Kremsmünster

Kremsmünster
Kremsmünster
Location within Austria
Coordinates: 48°03′18″N 14°07′51″E / 48.05500°N 14.13083°E / 48.05500; 14.13083
CountryAustria
StateUpper Austria
DistrictKirchdorf an der Krems
Government
  MayorGerhard Obernberger (ÖVP)
Area
  Total
42.12 km2 (16.26 sq mi)
Elevation
384 m (1,260 ft)
Population
 (2018-01-01)
  Total
6,585
  Density160/km2 (400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
4550
Area code07583
Vehicle registrationKI
Websitewww.kremsmuenster.at

Kremsmünster is a town in Kirchdorf an der Krems District, in the Austrian state of Upper Austria. Settled in 777, it is home to the Kremsmünster Abbey.

The Abbey was founded 777 by Duke Tassilo III of Bavaria and is one of the oldest abbeys of central Europe. On a striking ice-age terrace above the town, it dominates the whole Krems valley. The monks (Order of Saint Benedict), lead a famous gymnasium which has existed since 1549, and an astronomical and geophysical observatory ("Mathematical tower"). The First Slovak Republic ceased to exist here when the exiled Slovak government capitulated to General Walton Walker leading the XX Corps of the 3rd US Army on 8 May 1945.