Michaelbeuern is best explored through its Benedictine Abbey. A guided tour with a monk gives visitors insights into historic rooms: the abbey church, library and abbey hall. For a cultural trip, this offers a tangible way to experience different aspects of monastic tradition—from the history of the church to painting and interior design. Tour dates may change; check the current schedule before your visit.
The Abbey Church and Art in Detail
The abbey church was consecrated in 1072. Its Baroque high altar dates from 1691 and was created by Meinrad Guggenbichler. The altarpiece is by Johann Michael Rottmayr and depicts the Resurrection of Jesus from the tomb. To understand the chronology, it is worth distinguishing between the dates: 1072 refers to the consecration of the church, while 1691 is the date of the high altar. The altarpiece adds a specific subject and artist to this view of the history of art.
In 1639, Silvester Paur covered the walls and vaulted ceiling of the old summer choir entirely with frescoes. The decoration therefore extends across both surfaces of the room. The abbey hall, meanwhile, is a Rococo room with stucco work by the Schmid brothers from 1715 and secco paintings by Franz Nikolaus Streicher from 1771. The two dates reveal different phases of decoration in one room: the secco paintings followed the stucco work more than half a century later.
Monastery Tradition and Former Rooms
The Benedictine Abbey is believed to have been founded in 730. Visitors can experience a varied monastic tradition spanning almost 1,300 years. In the province of Salzburg, the abbey is the only medieval monastery outside the provincial capital—a distinctive historical status within the region.
In the former dormitory, the monks’ old sleeping quarters, visitors can listen to the monks’ chants via a touchscreen; videos are also available on a larger screen. The old refectory, formerly the monks’ dining hall, now houses a museum. The abbey’s former communal rooms now offer visitors different experiences: audiovisual media in the dormitory and a museum in the refectory.
Before travelling, check the current tour times, access to the museum and availability of the media in the dormitory. The cloister was opened for all-day, self-guided visits at the end of September 2024; check before your visit whether this option is still available.
The Baroque Tour and the History of the Abbey’s Inn
The 77-kilometre Baroque Tour offers a different perspective. It is a circular route that passes through Michaelbeuern and includes the Benedictine Abbey among the Baroque sights along the way. As well as exploring individual rooms and works of art, you can choose a longer route that places the village within a circular tour. If you include the tour in your travel plans, check the current route conditions in advance.
The Michaelbeuern abbey’s inn is located right next to the monastery. It was first mentioned in an official document as the abbey’s inn in 1618. This historical record of an inn offers a different focus alongside the abbey’s sacred spaces and art. Together, the monastery rooms, the Baroque Tour and the recorded history of the inn reveal different aspects of Michaelbeuern’s cultural heritage, without necessarily pointing to the same focus for a visit.
Discover more destinations: Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Anthering, Nußdorf Am Haunsberg, Wals-Siezenheim, Thalgau, Großgmain, Köstendorf bei Salzburg, Gschwand
For the broader travel overview: Salzburg-Flachgau.
