Klosterneuburg
Encyclopedia
Klosterneuburg is an attractive small town in Lower Austria
, Austria
with a population of 24,442.
It is located on the Danube
, immediately north of Vienna
, from which it is separated by the Kahlenberg
and Leopoldsberg
hills. It has been separated from its twin city of Korneuburg
on the other side of the Danube since the river changed its course during the Middle Ages
.
Klosterneuburg was founded by Margrave Leopold III and developed in conjunction with its famous monastery
. Leopold III and later Leopold VI (the latter only during part of his reign) had their residences there. From 1938 to 1954, it constituted the 26th district
of Vienna. Today, it is a site of minor industry and, whilst not belonging to Vienna, has almost the feel of a suburb
. The well-known Essl Museum of contemporary art and the new research Institute IST Austria are located in the town.
Due to its hilly location, Klosterneuburg has several geographical areas known as Klosterneuburg-Stadt, Kierling, Weidling, Weidlingbach, Kritzendorf and Maria Gugging. It also has two main shopping areas, the Niedermarkt and the Rathausplatz, separated by a steep hill.
The Klosterneuburg Monastery
, the existence of which was first documented in 1108 and soon after was given to the Augustinians
, is of particular historical importance.
In Roman times the castle of Citium stood in the region of Klosterneuburg. The town was founded by Charlemagne
, and received its charter as a town in 1298.
As an important pioneer station Klosterneuburg has various military buildings and stores, and among the schools there is the Federal Institute for Viticulture and Pomology, where the Zweigelt
and Blauburger
wine grapes were bred by Dr Fritz Zweigelt.
In 2006 the Institute of Science and Technology Austria
was established. The institute for outstanding basic research is going to be put into action within the next years.
The German-Czech author Franz Kafka
died at a sanatorium at Kierling, Klosterneuburg on 3rd June 1924.
. There are some excellent vintners in Klosterneuburg, but today the city is tightly linked to Vienna and houses some of the most affluent citizens of Lower Austria
.
in the Alps
. The Romanesque
-Gothic
basilica as well as the copper dome with the imperial crown can be seen.
Lower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
with a population of 24,442.
It is located on the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
, immediately north of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, from which it is separated by the Kahlenberg
Kahlenberg
Kahlenberg is a mountain located in the 19th District within Vienna, Austria .-General:Kahlenberg lies in the Wienerwald and is one of the most popular destinations for day-trips from Vienna, offering a view over the entire city. Parts of Lower Austria can also be seen from Stefaniewarte at the...
and Leopoldsberg
Leopoldsberg
The Leopoldsberg is perhaps Vienna’s most famous overlook, towering over the Danube and the city. Leopoldberg’s most prominent landmark is the church which stands at the top, and which is clearly visible from Vienna below...
hills. It has been separated from its twin city of Korneuburg
Korneuburg
Korneuburg is a town in Austria. It is located in the state Lower Austria and is the administrative center of the district of Korneuburg. Korneuburg is situated on the left bank of the Danube, opposite the city of Klosterneuburg, and is 12 km northwest of Vienna...
on the other side of the Danube since the river changed its course during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
.
Klosterneuburg was founded by Margrave Leopold III and developed in conjunction with its famous monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
. Leopold III and later Leopold VI (the latter only during part of his reign) had their residences there. From 1938 to 1954, it constituted the 26th district
Districts of Vienna
The districts of Vienna are 23 named city sections of Vienna, Austria, which are also numbered for easy reference. For centuries, district boundaries have changed...
of Vienna. Today, it is a site of minor industry and, whilst not belonging to Vienna, has almost the feel of a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
. The well-known Essl Museum of contemporary art and the new research Institute IST Austria are located in the town.
Due to its hilly location, Klosterneuburg has several geographical areas known as Klosterneuburg-Stadt, Kierling, Weidling, Weidlingbach, Kritzendorf and Maria Gugging. It also has two main shopping areas, the Niedermarkt and the Rathausplatz, separated by a steep hill.
The Klosterneuburg Monastery
Stift Klosterneuburg
Klosterneuburg Priory is a Roman Catholic monastery of Augustinian Canons in the Lower Austrian town of Klosterneuburg on the Danube river, just north of the Vienna city limits at the Leopoldsberg....
, the existence of which was first documented in 1108 and soon after was given to the Augustinians
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
, is of particular historical importance.
History
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
, and received its charter as a town in 1298.
As an important pioneer station Klosterneuburg has various military buildings and stores, and among the schools there is the Federal Institute for Viticulture and Pomology, where the Zweigelt
Zweigelt
Zweigelt is a red wine grape variety developed in 1922, at the Federal Institute for Viticulture and Pomology at Klosterneuburg, Austria, by Fritz Zweigelt. It was a crossing of St. Laurent and Blaufränkisch. It is now the most widely-grown red grape variety in Austria, as well as having some...
and Blauburger
Blauburger
Blauburger is a red wine grape variety that is grown a little in Austria and Hungary. It should not be confused with Blauburgunder, which is an Austrian synonym for Pinot Noir.-History:...
wine grapes were bred by Dr Fritz Zweigelt.
In 2006 the Institute of Science and Technology Austria
Institute of Science and Technology Austria
The Institute of Science and Technology Austria is an institute of basic research located in Klosterneuburg, close to Vienna . The draft concept was developed by the Austrian physicist Anton Zeilinger in 2002. Preparation work started in 2007...
was established. The institute for outstanding basic research is going to be put into action within the next years.
The German-Czech author Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka was a culturally influential German-language author of short stories and novels. Contemporary critics and academics, including Vladimir Nabokov, regard Kafka as one of the best writers of the 20th century...
died at a sanatorium at Kierling, Klosterneuburg on 3rd June 1924.
Main sights
On a hill rising directly from the banks of the Danube stand the buildings (erected in 1730–1834) of the Augustine canonry, founded in 1114 by the Margrave (Saint) Leopold III of Babenberg, the patron saint of Austria. This order is one of the oldest and richest of its kind in Austria; it owns much of the land upon which the north-western suburbs of Vienna stand. Among the points of interest within it are the old chapel of 1318, with Leopold's tomb and the Verdun Altar, dating from the 12th century, the treasury and relic-chamber, the library with 30,000 volumes and numerous manuscripts, the picture gallery, the collection of coins, the theological hall, and the winecellar, containing an immense tun like that at HeidelbergHeidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
. There are some excellent vintners in Klosterneuburg, but today the city is tightly linked to Vienna and houses some of the most affluent citizens of Lower Austria
Lower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
.
Coinage
Klosterneuburg was recently selected as a main motif for a high value collectors' coin: the Klosterneuburg commemorative coin. The obverse shows a view of the abbey from the slopes of the LeopoldsbergLeopoldsberg
The Leopoldsberg is perhaps Vienna’s most famous overlook, towering over the Danube and the city. Leopoldberg’s most prominent landmark is the church which stands at the top, and which is clearly visible from Vienna below...
in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
. The Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
-Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
basilica as well as the copper dome with the imperial crown can be seen.