Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The
Stiftsbasilika
( 7am-8pm)
is an exuberant affair: its altar is carved from 700 tonnes of
pink Salzburg marble and the huge 18th-century organ, which is literally dripping with
gold, was Europe's largest at the time it was built. To hear the organ in full swing, time
your visit to see one of the 20-minute
concerts
(€4, incl guided abbey tour €9.80;
2.30pm Mon, Wed-
Fri & Sun mid-May-mid-Oct)
.
Alongside Anton Bruckner's simple tomb in the
crypt
are the remains of some 6000
people believed to be Roman, which were unearthed in the 13th century. Stacked in neat
rows behind a wrought-iron gate, their bones and skulls create a spine-tingling work of
art.
OÖ Feuerwehrmuseum
(Fire Brigade Museum;
www.feuerwehrmuseum-stflorian.at
; Stiftstrasse 2; adult/child €3/2; 10am-noon & 2-5pm
Tue-Sun May-Oct)
Opposite the Stiftskirche, this is a child's dream of a museum and an ode
to St Florian, patron saint of fire-fighters. The collection comprises historic fire engines,
hoses and other paraphernalia.
MUSEUM
ST FLORIAN'S HEAVENLY MUSIC
Famous Austrian Romantic composer Anton Bruckner was born 8km from St Florian in the village of Ansfelden
in 1824. A choirboy in St Florian and church organist from 1850 to 1855, he was buried in the crypt below his
beloved organ in 1896. Indeed the Augustiner Chorherrenstift abbey has a long musical tradition, associated
with names such as Schubert and Michael Haydn, and is world famous for its resident boys' choir, the St Flori-
aner Sängerknaben; see
www.florianer.at
(in German) for concert dates.
Sleeping & Eating
The tourist office hands out a useful accommodation booklet that lists hotels and private
rooms in and around St Florian.
Gästehaus Stift St Florian
( 89 02 13; Stiftstrasse 1; s/d €48/76)
It's oh-so-quiet at this guesthouse within the abbey's
walls, overlooking the cloisters and manicured gardens. Antique furniture, solid wood
floors and candles add character to the fittingly spartan rooms, which are flooded with
natural light.
GUESTHOUSE
€
Landgasthof zur Kanne
GUESTHOUSE
€€
