Gaming Charterhouse
Trademark
UnclaimedFormer Carthusian monastery in Gaming, Lower Austria, now incorporating a hotel, museum, university facilities, and religious spaces.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Gaming Charterhouse, also called Kartause Gaming or Kartause Maria Thron, is a former Carthusian monastery in Gaming near Scheibbs in the Mostviertel region of Lower Austria. It was established in 1330 by Albert II, Duke of Austria, as a dynastic foundation and intended burial place for members of his family. The site was conceived on an unusually large scale from the outset: its first religious community came from the Mauerbach Charterhouse in Vienna and included 24 monks under a prior, twice the standard complement associated with many Carthusian houses. The size of the buildings reflected both the expanded community and the importance assigned to the foundation by its founder. Albert II endowed the monastery generously with land in the Erlauf valley, as well as the town and market of Scheibbs. The foundation therefore had both a religious and an economic role in the surrounding area. It served as a Carthusian spiritual center while also controlling substantial agricultural, forest, and territorial resources. The charterhouse became the burial place of Albert II, who died in 1358, his wife Joanna of Pfirt, who died in 1351, and his daughter-in-law Elisabeth of Bohemia, who died in 1373. The monastery remained a religious institution until the reforms of Emperor Joseph II, which led to its dissolution in 1782. The dynastic burials were later disturbed: in 1797 the remains of the founder, his wife, and his daughter-in-law were transferred to the parish church of Gaming. The former monastery and its estate, including extensive forest holdings, entered private ownership in 1825. In 1915 the property was acquired by the abbot of Melk Abbey, reconnecting the site with an Austrian Catholic monastic institution, although the former Carthusian community was not restored. A major change took place in 1983, when the monastery buildings, separate from the remaining estates, were purchased by Austrian architect Walter Hildebrand. He undertook restoration work intended to preserve and adapt the historic complex. The restored premises subsequently developed a mixed cultural, educational, hospitality, and religious use. A hotel occupies part of the complex, while another section is used by the Franciscan University of Steubenville for its Austria-based activities. Since 2004, a museum has presented the history of Gaming Charterhouse and the wider Carthusian tradition. A Greek Catholic, or Byzantine, chapel has also been established on the premises. Gaming Charterhouse is therefore best understood not as a conventional commercial brand, but as a historic architectural and religious site whose identity has been extended into heritage tourism, hospitality, higher education, and religious programming. Its significance rests on the continuity of the location and buildings through several distinct phases: dynastic foundation, Carthusian monastic life, Josephinist dissolution, private ownership, Melk Abbey ownership, and modern restoration and adaptive reuse. The historic monastery is no longer an operating Carthusian charterhouse, but the preserved complex remains an identifiable cultural destination in Lower Austria.
History
Gaming Charterhouse was founded in 1330 at Gaming in Lower Austria by Albert II, Duke of Austria. The duke intended the foundation to serve as a dynastic burial place, giving the monastery a significance beyond that of an ordinary religious house. The first monks arrived from the Mauerbach Charterhouse in Vienna. Under a prior, the community initially consisted of 24 monks, an unusually large complement for a Carthusian institution, and the architecture was planned on a correspondingly substantial scale. The foundation received extensive endowments from Albert II. These included land in the Erlauf valley and control of the town and market of Scheibbs. The charterhouse consequently operated within a broad territorial and economic setting, with religious life supported by substantial land and estate resources. Its dynastic function was realized through the burials of Albert II after his death in 1358, his wife Joanna of Pfirt after her death in 1351, and his daughter-in-law Elisabeth of Bohemia after her death in 1373. The Carthusian monastery was dissolved in 1782 during the church and administrative reforms of Emperor Joseph II. The foundation’s dynastic remains were later removed from the monastery: in 1797, the bodies of Albert II, Joanna of Pfirt, and Elisabeth of Bohemia were transferred to the parish church in Gaming. In 1825, the monastery and its estate, including substantial forest areas, passed into private ownership. The property changed hands again in 1915, when it was purchased by the abbot of Melk Abbey. The acquisition placed the former charterhouse under the ownership of an important Austrian Benedictine abbey, but did not revive the dissolved Carthusian community. In 1983, the monastery premises themselves, excluding the remaining estates, were purchased by Austrian architect Walter Hildebrand. Hildebrand subsequently worked on restoring the historic buildings. The restored complex acquired a range of new uses. Part of the premises became a hotel, supporting public access and tourism. Other sections were occupied by the Franciscan University of Steubenville, whose main campus is in Ohio, for its Austrian educational activities. In 2004, a museum was established in the complex to explain the history of Gaming Charterhouse and the broader Carthusian order. A Greek Catholic Byzantine chapel was later set up on the site, adding another active religious use to the historic Roman Catholic setting. The institution that originally defined the site is therefore defunct, but the buildings remain in use. Gaming Charterhouse now functions as a restored heritage complex rather than as a working Carthusian monastery. Its historical identity is preserved through the architecture, museum interpretation, surviving connection with Austrian monastic history, and the continued presence of hospitality, education, and worship.
- 2004
Opening of the museum
[1]A museum opened at the complex with displays on Gaming Charterhouse and the Carthusian order.
- 1983
Modern restoration ownership
[1]Walter Hildebrand acquired the monastery premises, excluding the remaining estates, and began restoration work.
- 1915
Acquisition by Melk Abbey
[1]The property was purchased by the abbot of Melk Abbey.
- 1825
Transfer into private ownership
[1]The former monastery and its estate, including extensive forest holdings, passed into private ownership.
- 1797
Removal of dynastic remains
[1]The remains of Albert II, Joanna of Pfirt, and Elisabeth of Bohemia were moved to Gaming parish church.
- 1782
Dissolution under Joseph II
[1]The Carthusian monastery was dissolved as part of the reforms of Emperor Joseph II.
Foundation of the charterhouse
[1]Albert II, Duke of Austria, founded Gaming Charterhouse as a Carthusian monastery and intended dynastic burial place.
Burial of Joanna of Pfirt
[1]Joanna of Pfirt, the wife of Albert II, was buried at the charterhouse after her death.
Burial of Albert II
[1]The founder, Albert II, Duke of Austria, was buried at Gaming Charterhouse.
Burial of Elisabeth of Bohemia
[1]Elisabeth of Bohemia, Albert II’s daughter-in-law, was buried at the monastery.
Products and positioning
A restored Austrian monastic heritage complex combining historic architecture, Carthusian history, museum interpretation, hospitality, university education, and religious use.
Heritage site
Gaming Charterhouse historic complex
The preserved former Carthusian monastery is the principal offering and identity of the site. Its buildings embody the foundation’s medieval dynastic, religious, and architectural history and now support a mixture of public, hospitality, educational, and religious uses.
Museum · 2004
Gaming Charterhouse Museum
Established in 2004, the museum interprets the history of the Gaming foundation and presents information about Carthusian monasticism. It provides the principal on-site heritage interpretation for visitors to the former monastery.
Hospitality
Gaming Charterhouse Hotel
Part of the restored monastery premises is used as a hotel. The accommodation extends the site’s modern role as a heritage and tourism destination while retaining the historic setting of the former charterhouse.
Higher education
Franciscan University of Steubenville Austria facilities
Sections of the restored premises are occupied by the Franciscan University of Steubenville for its Austrian educational activities. This use gives the former monastery an ongoing academic function in addition to its heritage and hospitality roles.
Religious space
Greek Catholic Byzantine chapel
A Greek Catholic chapel following the Byzantine tradition has been established within the complex, adding an active worship space to the restored site.
Brand decisions
2004
Creation of a Carthusian history museumOtherBackground
The restored monastery needed a public interpretation function capable of explaining its history and wider significance.
Action taken
A museum was established on the premises with displays concerning Gaming Charterhouse and the Carthusian order.
Aftermath
The museum became part of the site’s heritage and visitor offering.
1983
Adaptive restoration of the monastery premisesStrategyBackground
After decades of changing ownership and the loss of its original Carthusian function, the historic premises required preservation and a viable contemporary role.
Action taken
Architect Walter Hildebrand acquired the monastery buildings, separate from the remaining estates, and undertook restoration work.
Aftermath
The restored complex was adapted for hotel, educational, museum, and religious uses, preserving the site while ending its status as an operating Carthusian monastery.
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