WILTEN. – Abbey of Premonstratensian Canons, near Innsbruck, in the Austrian Tyrol, formerly under the diocese of Bressanone.
On the site of the Roman station of Veldidena, where the ancient Brenner road reaches the floor of the Inn valley, there already existed in the 5th–6th century a sanctuary dedicated to St. Lorenzo; in the Early Middle Ages regular canons were established there, followed in 1138 by the Premonstratensians, summoned by Bishop Reginberto of Bressanone. The abbey enjoyed considerable development; in 1449 it obtained the use of pontifical insignia and was favored by the reigning houses. During the brief Bavarian rule it was suppressed (1807), but restored shortly afterward (1816). It governs 14 incorporated parishes. The church and convent, after various reconstructions and enlargements, were rebuilt in the Baroque period. The church, a somewhat heavy work by Cristoforo Gumpp (1651–65), has a very vigorous projecting façade by G. A. Gumpp (1716), with statues by N. Moll. The interior, Baroque in style, is the work of various artists (the high altar by P. Huber); it preserves many paintings by A. Steidl. The convent too was renovated and rebuilt, on a design by Cr. Gumpp, by G. Appeller. The façade, vestibule, and imperial rooms are imposing; the chapter house is Gothic, though given a Baroque treatment; the Library is beautiful. Of note are the very numerous tomb slabs, dating from 1300 through the Late Gothic and Renaissance periods. Also noteworthy are the rotunda of S. Bartolomeo, first mentioned in 1275 but Romanesque in origin, a baptistery or ossuary (Karner), and the parish church of W., from 1140, completely rebuilt by Fr. Penz (1751–55), with Rococo decoration; stuccoes by F. S. Feichtmaier (of Wessobrunn) and frescoes by M. Gunter (of Augusta); it served as a model for many other churches in the Tyrol.
(photo Scholtborn & Co.)
WILTEN – Abbey buildings of W. in the Baroque reconstruction (1679–96) by the architect Cristoforo Gumpo and the master G. Appeller; the façade of the church is by G. A. Gumpo (1716), son of the former.
Vienna 1948, passim; E. Tomek, Kirchengesch. Österreichs, 2 vols., Innsbruck 1935–49. Giuseppe Löw