Mafiy Abbey

The façade of the Abbey

Mafiy Abbey (Vyvlander: Mafiy Abasaas) is a major historic church and former monastery in the city of Mafiy, in Vyvland. It is the seat of the Lutheran Diocese of Mafiy, the most senior in the Lutheran Church of Vyvland, and thus is the meeting-place of the Church's governing synod. The Abbey is located on Hogsjri above the River Wik, on an artificial island created by the canalisation of the river. The building is declared a Vyvlander National Monument - the highest preservation status given to any building in the country, and is an internationally-renowned example of Gothic architecture, in addition to the most-visited tourist attraction in Mafiy.

The Abbey was constructed from 1186 to 1295 on the site of a small existing monastery. Major work in the 14th and 15th centuries saw it attain the size and form it possesses today. The building is one of the best-preserved religious buildings in Vyvland, with interior paintings dating to the mid-1300s and six original stained-glass windows; this is partly due to the group of resident monks and nuns who live in the Abbey's grounds and dedicate themselves to the building's upkeep. Contrary to what its name suggests, the Abbey has not been inhabited by an abbot for centuries, but retains this name as a matter of tradition.

The building fronts onto Abasaasplaac, which lies off the focal Sdadhal square, in the heart of Mafiy's old town; both squares intersect Hogsjri, Mafiy's main thoroughfare. The nearest Metro stations to the Abbey are Abasaas, which lies on the Vrumeer line, and Hogsjri, which lies on the Rudaar line. The Abbey is depicted on the 5 mynig note.