Stift Rein is located 20 minutes north of Graz, the provincial capital, and is regarded as the cradle of Styria. The monastery was founded in 1129 by an abbot and 12 monks who had journeyed from Bavaria. They dedicated themselves to prayer and work ("Ora et labora” according to the Rule of St Benedict) and quickly developed Rein into a spiritual, intellectual, and economic centre.

Over its almost 900-year history, the abbey has shaped the region: architectural traces from all eras bear witness to this, as do the more than 100,000 documents and manuscripts that record the history of our land. Today, Rein is the oldest continuously inhabited Cistercian monastery in the world.

Cistercian monasteries were always built close to water, with the fountain as their central element. In Rein, it was located in the Old Convent, which has been gradually uncovered in recent years. In this oldest courtyard of Styria, many stone witnesses to 900 years of building history have thus been brought back to light.

The originally Romanesque basilica of Rein was remodelled in the Baroque style between 1738 and 1747 and adorned with magnificent frescoes by Josef Adam Mölk. Since its restoration in 2014, the abbey church has shone once again in full splendour.

With more than 100,000 documents, manuscripts, and historic books, Rein possesses an immense historical treasure. Among the most notable works in the Baroque library hall are the Rein Pattern Book, a first edition of Emperor Maximilian’s chivalric novel Theuerdank, and the Kepler table from 1607.

Stift Rein was founded in 1129, with Margrave Leopold the Strong of Steyr donating the land. The remains of Styria’s first "governor” were discovered in the monastery in 2006 and can now be seen in the Chapel of St Mary.

Particularly impressive after its renovation in 2022 is the cloister of Stift Rein: with its more than 300 metres in length and direct access to the basilica, it was the centre of monastic life for centuries and today houses the Gallery of Abbots, with life-size portraits of all 57 abbots of Rein to date.

Within the monastery walls, the historic Baroque garden of Stift Rein is currently being revived. Comprising 16 square flowerbeds and an elegant orangery, the garden will serve as a model flowering area for local biodiversity, hosting a wide variety of life forms, and will be open to visitors from 2025.

In the Middle Ages, more than 700 Cistercian monasteries spread across Europe, with many regions only becoming developed thanks to the monks’ work. The Cistercians were practical and sustainability-minded: monasteries were always established in areas rich in forests and water, ensuring a secure livelihood. They cultivated arable land and orchards and maintained urban estates to sell their produce. Through their work, the order shaped Europe’s cultural landscape. The EU project Cisterscapes, in which Stift Rein plays a leading role, retraces this historic pioneering achievement. In 2024, Stift Rein was awarded the European Heritage Label. www.cisterscapes.eu

The Cistercian rule required abbots to meet annually at the mother abbey for the General Chapter. In the Middle Ages, this gave rise to a network of routes that connected all 700 Cistercian monasteries and ensured safe travel. This historic network is now being reactivated within the EU project Cisterscapes and transformed into a 5,000 km cultural hiking trail through six European countries. Rein itself is surrounded by trails waiting to be explored:

• Rein Prelates’ Trail (2.7 km)

• From Stift Rein to the Styrian Steffl (10.1 km)

• Circular Trail Stift Rein – Mühlbacher Hut (12.7 km)

• Circular Trail Stift Rein – Plesch (14.4 km)

• Cistercian Way Stift Rein – Stift Heiligenkreuz (281 km)

• Cistercian Way Stift Rein – Stična/SLO (243 km)

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The historic halls, with their unique atmosphere, are also available for hire. Whether weddings, corporate events, concerts, or workshops – there is a suitable space for every occasion.

Opening Hours

Monastery shop: Monday to Sunday, 10:00–12:30 and 13:15–16:00
Guided tours: March to January daily at 10:30 and 13:30. Opportunity to attend choral prayer at 12:00

Cistercian Monastery Rein (Styria)