Kremsmünster Monastery

The Abbey was founded in 777 by duke Tassilo III of Bavaria. From the middle of the 17th century, thanks to an extensive program of construction, the premises grew so large that in the whole of Austria they were second only to Melk. The architect and builder was Jakob Prandtauer, who was also in charge of erecting the abbey church of Melk.

Kremsmünster monastery reaches its greatest extent in the south wing, which is about 290 meters long. The most important rooms are situated there: the refectory, the library and the Emperor's Hall. In the eastern end, there is the impressive Mathematical Tower, 51 meters high, where the observatory is located (the “Kremsmünster Sternwarte”, erected in 1749-1758).

The baroque abbey church is dedicated to "Christ the Saviour and St. Agapitus". The church also contains the celebrated Grave of Gunther. The most famous item of the treasury of the monastery is the Tassilo Chalice from the late 8th century, donated to the monastery by its founder, Tassilo III.

The monks (order of S. Benedict) conduct a famous gymnasium, which was founded in 1549. One of its most famous alumni is the great Austrian poet and writer Adalbert Stifter, who lived in the 19th century.

Sources:
www.stift.kremsmünster.at ;
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kremsmünster;
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stift_Kremsmünster
Image source:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kremsmuenster_Abbey_Northeast.jpg?uselang=de-at