Kremsmünster

Kremsmunster is a town in Kirchdorf an der Krems District, in the Austrian state of Upper Austria. Settled in 777, it is home to the Kremsmunster Abbey. The Abbey was founded 777 by Duke Tassilo III of Bavaria and is one of the oldest abbeys of central Europe. On a striking ice-age terrace above the town, it dominates the whole Krems valley. The monks Order of Saint Benedict, lead a famous gymnasium which has existed since 1549, and an astronomical and geophysical observatory "Mathematical tower".

The First Slovak Republic ceased to exist here when the exiled Slovak government capitulated to General Walton Walker leading the XX Corps of the 3rd US Army on 8 May 1945. Kremsmünster is a traditional place of culture, astronomy and natural science. For instance, Placidus Fixlmillner 1721–1791 was the first astronomer to compute the orbit of Uranus. The observation tower itself built 1749–1756 represents the first high-rise of Europe. In this vicinity the eldest geomagnetism station of the world was established, and also the first weather station of Austria-Hungary.