History

In 1959 Pater Adalbert Krause set up a permanent exhibition of fine arts in the second storey of the South wing. This “forerunner” of the present Fine Art Museum was expanded in 1980 and formed a “museum zone” in Admont Monastery with the Natural History Museum, which had been in existence sine 1906.

In 1998 the “Chapter” of the Admont Benedictine Monastery - that is the decision-making gremium of all monks under permanent vows chaired by the Abbot - made the decision to renovate the Museum and build further new premises. A new archive for the valuable manuscripts and early printed books was built between Autumn 1998 and Spring 2003, together with the rebuilding or completely new construction of the South wing to three storeys and parts of the West wing to house the whole Museum complex.

Almost all of the construction work for the Museum was “invisible”, i.e. hidden from the external viewer behind the Monastery walls and only in the interior rooms. This was of no minor importance for the continuance of the flourishing activities since the visitors to the library - during the construction period roughly 50,000 per season - could still enjoy the outer areas and the library virtually undisturbed and free of the “building site”
The ceremonial opening of the Admont Monastery Museum took place on 29 May 2003. Since then the Musuem has received some 70,000 visitors per season.

The Fine Art Museum is on the first floor, the former premises of the Abbot. The viewer progresses chronologically through the areas housing important works of art from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Baroque period. Before one leaves the Fine Art Museum one comes at the end to the “room for artistic intervention” devoted to an annually changing exhibition by a contemporary artist. Partly with historical objects, a modern installation is built up in this room, thus uniting tradition and innovation.