Future of Stift Engelszell: Hand over the monastery building in September 2025

Future of Stift Engelszell: Hand over the monastery building in September 2025

A historic turn is made in the smaller trappy monastery Stift Engelszell, which is located in the picturesque surroundings of Upper Austria. In May 2023, the General Abbey of the Order of Trappist, Dom Bernardus Peeter, officially announced the dissolution of the monastery - a step that should falter the centuries -long traditional convent. Nevertheless, there is now a perspective: from April 1, 2025, gastronomy, monastery shop as well as the brewery and liqueur production will be transferred to a GmbH. The people responsible plan to hand over the impressive collegiate building to the Diocese of Linz by September 2025, such as OE24 reported.

Abbey Engelszell, which was founded in 1293, is considered the abbey of the Cistercians and one of the few trappist abbeurs in Austria, which are still existing. The convent experienced numerous ups and downs over the centuries, including the closures during the Reformation and the two world wars. Nevertheless, the monastery has blossomed again in recent centuries, and economic success was based on the production of beers and liqueurs. In recent years, however, the lack of offspring and the death of many monks have been felt, which finally led to the dissolution in 2023, as also mentioned wikipedia

In the near future, it remains to be seen how the takeover by the Linz diocese will affect traditional monastery culture and economic activities. The commissioner for the administrative matters, Dom Samuel Lauras, will lead the next steps to secure the inheritance and facilities of Engelszell Abbey for the future. The abbey, known for its delicious products and the spiritual atmosphere, is now on a scabbard that has both challenges and opportunities.