Kloster Saeben Winter
Kloster Saeben Winter

Sabiona Monastery

The rock spur enthroned by the former Sabiona Monastery is considered to be one of the most ancient pilgrimage sites of Tyrol

The Sabiona Monastery - "Kloster Säben" in German, "Monastero di Sabiona" in Italian - towers up a striking rock spur, known as "Acropolis of Tyrol". The complex lies embedded in vineyards and forest, about 200 metres above the town of Chiusa. This area was already settled in the Neolithic period. Later on, instead of the monastery there was a late Roman settlement. Furthermore, archaeological findings testify that from this place the Christian faith was spread all over South Tyrol. The still existing Church of the Holy Cross, which can be visited today, was seat of the bishopric of Sabiona until around 1000 AD when the seat was transferred to Bressanone.

More than three centuries - from 1687 to 2021 - this monastery was a Benedictine monastery and was first inhabited by the nuns of Nonnberg close to Salzburg. In 1699, the Sabiona Monastery was elevated to a convent and Maria Agnes Zeillerin was elected the first abbess. Until November 2021, when the monastery was permanently closed, nuns lived here according to the rule of St. Benedict of Nursia: "Ora et labora et lege" (Pray and work and read). It is currently managed by the Diocese of Bressanone-Bolzano, the beautiful churches can be visited. On the Sabiona rock spur, the Holy Mountain, there are the Anniversary Fountain as well as four churches: the Chapel of Mercy (Lady Chapel), the Monastery Church, the Church of Our Lady and the Church of the Holy Cross.

In 2024, the Cistercian monks of the Heiligenkreuz Abbey near Vienna have decided after several visits to settle in and live in the Sabiona Monastery, in order to turn it again into a religious site with pastoral service. After having been empty for three years, on the 1st September 2024 the Sabiona Monastery received its first resident, a Cistercian monk who brought the Holy Mountain back to life. And how to reach it? It is only accessible by foot. Starting from the town of Chiusa, you can reach the Sabiona Monastery within a 45-minutes' walk on the Sabiona Promenade, along the Via Cruxis, however, within 30 minutes only. Also the Chestnut Trail, stage 4, leads past the Holy Mountain, whereas in the valley the Valle Isarco Cycle Path snakes its way past Chiusa.

Contact info

Opening times

  • Thu 12 Dec 08:00 - 17:00
  • Fri 13 Dec 08:00 - 17:00
  • Sat 14 Dec 08:00 - 17:00
  • Sun 15 Dec 08:00 - 17:00
  • Mon 16 Dec 08:00 - 17:00
  • Tue 17 Dec 08:00 - 17:00
  • Wed 18 Dec 08:00 - 17:00

Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.

Full timetables
Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.

Church of the Holy Cross - autumn 2024 (09/09/2024 - 01/12/2024)

  • Mon 08:00 - 17:00
  • Tue 08:00 - 17:00
  • Wed 08:00 - 17:00
  • Thu 08:00 - 17:00
  • Fri 08:00 - 17:00
  • Sat 08:00 - 17:00
  • Sun 08:00 - 17:00

All Saints 2024 (01/11/2024) 08:00 - 17:00

Church of the Holy Cross - winter 2024/25 (02/12/2024 - 23/03/2025)

  • Mon 08:00 - 17:00
  • Tue 08:00 - 17:00
  • Wed 08:00 - 17:00
  • Thu 08:00 - 17:00
  • Fri 08:00 - 17:00
  • Sat 08:00 - 17:00
  • Sun 08:00 - 17:00

Immaculate Conception 2024 (08/12/2024) 08:00 - 17:00

Christmas Eve 2024 (24/12/2024) 08:00 - 17:00

Christmas 2024 (25/12/2024) 08:00 - 17:00

Boxing Day 2024 (26/12/2024) 08:00 - 17:00

New Year's Eve 2024 (31/12/2024) 08:00 - 17:00

New Year 2025 (01/01/2025) 08:00 - 17:00

Epiphany 2025 (06/01/2025) 08:00 - 17:00

Church of the Holy Cross - spring 2025 (24/03/2025 - 30/04/2025)

  • Mon 08:00 - 17:00
  • Tue 08:00 - 17:00
  • Wed 08:00 - 17:00
  • Thu 08:00 - 17:00
  • Fri 08:00 - 17:00
  • Sat 08:00 - 17:00
  • Sun 08:00 - 17:00

Easter 2025 (20/04/2025) 08:00 - 17:00

Easter Monday 2025 (21/04/2025) 08:00 - 17:00

Liberation Day 2025 (25/04/2025) 08:00 - 17:00

Admission

three of the four churches are freely accessible

monastery itself is not accessible to the public

pastoral care of pilgrimages: p.kosmas@stift-heiligenkreuz.at
P. Dr. Kosmas Thielmann OCist

More information

The opening hours corrispond to those of the Church of the Holy Cross, there are four churches:

* Chapel of Mercy open every day from 8 am to 5 pm (all year round)

* Church of Our Lady from July to October on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 2 pm to 5 pm
ceiling painting by Stefan Kessler, stucco works by Francesco Carone and Simon Delai

* Monastery Church closed (except for the Holy Mass every day at 11.30 am in German language)
side altar pictures with the images of the founders of the order St. Benedict and St. Scholastica

* Church of the Holy Cross every day from 8 am to 5 pm (all year round)
wall and ceiling paintings, presumably by Johann Baptist Hueber

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