Maria Schnee Monastery

The Maria Schnee Monastery is a convent of the Discalced Carmelites located on Grabenstraße in the Geidorf district of Graz.The monastery is located at the base of the Reinerkogel, slightly off the Grabenstrasse.The monastery and pilgrimage church Maria Schnee are situated within the monastery courtyard. The first mention of a place of pilgrimage called the Maria Schnee chapel in the forest dates back to 1553.The property, which was once a bourgeois late baroque building, dates back to 1687.

The old Carmelite monastery, located on Karmeliterplatz, was dissolved in 1789 as a result of the Josephine reforms. Today, it is known as the Styrian Provincial Archives.In the 1840s, the Carmelites resettled in Graz by acquiring an estate that had been owned by the Order since 1842. Prior to this, the Discalced Carmelites had made an unsuccessful attempt to acquire the monastery. Instead, they built the convent of St. Joseph, which is located near the foot of the Rosenberg.

The Carmelites expanded their convent in Graz in 1844 during the late Biedermeier period. The architect responsible for this expansion was Georg Hauberrisser the Elder, who also designed the Herz-Jesu-Kirche. The building was then converted into a monastery. During the Nazi regime, the monastery premises were used as the residence for the Graz Regional Music School of the Hitler Youth.

The north wing was added to the old core under the direction of architect Georg Hauberrisser d. Ä. after the friars moved in in 1848.The Carmelite monastery is a three-story building that has a distinctive hook-shaped structure.The smooth exterior displays a late classicist aesthetic.The coat of arms of the order is displayed above the arched stone portal.The door panels, which date back to 1859, showcase reliefs of St. Leopold and a view of the monastery from the same year.On the left side of the gate, there is a sandstone figure of Saint Joseph, while on the right side, there is a sandstone figure of Saint Teresa.

The paintings in the corridors of the north wing were originally sourced from the Carmelite monastery in Vienna. They were subsequently transferred to Graz in 1876.The neo-Gothic prayer choir is known for its impressive size and design. It features an altar from 1859, adorned with a beautiful altarpiece depicting the Holy Trinity. This altarpiece was skillfully created by Fr. Romäus.The standing cross, featuring an ivory body, is believed to have originated in the late 17th or early 18th century.The north wing of the building houses a “small prayer choir” that features a winged altar dating back to around 1833. This altar is adorned with a depiction of the Lamentation of Christ, which is crafted from copper sheet and was designed by the talented artist AI Wonsiedler.

The preparatory room is adorned with a neo-Gothic crucifix, a late baroque carved Pietà group, and a late baroque carved cross group. The cross group is carefully preserved in a glass case.In the courtyard, there is a sandstone relief created by Erwin Huber, featuring depictions of Christ and angels.