Libraries are priceless sources of information. In addition to having a wealth of information, many of them, like the Admont Abbey library in Austria, also captivate book enthusiasts with their opulent appearance.
One of the outstanding pieces of European Late Baroque art combines several artistic disciplines, including architecture, frescoes, sculptures, texts, and printed works. It contains a wealth of knowledge that has been accumulated over many decades.
The Admont Library was constructed in 1776 and is a magnificent structure that can be found in Southeast Austria on the Enns River.
This building’s initial phase of construction began in 1074, and it wasn’t finished until 1776. Its interior has undergone several renovations, and just a few years ago it had the opulent appearance that all visitors now enjoy.
The library is split into 3 sections and measures a total of 70 meters in length, 14 meters in width, and 11 meters in height. It’s well recognized for its baroque architecture, which blends with the minimalist design, artwork, and unique manuscripts it houses.
The name “Admont,” which means “of the mountains,” comes from the Latin “ad montes,” which refers to the monastery’s location on the edge of the Geseuse Mountain National Park. The library is one of the finest examples of late European Baroque architecture, as seen by the intricate limestone carvings, frescoes, sculptures, and paintings.
The seven ceiling paintings, which Bartolomeo Altomonte painted between the summers of 1775 and 1776, are examples of the Enlightenment. The baroque artist Josef Stammel also left behind works in the library. The Four Last Things are a collection of four incredibly enormous sculptures by him that represent death, the final judgment, paradise, and hell.
The abbey has almost 200,000 books (including 1,400 manuscripts), the oldest of which goes back to the 8th century, in addition to the library’s collection of over 70,000 books. Unfortunately, the abbey was compelled to sell part of its artwork due to the 1930s economic difficulties.
The Admont Abbey Library in the little Styrian town is on many bookworm’s bucket lists as well as influencers because of its beautiful Baroque interiors that nearly appear to have been altered with Photoshop.
