Destruction and reconstruction
A golden lion with a red crown
The black banner of the golden lion with a red crown is waving in the wind. It is the banner of Duke Otto II of Bavaria. His soldiers are marching towards Lambach Abbey. They have come to destroy it.
After Lambach Abbey was founded by Adalbero in the middle of the 11th century, the abbey flourished for over 200 years. But in 1233 Duke Otto II breaks into the dominion of the Austrian Babenbergs. For a long time, both sides fought each other over these economically important territories. It is about the control of the salt trade and its revenues. The Bavarians destroy the monastery and the church.
However, Lambach Abbey was not to perish. After the riots were over, work began on repairing the collegiate church. But it was not until the 15th century that the collegiate church was rebuilt into a two-nave, Gothic hall church.
In the former ringing house of the Westwerk, the room below the bell tower, is probably the greatest treasure of Lambach Abbey - unique frescoes from the early Romanesque period - to be found. They are among the oldest Romanesque wall paintings in Austria and in the southern German-speaking region. Despite wars, religious and political upheavals, the frescoes have survived for almost a thousand years.
Three abbots from the 17th and 18th centuries were particularly influential in shaping the present appearance of Lambach Abbey. Abbot Placidus Hieber had the entire building renovated as a single-nave complex.
A few years later, the walls, vaults and ceilings were decorated with stucco made of coloured plaster mortar with sculptural representations and ornaments. The life-size niche figures between the double pilasters, flat wall pillars projecting from the wall, were also created during this period.
At the end of the 17th century, under Abbot Severin Blaß, Lambach's famous frescoes with scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary were created in the libraries and monastery halls.
At the beginning of the 18th century, under the direction of Abbot Maximilan Pagl, the high altar was renovated. However, the altarpiece from the 17th century was adopted for the new altar.
Duke Otto II of Bavaria, Count Palatine of the Rhine, with his wife Agnes; oil painting based on a 15th century model CC-.
