Minoritensaal
APCOA parking garage at Mariahilferplatz or Weitzer garage at Entenplatz (information about discounted parking rates)
Apart from the Mariahilferkirche and the Cultural Centre of the Minorites, the early-Baroque Minorites Monastery also hosts a concert hall which had once served as the monastery's summer refrectory: the Minoritensaal.
The foundation stone for the building was laid by Johann Seyfried of Eggenberg in 1691 and the compound of buildings was completed according to the plans by Joachim Carlone in 1732. The ceiling of the long, six-truss hall is decorated with stuccoed scenes depicting the worship of the Holy Mary by nine choirs of angels and the encounter between figures of the Old and New Testament and angels. Along the narrow sides of the hall, the coats of arms of the Princes of Eggenberg can be seen.
Spanning over the entire length of the room, you can find a monumental tempera painting of "The Feeding of the Five Thousand" which was completed in 1732 by Johann Baptist Raunacher. Above the main entrance to the hall a pulpit is located from where was read out the Holy Bible during the meals of the monks so that not only their bodies but also their souls were strengthened. Today the hall is no longer used as a refectory proper but as a place of "spiritual" refreshment: since 1965 the Minoritensaal has been used for concerts and other cultural events.
Did you know that on the pulpit the word "Silentium" ("silence") can be read, which is a hint of the former function of the room? The hall was used as monastarial refectory where it was not allowed to speak during the meals!
