Start of the season
Zwettl Monastery Zwettl Abbey 1, Zwettl, Lower Austria, ÖsterreichZwettl Abbey starts the new tourist season on Palm Sunday. From now on, guided tours of the monastery will once again take place daily. On tour three, which leads into the baroque library with its magnificent frescoes by Paul Troger, visitors can also see the special exhibition "Cisterscapes - we are European cultural heritage".
Exhibition “Cultural landscape as European heritage”
Old town hall Zwettl Sparkassenplatz 3, Zwettl, Lower Austria, ÖsterreichWhat is a Cistercian monastery landscape? An exhibition in the old town hall of Zwettl explores this question. This presentation is freely accessible to all interested parties until fall 2025. The exhibition is accompanied by materials for different age groups, which can be used to playfully explore the elements of a monastery landscape. Curious?
ONLINE lecture “Does monastic craft training have a future?”
ONLINEThe motto of the Klosterland relay is: "Education and monasteries" and invites you to immerse yourself in various areas of monastic culture. Our KLOSTERLAND member Dr. Felicitas von Aretin (journalist and author) and her discussion partners, who come from very different monasteries, will bring the diversity of monastic worlds to life on the respective salon evenings. Michael van Ooyen, master goldsmith at Europakloster, and trainees Magdalena Strübler and Levin Vitola will be the evening's discussion partners. Please REGISTER for the online salon to: klostersalon-online@klosterland.de Background: The order books of the gold and silversmiths at the Europakloster are so full that two apprentices are now learning the ancient craft. This makes the workshop one of the few monastic businesses to have managed the transformation. While the goldsmith's workshop was originally set up by a monk from the monastery, it is now run by the secular master goldsmith Michael van Ooyen, who is supervised by the prior of the monastery, Brother Thomas, as an artist monk and head of the overall workshops. The workshops work closely with other monastery businesses, such as the glass workshops at Schlierbach Monastery, within the framework of artist collaborations. The result is not only liturgical objects, but also entire, healing interiors for churches, monasteries and clinics. The conversation will focus on the future of the old monastic craft traditions and how they can be preserved in the future. We will also talk about what is important in the work of a church goldsmith, how spirituality and craftsmanship are connected and what challenges the profession faces.
Maria Bildhausen Monastery: Bildhausen Christmas Bazaar
Maria Bildhausen Monastery Maria Bildhausen 1, Münnerstadt, DeutschlandThis year, the Christmas bazaar will once again take place in the extensive monastery grounds. Visitors can stroll around without any crowds and enjoy getting in the mood for the upcoming Advent and Christmas season. "Getting in the mood for Advent" Pre-Christmas atmosphere at Maria Bildhausen Monastery On Saturday, 22.11.2025, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday, 23.11.2025, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., visitors young and old will be presented with a colorful program and various offers at the Bildhäuser Christmas Bazaar on the monastery grounds and in the KlosterLaden. In the monastery store of the Dominikus-Ringeisen-Werk, the coffee roastery, the nursery and the workshops, together with their partners, offer a wide range of attractive goods. In the unique ambience of the historic monastery complex, there is also a wealth of attractive offers and a special supporting program in and around the abbey building. The KlosterManufaktur presents its products in the abbey hall. Younger visitors can once again look forward to seeing St. Nicholas. On Saturday and Sunday, the "Kleinwenkheimer Bauernhaufen" will once again be demonstrating old craftsmanship at the Mühleneck. The KlosterAkademie Maria Bildhausen will be presenting its new courses for the coming year on both days in Haus St. Maria. In the church, the exhibition "Open wide the gates!" will be presented by the residents of the residential facility and by employees of the workshops and visitors to the support centers. Enjoy the special atmosphere in the abbey building, around the Bildhausen barn and in the monastery park by candlelight. Entrance at two cash desk areas Admission costs 2 euros. By paying the entrance fee, you contribute to the success of the Bildhäuser Christmas Bazaar. Children under the age of 12, people with disabilities, employees on duty and volunteers are admitted free of charge! Traffic regulation During the Christmas Bazaar, traffic around Maria Bildhausen will be regulated by the volunteer fire departments. Additional parking spaces are available at the nearby Rindhof, in Groß- and Kleinwenkheim. The Christmas bazaar can be easily reached from here with a free, permanent shuttle service.
Heilsbronn: Guided tour “Open wide the gates”
Musical guided tour of the cathedral during Advent with the Sopranetten. Location: Heilsbronn Minster, Münsterplatz 1, 91560 Heilsbronn. Further information at: https://www.heilsbronn.de/de/kultur-tourismus/fuehrungen/terminfuehrungen Organizer: Evang.-Luth.-Pfarramt, Kulturamt Heilsbronn. Photo: Guided tours, Sopranetten © Wolfgang Burger
Heilsbronn: Guided tour with lights
Hundreds of candles bathe the cathedral in a romantic and mysterious glow - an experience for the senses and soul with Jutta Gruber. Location: Heilsbronn Minster, Münsterplatz 1, 91560 Heilsbronn More information at: https://www.heilsbronn.de/de/kultur-tourismus/fuehrungen/terminfuehrungen Photo: Lichterfuehrung-im-Muenster-mit-J.-Gruber-©Berning.
Heilsbronn: Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae – Peregrina and the heavenly messengers
Cistercian nun Peregrina von Frauental takes you into the world of heavenly messengers and traces the angels in the cathedral. Costume tour with Christine Diefenbacher. Location: Münster Heilsbronn, Münsterplatz 1, 91560 Heilsbronn. More information at: https://www.heilsbronn.de/de/kultur-tourismus/fuehrungen/terminfuehrungen Organizer: Evangelical Lutheran Parish Office, Cultural Office Heilsbronn Photo: Christine Diefenbacher, nun Peregrina, tour guide © Fotostudio Lichtblick
