Schottenstift Museum, Vienna

The Schottenstift was founded in 1155 when Henry II of Austria brought Irish monks from the Scots Monastery in Regensburg to Vienna. These monks were known as 'Iroschotten' or 'Schotten'.

The construction of the first monastery at Schottenstift commenced in 1160, following its founding. The structure was later consecrated in the year 1200.

The initial church structure at Schottenstift was a three-aisled, Romanesque pillar church featuring a single apse. Henry II was interred there after his death.

A significant fire in 1276 resulted in the destruction of the cloister at Schottenstift, along with numerous other buildings throughout Vienna.

During the Melker Reform aimed at reviving Benedictine ideals, Duke Albert V took control of the cloister in 1418. He then established a community of Benedictines, though they continued to be known as the 'Schotten'.

In the mid-15th century, the monastery gained distinction through the literary work conducted by its schoolmaster, Wolfgang Schmeltzl, and his successor, Johannes Rasch.

Following the collapse of the tower due to a lightning strike in 1638, the church underwent a complete rebuilding by architects Andrea d'Allio the Younger and Silvestro Carlone. This resulted in a slightly shortened church and the tower no longer being directly adjacent to the basilica.

Following the Turkish siege, the church at Schottenstift was restored. Proposals to extend the Baroque west tower, which was only slightly higher than the façade, were never realized.

The renowned Baroque musician Johann Fux served as the organist at the Schottenstift around the year 1700.

A new priory, which included a school, was constructed in the grounds of an open-air cemetery between 1773 and 1774 by Andreas Zach. This building was popularly nicknamed the 'chest-of-drawers house' due to its appearance.

The Schottengymnasium, an institute for secondary education, was established by imperial decree in 1807, originating from the Schottenstift.

Around 1830, the auxiliary buildings of the Abbey, particularly those facing the Freyung, underwent renovation and partial rebuilding, managed by architect Joseph Kornhäusel.

In the 1880s, the church underwent restoration and partial renovation. This period saw the addition of ceiling paintings by Julius Schmid and a new high altar based on designs by Heinrich von Ferstel.

The museum at Schottenstift has been reinstalled twice in recent history, with the first major refurbishment occurring in 1994/95.

Following an earlier refurbishment, the museum at Schottenstift underwent another reinstallation between 2004 and 2005.