ÖSTERREICH	AUSTRIA
Bundesland: Steiermark	Styria
Bezirk: Hartberg-Fürstenfeld

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The Augustinian Canons' monastery of Vorau was founded by Margrave Otakar III of Styria in 1163. It was the first filial monastery of the Augustinian Canon's monastery of Seckau. The buildings of the monastery and the church were remodelled between 1625 and the middle of the 18th century retaining the towers of the Romanesque period. The church (St. Thomas) contains valuable frescos from the early and mid-18th century and also serves as parish church of Vorau. One of the greatest treasures of Vorau is the library which is one of the most important monasterial libraries of Austria. The main hall of the library (two stories high and 24 m in length) is ornated with frescos of 1731 showing biblical scenes representing jurisprudence, theology and philosophy. In contrast to many other monasteries in Austria, the monastery of Vorau was not closed by Emperor Joseph II and is still inhabited by Augustinian Canons.