Sublime

The Säben Mountain and its monastery deserve the utmost attention because of their archaeological, historical and artistical importance.
Sabiona is the emblem of the Eisack Valley, known also as the “acropolis of Tyrol”, with a very long history.

Around the year 1000 the bishopric was moved from Säben to Brixen/Bressanone. Until then, the Holy Cross Church was the cathedral of the bishopric Säben for about 400 years.

The Holy Mountain is one of the oldest pilgrimage places in Tyrol. The famous Ladin pilgrimage is already mentioned in 1503.

For over 335 years, the Benedictine nuns shaped the Sacred Mountain at Säben until the order left the monastery in November 2021. Now, a new chapter begins: since September 2024, the Säben Monastery shines with new light. Father Kosmas Thielmann OCist, a Cistercian monk from Heiligenkreuz Abbey of Austria, has taken on the role of pilgrim chaplain. His mission is to revive Säben as a spiritual center and an important pilgrimage site in South Tyrol.

With the support of the Diocese of Bolzano-Brixen and the local community, the monastery will not only be a place for prayer and meditation but also a space for encounters and exchange. In the near future, more Cistercian monks are expected to join the monastic community, breathing new life into Säben’s centuries-old tradition.