Stiftsbibliothek [Benedictine Abbey of the Scotts]

{Versión en español}

The Benedictine Abbey of the Scotts [Shottenstift] in Vienna, it is a Catholic Scottish Monastery which was founded in 1155 when Henry II of Austria brought Irish monks to Vienna. Historically, this place got involved as well in the foundation of the University of Vienna.

In here, there is a Museum where various cultural and social activities are carried out in different areas. With regard to the huge library in this Abbey, I can mention that it is not open to the public as the main target audience are the researchers and scientific community, that is why personal book loans are not possible.

To reach this place, the closer underground  station in Vienna, is the Schottentor from the U2 (purple line)

One thing to remark is that this Scottish Order has a Guesthouse [Benediktushaus]. The religious activities, like ceremonies are done in the Church with a Baroque style with a high altar that was build by Heinrich von Ferstel.

In the education area, also managed by this Abbey; there is a kindergarten and primary school. Here also in order to raise funds for their foundation, this congregation organizes ballroom dances.

Shottenkloster [1826-1832]

With regard to the economical side, they have a store at the entrance of the museum, where you can find a big variety of products which came from to the farm, and also there is a Schotten forest which promotes activities like hiking and cycling trails and some other experiences and specific exercise activities.

Shottenkirche [1115]

I want to express my full gratitude for the precious time and the tour-guide offered by  P. Augustinus Zerman, who gently showed me the composition and the functionality of the library.

Today, the library has  200,000 items, which 130,000 are from before Twentieth-Century. Among its treasures, you can find 442 incunable books, 2,650 items from 16th Century, 9,000 from the 15th Century and 35,000 from 18th Century.

In this main hall, there are 130,000 items from before Twentieth-Century

In January 2014, the Blog “Books from the HMML Basement” made a review about this library, where it says the important work of microfilming 4,000 manuscripts, that meant a hard work of 50-60 hours per week during three years to achieved it. In year 1967, father Oliver Kapsner shared this results.

The documental organization is simple, it is by coordinates made by the number of the bookshelf plus every shelf

If you are interested in research the content of the library, you must contact P. Augustinus Zerman, who is in charge of the Library since three years ago.

Once you get inside of this building, you can search the OPAC which works only via their intranet.

Girdle book [Diurnale monasticum- Beutelbuch, 1515]

The architecture of this particular library, I mean the monastic libraries, as you can see by the photos of this review; the columns and floors are made of marble that keeps the collections free of humidity and dryness in every season of the year. This important factor, was the main success of the preservation for so many years and the special books smell, that it is undeniable.

The collection covers important periods of the Europe history, that helps to research more about the continuity of every event, especially during the Twentieth-Century, the most impressive fact, is that this library endured trough natural disasters and armed conflict like World War II, that makes this library even more valuable.

Architecture detail at the Library Main Hall

The whole collection is located in different areas of the monastery, for example the manuscripts and incunable books are in a specific area to guarantee its preservation and its study.

In the entrance of the library, you can see a special crystal wall that keeps the materials safe

Other examples of this kind of places, area the ones I showed you before in other reviews, like  the Monastery of Strahov in Praga, Czech Republic and the Monastery of Mechitarist in Vienna, Austria,  that always  have a museum besides the library, where you can find a lot antique pieces of art and other items, which are very special for the history as itself. As an example of this affirmation, you can see this painting who was made in the Middle Age.

Runaway into Egypt Master of the Schotten Altar, 1470

If you are in downtown (Vienna), this visit is a must-see, every Saturday at 14:30 there is a guided tour that shows you the Museum and a quick view of the Library and also do not miss the store where you can find from cooking species to travel guide books or religious books even hand made spirits, wine or craft beers and fresh cherries just to mention a few examples of the variety of products that they offer.

A shelf with products in the Store