Kleinmariazell

This article is about the pilgrimage site in the Wienerwald, Lower Austria. For the town in Styria, see Mariazell. For town in Hungary known as this in German, see Celldömölk.

Basilica of Kleinmariazell

High altar

Kleinmariazell is a district of Altenmarkt an der Triesting in the Wienerwald, Lower Austria, Austria.

Geography

Kleinmariazell is located north of Altenmarkt in a side valley of the Triesting in the direction of Klausen-Leopoldsdorf. The cloister lies on an old pilgrim's trail, the Via Sacra from Vienna to Mariazell.

The community, as well as the cloister, is described and referred to as Mariazell in Austria (as opposed to Mariazell in Styria), Klein-Mariazell Monastery, or Klein-Mariazell Abbey. Aside from a few houses on the street and an inn, it is made up exclusively of the historic cloister buildings.

History

History of Kleinmariazell:

• 1134 or 1136: The church and monastery were founded by Heinrich and Rapoto of Schwarzburg-Nöstach as well as the Babenberg Margrave Leopold III the Holy of Austria as Cella Sancte Marie, a Benedictine monastery.
• 1782: The monastery was dissolved in the course of the Josphine Reforms and felt into decay.
• 1825: The monastery and its lands were put up for auction. Many owners followed, and the monastery was turned into a palace. The former monastery church became the local parish church.
• 1998: After a general renovation by the Archdiocese of Vienna with public and private support, the church was returned its original purpose.
• 2005: Near the church complex an apartment annex was built to hold, among others, 8 priests.

The current group of buildings follows the modern ideas of restoration and monument protection. The names of Christoph Cardinal Schönborn and Deacon Franz Eckert are closely connected with the building.^{[ citation needed ]}

Frescoes

During 1764 – 1765, Johann Baptist Wenzel Bergl painted numerous frescoes in the basilica.

Central dome

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  Central dome

Pendentives around central dome

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  Saint Jerome
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  Saint Augustine
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  Saint Gregory
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  Saint Ambrose

Close-ups of the central dome

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  Adam and Eve
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  Assumption of Mary
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  Sacrifice of Isaac

Frescoes on other domes

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  Presentation of Mary at the Temple
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  Marriage of the Virgin Mary
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  Visitation of Mary
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  The Annunciation
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  Coronation of Mary

Frescoes on walls of the church

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  Adoration of the Shepherds
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  Adoration of the Magi
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  Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
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  Jesus amongst the Doctors

Gallery

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  Courtyard of the Basilica
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  Cloister
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  Organ and entrance

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  Forestry administration
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  Renovated inner courtyard
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  Outbuilding

External links

• (in German) Kleinmariazell

48°02′N15°58′E / 48.033°N 15.967°E / 48.033; 15.967