Ossiach Abbey
The Ossiach Abbey was founded around 1000 as Ossiach Monastery by Bavarian Count Ozi I and his wife Irenburgis. Their son, Ozi II sold the monastery in 1019 to his brother Poppo, the Patriarch of Aquileia. In 1028, Emperor Konrad II confirmed a document that granted Ossiach Monastery to the Patriarch of Aquileia. A fire destroyed the church and monastery in 1484. According to a legend known since 1521, the Polish King Boleslaw was supposed to have spent his last years as a mute penitent at the monastery and here he died.
The monastery was abolished in 1783. The Abbey church was a parish church and the Abbey finally came under state ownership. The buildings were used as barracks and later even as a stud farm. In 1816, the large parts including the cloister on the south side of the church were removed and the abbey was threatened with collapse. In 1946, it was handed over to Austrian Federal Forest, which was able to prevent its demolition. This was followed by its conversion to a hotel. In 1965-1975, the Abbey church was completely restored on the initiative of Pastor Jacob Stingl. It was also he who, along with the musician and manager Helmut Wobsich, initiated the Carinthian Summer. Since 1969, the Abbey church in Ossiach has been the venue in July and August for the musical events of this internationally renowned summer festival.
CMA Ossiach +43 4243/45 594 · CMA Knappenberg +43 4263 / 750 280