Explore history, art, and wine culture at the Augustinian Monastery of Novacella
Image gallery: Novacella Abbey Museum
The Novacella Abbey near Bressanone is one of South Tyrol's most significant monasteries. Bishop Hartmann of Brixen founded it in the 12th century. Alongside it, a hospice was established for travellers, pilgrims, the sick, and the poor, offering shelter and care until its closure in the 15th or 16th century. Novacella underwent secularisation under Napoleon, but monastic life was revived as early as 1816. During the Second World War, Novacella served as a supply depot and was partially destroyed, but it has shone in its Baroque splendour again since 1949.
Augustinian monks still live in the Abbey of Novacellla (Kloster Neustift) today. It also houses a monastery winery, an educational centre, and a student residence. The Baroque Church of Our Lady, a basilica minor with magnificent frescoes and Rococo stuccowork, is renowned. Adjacent, you'll find the cloister with its Gothic ribbed vaulting and impressive Late Gothic frescoes by Michael Pacher, as well as the monastery garden. The library, with its valuable manuscript collection, and the art gallery featuring Gothic panel paintings, are also worth seeing.
Between 2020 and 2021, the Chinese Cabinet was restored, a fully preserved 18th-century room setting now open to the public. The restoration of the Chinese everyday scenes and medallions with exotic birds, especially popular during the time of Maria Theresa, was completed in 2021. In 2024, the monastery acquired a series of twelve newly restored Baroque paintings. These are precise copies of works by the renowned southern German Renaissance painter Albrecht Altdorfer (1480-1538) - seven of which recreate the appearance of lost originals.
How do you get there: It is located about 3 kilometres from Bressanone towards the Val Pusteria valley. Free parking is available at the entrance to the monastery grounds. Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted. Several themed trails, as well as the Upper Valle Isarco Cycle Path, pass nearby.
Contact info
- Via Abbazia / Stiftstrasse 1 - 39040 - Novacella/Varna / Neustift/Vahrn
- +39 0472 694951
- booking@abbazianovacella.it
Opening times
Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.
Admission
Novacella Abbey Museum - with audio guide:
€ 13.00 adults
€ 11.00 seniors 65+
€ 11.00 people with disabilities
€ 7.00 young people (15-18 years)
€ 7.00 students (up to 26 years, with card)
free for children and young people up to 14 years
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combined ticket museum and abbey garden:
€ 16.00 adults
€ 14.00 seniors 65+
€ 8.50 young people (15-18 years)
€ 8.50 students (up to 26 years, with card)
free for children and young people up to 14 years
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only abbey garden:
€ 5.00 adults
€ 5.00 seniors 65+
€ 2.50 young people (15-18 years)
€ 2.50 students (up to 26 years, with card)
free for children and young people up to 14 years
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guided tour of the Novacella Abbey (only on reservation):
€ 18.00 adults
€ 16.00 seniors 65+
€ 12.00 young people (15-18 years)
€ 12.00 students (up to 26 years, with card)
€ 4.00 children and young people (up to 14 years)
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vineyard tour with tastings (only on reservation):
€ 25.00 adults
€ 25.00 seniors 65+
€ 25.00 students (up to 26 years, with card)
€ 10.00 children and young people (up to 18 years)
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Deluxe tour (only on reservation):
€ 600.00 up to 4 people
More information
The Novacella Abbey Museum stay open all year round, Sunday rest day. It remains closed all day on religious holidays. Additionally, it is closed in the morning on Saint Augustine's Day (the order's founder) in August and on Blessed Hartmann's Day (the monastery's founder) in December.
Abbey tours are available by prior arrangement from Monday to Friday at 11 am and 2.30 pm, and on Saturdays at 11 am. Vineyard tours with tastings are offered by prior arrangement from Monday to Friday at 4 pm and Saturdays at 2.30 pm.
The abbey garden is accessible from May to October from Monday to Saturday (10 am to 5 pm).
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