Nonnberg Abbey

Nonnberg Abbey, also known as Stift Nonnberg, is a Benedictine monastery located in Salzburg, Austria. The oldest continuously existing nunnery in the German-speaking world was founded around 712/715 by Saint Rupert of Salzburg. The monastery complex is currently designated as a protected monument and is included as part of the Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg, which has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

The convent was founded beneath the Festungsberg hill, near the remains of the former Roman city of Juvavum. The first abbess of the monastery was Saint Erentrudis of Salzburg, who was believed to be either a niece or a sister of Bishop Rupert. The abbey’s endowment was generously provided by Theodo of Bavaria, the Agilolfing duke, and his successor Theodbert.

The nuns, who were all of noble birth, owned extensive estates along the Salzach river in the southern part of the city. Emperor Henry II, who was also Duke of Bavaria, later added to the possessions of the convent. The implementation of the Benedictine rule took place during the early 12th century under the leadership of Archbishop Conrad I of Salzburg.

The abbey gained independence from its founding house in 987. The abbey church was rebuilt after a fire in 1006, thanks to the support of Henry II. He and his consort, Cunigunde of Luxembourg, attended the consecration ceremony in 1009. The Romanesque building was once again mostly destroyed in a fire that occurred in 1423. The period of reconstruction occurred from 1464 to 1509. The church was expanded in 1624 with the construction of three side chapels. The Baroque style refurbishment occurred in the 1880s.

The monastery is home to a significant collection of medieval manuscripts, Gothic figures, and paintings, particularly late Gothic altars.One particularly remarkable item is the “Faldistorium,” which is a folding chair specifically designed for the abbess. It was created after 1100 and features intricate figurative reliefs and figures made of walrus bone. Additionally, there is the ivory pastoral, a crook that has been used by the abbess since 1242.

The abbey became internationally renowned thanks to Maria Augusta von Trapp. She worked as a teacher at the monastery school after the First World War, and her life served as the inspiration for the musical “The Sound of Music.”