THE SITE

Rein Monastery, located in approximately fifteen kilometres north-west of Graz in the Austrian province of Styria, is the oldest continuously active Cistercian monastery in Europe. Founded in 1129 by Margrave Leopold the Strong, the first sovereign of Styria, the monastery was settled by monks from the Franconian abbey of Ebrach and formed part of the expanding network of the Cistercian Order in Central Europe.

The monastery was established within a fertile basin framed by the mountains surrounding Graz, where three streams converge within the broader Mur River catchment. From its earliest period the abbey developed an extensive monastic landscape extending across the surrounding valleys and plains, incorporating agricultural estates, granges, vineyards, and trading connections that reached as far as Vienna and present-day Slovenia. Through these networks Rein Monastery became an important economic and administrative centre in medieval Styria.

The monastic complex itself evolved according to the architectural and spatial principles characteristic of Cistercian foundations, combining the convent buildings, church, economic structures, and surrounding farmland into a coherent territorial system. Among the most remarkable historical features is the monastery’s sophisticated water management system, which includes a tunnel excavated through the Ullrichsberg in the twelfth century to channel water into the monastery and its economic facilities. This hydraulic infrastructure supplied the mill, kitchens, refectory, and sanitation systems, demonstrating the advanced technical knowledge associated with Cistercian monastic planning. The monastery complex is enclosed by substantial defensive walls that define the historic boundary of the abbey precinct. Constructed in stone masonry, the walls continue to shape the spatial structure of the site and constitute an integral component of its historic fabric.

Throughout the Middle Ages and early modern period the Monastery played an influential role in the political and economic development of the region. Its activities included timber extraction, viticulture, and participation in the salt trade, while the nearby pilgrimage church of Maria-Straßengel became an important religious landmark visible across the surrounding landscape. Despite periods of decline during the Reformation and the losses incurred during the Josephinian reforms and the Second World War, Rein Monastery continued its monastic life and gradually regained vitality through religious, cultural, and educational activities.

The monastery exists today as an active Cistercian community while also serving as a cultural and educational centre hosting parish functions, a grammar school, a kindergarten, and public cultural events. The monastery is part of the transnational European Heritage Label project “Cisterscapes – Cistercian landscapes connecting Europe”, which recognises the historical and cultural importance of Cistercian monastic landscapes across the continent.

THE TRAINING COURSE

The European Heritage Training Course at Rein Monastery contributes to the preservation of the historic monastic complex while providing the participants with practical training in traditional masonry techniques and historic building materials. The course combines hands-on conservation work with educational activities addressing the historical, architectural, and material context of the monastery.

The practical work will focus on the conservation and partial reconstruction of sections of the historic defensive enclosure wall of the monastery. These fortification walls date largely from the late sixteenth century, when earlier structures were reinforced in response to the Ottoman threat to Central Europe. Over the centuries only limited interventions have taken place, and parts of the masonry, particularly along the southern section, have collapsed or developed significant gaps. The training course therefore aims to stabilise and rebuild damaged sections of the wall while preserving as much historic fabric as possible.

Participants will work using traditional masonry techniques with natural stone and lime mortar in accordance with the historic construction principles of the structure. The rebuilding of collapsed wall segments and the consolidation of weakened areas will be carried out with particular attention to the preservation of the existing historic material. Addressing the open and deteriorated wall crown is of particular importance, as exposure to weather accelerates decay and threatens the remaining structure.

The practical activities will be guided by an experienced master in masonry and conservator with several decades of professional experience in the conservation of historic masonry. Under his supervision, the participants will learn traditional wall construction techniques and gain experience working with historic materials, including lime-based mortars prepared using self-slaked lime originating from the historic Rein lime quarry.

Alongside the practical work, the educational programme will include sessions dedicated to traditional construction techniques and historic materials such as lime, plaster, mortar, and mineral paints. These sessions will situate the practical activities within the wider historical and architectural development of Rein Monastery and its surrounding monastic landscape. Further thematic inputs will address the relationship between the monastery, the regional landscape, and the historical development of settlement structures and architecture in Styria. Excursions to selected locations in the surrounding region will provide additional insights into these historical connections.

An integral element of the educational programme will be the participants’ presentations. Each participant is required to prepare and deliver a presentation related to the thematic focus of the activities on site, introducing a case study from their country of origin. This component connects the practical work undertaken during the programme with comparable heritage practices in different cultural and institutional contexts. Through this structured exchange, participants reflect on conservation approaches, management frameworks, and current challenges, contributing to a broader comparative understanding of heritage preservation. The presentations are intended to encourage critical dialogue, intercultural exchange, and the articulation of informed professional perspectives within an international group of emerging heritage practitioners.

The training course will take place from July 20th to August 1st, 2026, and is organised by European Heritage Volunteers and the Cistercian Abbey of Rein in collaboration with the European Heritage Label Bureau.