A temporary break - three monasteries in Austria

Three monasteries in Austria - a temporary break

We have three monasteries in Austria, which could not be more different, with Elena from Creativelena and Angelika from Wieder on a tour of the Styria and the Mühlviertel in Upper Austria got to know. Klösterreich, with whom we have already explored the monastery gardens in Lower Austria, had invited us to visit three monasteries. We hoped for a few days break in the silence behind the monastery walls.

The three monasteries in Austria offered us that, but in different ways. Let yourself be kidnapped in three monasteries in Austria. We visit

• St. Lambrecht Abbey in Styria
• the Sisters of Mary of Carmel in Bad Mühllacken
• and in Bad Kreuzen in Upper Austria

 

 

St. Lambrecht Abbey in Styria

We travel via the A10, which takes us from Salzburg to the south, until our navigation device at Altenmarkt im Pongau steers us onto the main road. So we are immediately behind Radstadt on the highway 99 sent higher up in the mountains, until we pass the last winter snow remains at Obertauern before it goes through lonely mountain landscapes and remote mountain villages in the direction of Murau.

The route gives us the feeling of leaving the modern world and of going back in time to a life without hassle. The people of this region lead a hard life. If we can judge the deserted mountain farms, many have given up and moved out to find a lighter life elsewhere.

 

 

This is how we live in the Benedictine monastery

A few kilometers past Murau, the Benedictine Abbey of St. Lambrecht finally appears in the town of the same name. It dominates the place. A monastery building, which encloses several courtyards, dominates all the surrounding buildings of the place. We ask ourselves through to the Kanzley, where Father Gerwig Romirer, Prior, Hofmeister, Head of the "School of Life", Pastor, Priest and Spiritual Assistant at the Catholic Educational Institute, receives us. After a lunch that does not quite match the fare we expect in a convent with pumpkin soup and roast beef with dumplings, we move into our rooms in one of the abbey's outbuildings.

Our room

Our room is simply furnished. Only table, bed and shower await us. “Twenty years ago, our guests - even if they didn't know each other - were accommodated in double or multi-bed rooms. The washing facilities in the room consisted of a sink. The shower and toilet were in the corridor. Today nobody is willing to accept such accommodation, ”laughs Father Gerwig. You adapt. We even go so far that he planned two single rooms for Petar and me. Since a double room is available, we are happy to accept it.

 

 

Luxury should not be expected, however, television and radio are completely missing. Internet access is only available in the rooms of the School of Life in the main building of the Abbey. Whoever comes here, seeks silence and tranquility. And he finds her. For us, who spend only one day, this is an unfamiliar experience. Whether we would endure in the long run, I dare to doubt, however.

The baroque garden of St. Lambrecht Abbey

 

 

In the afternoon we visit the baroque garden of the monastery. This is brought to life after decades of fallowing by the club domenico to life. The garden is divided into four parts, each dedicated to one element: earth, fire, air and water. In one quarter of the garden one plants medicinal herbs after the model of Hildegard von Bingen. The next symbolizes creation as a gardener. In this part of the garden the stars are represented in the form of stones. The next part is followed by a rose garden, whose flowers are processed into rose salt, rose jelly and rose vinegar. The rose jelly we try the next morning for breakfast. The last quarter represents the element of water, represented in the central fountain and in the paths that represent the four streams of paradise. The garden is part of a project that integrates the long-term unemployed back into the working world.

 

 

Well worth seeing is the Abbey Museum

Worth seeing is the Abbey Museum, where you can see works of art from the chapel of St. Peter, which is also located on the abbey grounds. It is currently being restored and is therefore closed. In the museum, the altars and sculptures can be visited.

Benedictine monastery St. Lambrecht
Mainzer Straße 1
8813 St. Lambrecht
info@stift-stlambrecht.at
T + 43 3585 / 2305 - 0

 

 

 

Sisters of Mary of Carmel offer Kneipp and Traditional European Medicine (TEM)

Quite different are the other monasteries we visit on our trip to Upper Austria. Both are run by the Sisters of Mary of Carmel. The first of these nunneries is located in Bad Mühllacken at the entrance to the Pesenbachtal, the second is located on a hilltop in Bad Kreuzen and offers a view of the Alps on the horizon. Both monasteries do not look like a religious institution at first sight. Rather, they are reminiscent of spa hotels or spa hotels and are also located in a beautiful landscape. Only when we meet the sisters, it becomes clear that they are run by the Order of the Sisters of Mary.

 

 

Treatments according to Traditional European Medicine

The sisters work in the health resort. They administer fonts and help with the Kneipp courses. They also look after the herb garden.

Both houses offer traditional European medicine (TEM) treatments. These begin with the movements of Wyda, a kind of Celtic Yoga. This has already been practiced by the Druids. It is practiced by tradition in Irish families to this day. Other sources of this treatment approach are the Greeks. The Hippocrates' 4 juices doctrine flows in as well as the monastery medicine of Hildegard von Bingen with cupping, bloodletting and herbal remedies of the bath and herbal women of their time. Other influences come from Paracelsus with his doctrine of signatures, Rudolf Steiner and pastor Sebastian Kneipp, who with his 5 pillars of life, water, exercise, nutrition and our medicinal herbs provides the basis for traditional European medicine.

Holistic treatment in TEM

Treatment according to traditional European medicine is about the treatment of the whole, not of symptoms. TEM tries to restore the balance between the four humors sanguis, phlegma, cholé and melancholé. First, the archetype of each guest is determined. Is he a sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric or melancholic? Or - even better - a mixed type?

 

 

This is how a TEM scrub works

We get a TEM peeling, where we get to know this procedure. The whole thing seems somewhat mysterious to me. Daniela, the therapist, first feels my pulse and looks deep into my eyes. "You are a mixed type of sanguine and phlegmatic," she says, without having ever seen me before. "A peeling made from thyme and almond-olive oil is good for you." It says, and disappears to mix the mixture. To what extent this mixture should do me good now, I can not understand. Anyway, after the treatment my skin is soft like the skin of a peach.

 

 

 

Nutrition in Traditional European Medicine

Diet is important in Traditional European Medicine. In Bad Mühllacken, the focus has been on this topic. In the herb garden, which until recently was maintained by Sister Johanna, the present Superior, domestic herbs are bred, which are reflected in the dishes that come to the table in the restaurant.

The dishes are cooked by Martin Thaller, who has also trained as a nutritionist and developed many of the recipes. Here the guest gets everything from lactose-free, gluten-free up to vegan food. Our lunch is a cross-section of what's on the table: celery schnitzel, chicken drumsticks, base dumplings and a salad decorated with herb blossoms from the herb garden. If you want, you can do a fasting cure in Bad Mühllacken.

 

 

Movement plays a role

Movement is very important in both houses. If you can tread water in the herb garden and in the house in Bad Mühllacken according to Sebastian Kneipp, the neighboring one is also inviting Pesenbachtal for relaxed walks and hikes in the river valley. In Bad Kreuzen, the view of the surrounding area lures guests out for walks or hikes. The backpack should not be forgotten. Wyda exercises are offered in the morning, and those who wish can go for a Kneipp walk in the Kneipp pool before retiring to bed.

Further treatments

Other treatments include haystack, which is still hand-filled in both houses today. Friedrich Kaindlstorfer, Managing Director of Bad Kreuzen, swears by the salt mantle, a linen coat that is dipped in ice-cold salt. Wrapped in it, you are covered with blankets. This treatment should have a detoxifying effect.

You can try out the methods of traditional European medicine yourself at:

Sisters of Mary of Carmel
Peace Square 1
4020 Linz
Austria
(T) + 43 (0) 732 775654
(F) + 43 (0) 732 775654-21
marienschwestern-linz@kloesterreich.at

In the Mühlviertel we have now discovered another monastery that is worth a visit: Schlägl Abbey in the Bohemian Forest.

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Travel Arrangements:

Check in:

Book yours here Arrival by plane, bus or train*. Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and Swiss will follow Vienna, Salzburg or Linz.

Car Rentals:

Rent a car - book quickly and easily! *

Hotels:

If you do not want to stay in the pen, but only want to use the offers there, that is also possible. Hotels in St. Lambrecht * or Bad Kreuzen * You can book through our partner booking.com.

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Slow Travel Tips you find here. Also discover Monasteries and churches. Do you already know Admont Abbey in Styria?

Not enough of monasteries? Anita von Gailtal on tour was in Monastery Wernberg near Villach.

Source: own research on site. We would like to thank Klösterreich for inviting us to this trip to the three monasteries in Austria. Our opinion, however, remains our own.

Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline