Säben Abbey

Chiusa, Italy

Säben Abbey was established in 1687, when it was first settled by the nuns of Nonnberg Abbey in Salzburg. Situated on the 'holy mountain', Säben was for centuries a centre of pilgrimage and controlled an extensive religious precinct. On the site of the present nunnery there was an earlier Roman settlement. Between the 6th century and about 960 there was a bishopric (episcopatus Sabiona) seated here. The church 'im Weinberg' dates from that time and its remains have been excavated along with a large burial ground in recent times.

Säben later became a fortress of the bishops. In the 14th and 15th centuries Säben Castle was the seat of the judges of Klausen and the centre of administration of the southern territories of the Diocese of Brixen.

A community of Benedictine nuns was established here in 1686 by the local priest, in premises at the foot of the mountain. The abbey church was dedicated by Johann Franz, Count Khuen von Belasi, then Bishop of Brixen.

Although the nunnery was repeatedly looted during the Napoleonic wars and stripped of its assets during the secularization in 1803, the community survived although in an impoverished state through the 19th century until it gradually revived from about 1880, when, during the period of the Kulturkampf in Germany (1871–1878), the monks of Beuron Abbey were in exile in the county of Tyrol and were in contact with the nuns at Säben. At this time new premises were built in the ruins of the castle on the mountain. The nuns of Säben adopted the Beuronese mode of life, although the abbey was formally accepted into the Beuronese Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation only in 1974.

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Address

SS12 3, Chiusa, Italy
See all sites in Chiusa

Details

Founded: 1687
Category: Religious sites in Italy

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Marcello Zenoni (18 months ago)
Visitato al crepuscolo, da solo. Storia, pietre e vigne a far da scenario.
Andrea Stringaro (18 months ago)
Una meraviglia per chi ha buone gambe per salire fino in cima anche se, prendendosela comoda, il percorso non è poi troppo faticoso. In cima si gode di un panorama impagabile sulla vallata sottostante e sulle altre cime montane. Delizioso anche il sottostante borgo abitato di Chiusa.
Mara Marietti (18 months ago)
Posto magico, dove si può trovare la propria serenità. Consigliato
Roberto Chiarotto (2 years ago)
Se si è di passaggio e si ha qualche ore di tempo conviene fermarsi (meglio parcheggiare nel park a pagamento in centro, 1 euro l'ora, 4 euro tutta la giornata), fare un giretto a Chiusa per poi salire al convento di Sabiona. All'interno della chiesa sono presenti dei bellissimi affreschi conservati molto bene. Partendo da Chiusa, dopo qualche minuto di scalinata si arriva a un bivio. Entrambe le strade permettono di arrivare al convento. Quella di destra passa per un bosco, è più lunga ma meno impegnativa. Quella di sinistra costeggia le mura è più corta e più impegnativa.
luca grazioli (2 years ago)
Un esperienza da vivere. Bello il posto è molto spirituale. La camminata non è così semplice e famiglie con bambini devono prendersela con comodo...ne vale poi la pena. Due sono i percorsi...consiglio quello che parte da Chiusa anche per il parcheggio dell'auto
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