At the end of June, the Zwettl monastery landscape took center stage during a festive weekend. As part of the European cultural heritage project Cisterscapes, the municipality of Zwettl and Zwettl Abbey hosted a diverse program that brought together history, nature, spirituality, and community. A special highlight on Sunday was the festive Mass celebrating the 70th birthday of Abbot Johannes Maria Szypulski of the Cistercian Order, during which he was presented with several prestigious awards.

Despite the midsummer temperatures, numerous visitors accepted the invitation. The international participation was also particularly gratifying: Guests from the Czech partner region of Žďár nad Sázavou, from the Vyšší Brod Monastery, representatives of the former Cistercian monastery in Ebrach, Bavaria, and representatives of the European Cisterscapes network underscored the project’s cross-border spirit.

Discover the Monastery Landscape with All Your Senses

As early as Saturday, visitors were able to experience the Zwettl Monastery Landscape in a variety of ways. The day kicked off with a guided hike along the Bernhardiweg from Rosenau Castle to Zwettl Abbey. In the Lindenhof, numerous interactive stations awaited visitors of all ages. Through playful activities, guests could learn more about the carp pond, the herb garden, the abbey forest, and the life of the Cistercian monks. Children’s tours such as “Secret Lodgers in the Monastery” or “The Diary of Little Monk Ebro” brought history to life in an entertaining way. The afternoon was accompanied by music from the group “Waldviertel Anklang,” while regional cuisine invited visitors to linger.

The opening of the new special exhibition “The Santini Scandal,” which offers fascinating insights into the work of the extraordinary Baroque architect Giovanni Battista Santini, also drew a great deal of interest.

Another highlight was the grand opening of the revitalized English Garden. Former Father Paulus Nüss of the Cistercian Order officially opened the historic garden. During a guided walk, Abbey Archivist Dr. Andreas Gamerith explained the garden’s history and presented selected entries from Abbot Julius Hörweg’s guestbook. As a place of peace and reflection, the garden is intended to invite visitors to pause and consciously reflect on the value of true friendship.

The Bernhardiweg is also part of the Cisterscapes initiative. With the blessing of the first newly erected wayside shrine near the Gschwendtmühle, the first of a total of ten artistically designed stations along the trail was recently unveiled. In the future, they will serve as landmarks and places of reflection for pilgrims and hikers alike along the trail.

Golden Pin of Honor Awarded

Sunday began with a solemn Mass celebrating the 70th birthday of Abbot Johannes Maria Szypulski of the Cistercian Order. Following the Mass, he was presented with several prestigious awards. In his commemorative speech, Mayor LAbg. ÖkR Franz Mold emphasized the strong bond with the municipality of Zwettl and all its citizens: “You have always succeeded in building bridges: between the Church and society, between tradition and modernity, and between people.” He traced the life story of Johannes Maria Szypulski and surprised him with the Golden Pin of Honor, one of the highest honors bestowed by the municipality of Zwettl.

Abbot Johannes Maria Szypulski’s fellow brothers in the Order of Lazarus also congratulated him and awarded him the order’s second-highest decoration, the so-called Emperor Charles Cross. In doing so, they honored his distinguished service to the Order’s chivalric and charitable organization.

In his speech, District Administrator Dr. Markus Peham touched on the topic of pilgrimage and congratulated Johannes Maria Szypulski on his birthday: “May many more journeys lie ahead of you. May curiosity, confidence, and your sense of humor always accompany you.” The parish council presented him with a statue of the Virgin Mary from Međugorje and wished him strength, good health, and God’s blessing for his continued work in the parish and at the monastery.

Cisterscapes presents

Due to the intense heat, the subsequent ceremony was moved at the last minute from the outdoor grounds to the pleasantly cool collegiate church. Accompanied by a trumpet ensemble conducted by Alexander Kastner, the speeches by collegiate archivist Dr. Andreas Gamerith, Alexandra Bayer of Cisterscapes Bamberg, and Abbot Johannes Maria Szypulski of the Cistercian Order, emphasized the cross-border collaboration within the European cultural heritage project Cisterscapes. At the same time, the current Interreg project was presented, and its significance for the sustainable development and promotion of Cistercian monastic landscapes was emphasized.

Following this, the newly redesigned abbey courtyard and the Cross Garden were officially opened and blessed. With the completion of these two areas, further significant projects aimed at enhancing the historic abbey grounds were unveiled to the public.