost all renowned European artists is possible. The entire book collection of St. Paul's Abbey is distributed among several library rooms in historical vaults. Approximately 70,000 books alone are housed in the display library. The oldest book from the 5th century and Gutenberg's first printed work are among the most significant pieces in the collection. Special Exhibition 2026: "Woman:Power:Art" "The striving and the love and the enthusiasm for art. You considered that a girlish whim, which is the most serious and truest thing in my life." – These words by the artist Margarethe Martiny-Holzhausen stand for the fate of many women whose creative and intellectual work was long dismissed as secondary. The exhibition "Woman:Power:Art" honors the impressive work of artists such as Olga Holzhausen, Margarethe Martiny-Holzhausen, and Elisabeth-Charlotte Martiny. Over three generations, their oeuvre traces the path to modernity: Holzhausen as a celebrated portrait painter, Martiny-Holzhausen as a master of poetic animal studies and fairy tale depictions, Martiny as an experimenter with global experiences and abstract forms. Their artistic success is proof of courage, passion, and an unwavering pursuit of recognition – despite the obstacles women often encountered. However, the struggle for visibility and recognition is not limited to art. In science, literature, and politics, too, women fought for centuries against prejudice and structural hurdles. Their works and achievements are important contributions to modernity today – courageous, powerful, and timeless. "Woman:Power:Art" invites visitors to make visible the crucial role of women in the history of culture and society and to celebrate the feminine element of art as a source of innovation and resistance. For what was once misunderstood as a "girlish whim" is today a masterpiece of the present. Shortfacts Exhibition duration: May 1 to October 31, 2026 Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday and public holidays from 10 AM to 5 PM Guided tours: Available upon request at +43 4357 2019 20 or at ausstellung@stift-stpaul.at Wi-Fi: Comprehensive Wi-Fi available in the museum rooms Prices and information see homepage www.stift-stpaul.at or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/museumstpaul as well as on Instagram @museumstpaul Public transport Lavanttal St. Paul train station continue with Postbus, Postbusshuttle or Bahnhofshuttle