We drove to the Abbey of Gurk in Carinthina today.
The monastery was founded in 1075.
Many parts of the church from the Romanesque period are still around.
I have been there 40 years ago.
It had not changed much.
They have a wonderfully painted Lent Cloth there from 1458.
Here is a picture from Lent when it is hung in front of the altar.
It shows images from the Old and the New Testament.
The Bishop's Chapel contains frescoes and a floor from 1264.
In 1174 Saint Hemma, the founder of the monastery was buried in the beautiful crypt.
This is her sarcophagus.
The 12th century grave was covered with red marble during the baroque period.
The original tomb rested on six columns in the shape of human heads.
Three of these heads are still around today.
In the Middle Ages people used to crawl underneath the tomb of Saint Hemma to pray for relief from back pain or other ailments.
The large crypt from the 12th century is one of the most beautiful
Romanesque spaces in the German areas.
We stayed at the pilgrims' quarters in the monastery for one night.
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