Zur feierlichen Eröffnung waren zahlreiche Vertreter aus Politik, Kultur, Kirche sowie Projektpartner geladen.With the opening of the new Cisterscapes Visitor Centre in the Old Town Hall on 25 June, another important milestone has been achieved for the Municipality of Zwettl, Zwettl Abbey and the entire region. The Visitor Centre brings the unique monastic landscape of Zwettl to life in a modern and interactive way and will serve as the starting point for discovering the European cultural heritage on site. The opening is part of the Interreg project “CISTERSCAPES VB-ZW-ZNS” (ATZ00007).
The opening speeches highlighted the importance of the European Cisterscapes network, which connects the historic monastic landscapes of Europe. Special thanks were extended to all project partners and to those who played a key role in developing the Visitor Centre over the past years – above all Abbey Archivist Dr Andreas Gamerith and Municipal Archivist Elisabeth Moll.
Mayor Franz Mold stated: “Cisterscapes demonstrates that Zwettl is part of a European network of cultural landscapes and therefore plays an important role in Europe’s shared cultural heritage.”
Experience the “Bärenhaut” Digitally
The new Visitor Centre invites visitors not only to understand these connections but also to experience them first-hand. The modern exhibition in the Old Town Hall is divided into three clearly structured exhibition areas.
The front section introduces the phenomenon of Cistercian monastic landscapes across Europe, presenting Zwettl’s place within the international Cisterscapes network and its cooperation with partner monasteries throughout Europe.
The central exhibition area focuses on the region’s fishponds and the European Heritage Label through a range of multimedia displays. At the touch of a button, visitors can access selected films illustrating the importance of fish farming and the role of Zwettl Abbey as one of the earliest pioneers of carp pond farming in the Waldviertel region.
A special highlight awaits visitors in the final exhibition room: the digital Bärenhaut, the foundation chronicle of Zwettl Abbey. Selected pages from this remarkable historical manuscript have been brought to life using modern animation technology, allowing visitors to witness scenes such as Hadmar I on horseback during his inspection ride. During the opening event, this experience was complemented by a virtual reality station where visitors could immerse themselves in the world of the Waldviertel carp ponds. They could virtually swim alongside the fish and experience the traditional pond harvest from a completely new perspective – an immersive presentation developed by the Lower Austrian Fish Farmers’ Association.
With its new Visitor Centre, Zwettl has gained another attractive destination where history, nature and culture are presented in an innovative and engaging way. At the same time, the exhibition provides the ideal starting point for exploring the unique monastic landscape in person.
Opening Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Thursday and Friday
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Additionally, from May until the end of October:
Friday
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
