Mondsee, Oberösterreich, Markt

Mondsee, Upper Austria, market town in the district of Vöcklabruck, alt. 481 m, pop. 2,600, area 16.61 km², summer tourist resort (93,426 overnight stays) on the northern shore of Lake M. - Local court, employment service (branch office), highway maintenance depot, economic chamber, district health and social insurance office, Institute of Limnology (Austrian Academy of Sciences), day-care centre of the "Lebenshilfe" (association engaged in life-counselling), golf course; production of water sports articles, building trade, metal and wood processing industries, BWT-AG (stock corporation, engaged in water treatment), cheese production, transport industry. - In 1864 discovery of late Neolithic lake-dwellings (Mondsee Culture). Lake-dwelling museum, museum of local history and culture (Mondsee Abbey Culture), "Mondseer Rauchhaus" open air museum, museum of the Salzburg local railway (1891-1957). Benedictine abbey, 748 founded by the Bavarian Duke Odilo, closed 1791, since then castle, rebuilt (1776-1780) after a fire, cloister and chapterhouse of the medieval abbey (1448) preserved, archaeological excavations during the past decade. Gothic collegiate church, today parish church, consecrated 1104, impressive pseudo-basilica church, rebuilt (1463-1499) with diamond net vaults and crypt under the high choir, altered in the 17^th century; Lady chapel, façade and towers after 1730 by A. Salla, sacristy portal around 1487 (door is a significant work of late Gothic wrought iron art), pulpit and altars by M. Guggenbichler (1680-1690), the abbey's most important artist, high altar by H. Waldburger (1626), paintings by J. Zanussi (middle of 18^th century); cloister (1448) of the former abbey preserved. Filial church of Maria-Hilf (1455, 1706 altered); patrician houses (16^th to 18^th century). Since 1929 performances of "Mondseer Jedermann" ("Mondsee Everyman") morality play in summer.

Literature: F. Wintermayr, Die Benediktinerabtei Mondsee, 1948; H. Awecker, Mondsee. Markt, Kloster, Land, 1952; W. Kunze, Mondsee. 5000 Jahre Geschichte und Kultur, 1986.