| St. Florian Monastery | |
|---|---|
 St. Florian Monastery in Sankt Florian, Austria | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Catholic Church |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Year consecrated | 1071 |
| Location | |
| Location | Sankt Florian, Austria |
| State | Linz-Land District,Upper Austria |
  Shown within Austria | |
| Coordinates | 48°12′26″N14°22′44″E / 48.207251°N 14.378765°E /48.207251; 14.378765 |
| Architecture | |
| Architects | Carlo Antonio Carlone Jakob Prandtauer |
| Type | Monastery |
| Style | Baroque |
| Founder | Bishop Altmann of Passau |
St. Florian Monastery (German:Stift Sankt Florian) is anAugustinian monastery in the town ofSankt Florian,Austria. Founded in the early ninth century, and later refounded by Augustinians in the eleventh century, St. Florian is the largest monastery inUpper Austria, and rivalsMelk Abbey andKlosterneuburg Monastery, as among the most impressive examples ofBaroque architecture in Austria.[1] The monastery is dedicated toSaint Florian,[Note 1] whose fourth century grave lies beneath the monastery.[2]
The monastery, named afterSaint Florian, was founded in theCarolingian period. Since 1071 it has housed a community ofAugustinian Canons, and is thus is one of the oldest operational monasteries in the world following theRule of St. Augustine.
Between 1686 and 1708 the monastery complex was reconstructed inBaroque style by Carlo Antonio Carlone, whose masterpiece is St. Florian's. After his death,Jakob Prandtauer continued the work. The result is the biggest Baroque monastery in Upper Austria.[Note 2]Bartolomeo Altomonte created the frescoes.
Construction of the library wing began in 1744, underJohann Gotthard Hayberger. The library comprises about 130,000 items, including many manuscripts. The gallery contains numerous works of the 16th and 17th centuries, but also some late medieval works of theDanube School, particularly byAlbrecht Altdorfer.
In 1827, Polish librarian Father Josef Chmel found one of the oldest Polish literary artifacts, anilluminated manuscript containing the Psalms in Latin, German and Polish in the monastery. Because of the site of discovery, it has been named theSankt Florian Psalter, and now resides in theNational Library of Poland.[3]
In January 1941, theGestapo seized the facility and expelled the monks. From 1942, theReichsrundfunkgesellschaft ("Radio Society of the Third Reich"), under general director Heinrich Glasmeier, operated from here. The canons returned after the end of the war.
The premises now also house the Upper Austrian Fire Brigade Museum.
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The canons' church was elevated to abasilica minor in 1999. It is dedicated to Saint Florian andSaint Augustine.
St. Florian's Priory possesses two organs, the larger one of which is known as the "Bruckner organ" (Brucknerorgel) and contains four manuals, 103stops and 7,343pipes.[4] It was played by composer and organistAnton Bruckner, previously achoirboy at the monastery, when he was the organist, between 1848 and 1855. He is buried beneath the organ inside the church.
St. Florian is also known for the St. Florian Boys Choir (St. Florianer Sängerknaben), aboys' choir founded in 1071. This choir has been a traditional part of the monastic worship from its foundation. It still has particular responsibility forsacred music for the priory, but also now undertakes international concert tours, television appearances and making CDs.
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