Schlägl Abbey is the gemstone of the Mühlviertel region. Here, at the foot of the Bohemian Forest, the members of the Premonstratensian Order have worked and lived for almost 900 years.The Gothic monastery church is furnished with three naves and is impressive due to a large staircase up to the main nave. The altars, pulpits and choir-stalls from the 17th and 18th centuries are impressive with their rich carving and inlay work give the church a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The pipe organ from 1634, known as the Putz-Orgel in German, is among the most significant organs in Austria. The Schlägl organ concerts are popular worldwide.The Early Baroque library shows how significant science and education was to the monastery - the impressive collection comprises around 60,000 books and numerous manuscripts. In addition, the Schlägl monastery has an extensive collection of paintings with valuable Gothic panel paintings, as well as a collection of portraits in this form of all the brothers from 1802 onwards.
References:House of the Blackheads (Melngalvju nams) is a building situated in the old town of Riga. The original building was erected during the first third of the 14th century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried German merchants in Riga. Major works were done in the years 1580 and 1886, adding most of the ornaments.
The structure was bombed to a ruin by the Germans June 28, 1941 and the remains demolished by the Soviets in 1948. The current reconstruction was erected from 1995 to 1999. Today the House of Blackheads serves as a museum and sometimes concert hall.