Since 1987, the cloister of the former Carthusian monastery of Allerengelberg in Certosa has been an exhibition venue every summer where one can experience the examination of art in its most diverse forms of expression. After a forced hiatus in 2020, the organizer the Senales Cultural Association changes pace in the summer of 2021: Art in the Charterhouse becomes a biennial. The year 2025 is a year full of celebrations, which will be filled with a series of initiatives aimed at further highlighting the cultural heritage of Karthaus/Certosa.

"Karthaus 700"

23rd of November 2024 - 31st of August 2025

Founded between 1325 and 1326, the Allerengelberg Charterhouse in the heart of the Schnalstal Valley has been a witness to spirituality, change and human stories over the centuries. On the night of 21 to 22 November 1924, a devastating fire almost completely destroyed the village of Karthaus/Certosa, marking one of the most tragic moments in its history. Today, 700 years after the monastery was founded and 100 years after the fire, the community is celebrating these anniversaries with a series of events that combine remembrance, art and reflection.

The "Karthaus 700" initiative
On 23 November 2024, the "Karthaus 700" series of events was launched in the Karthaus/Certosa clubhouse, organised by the Schnalstal cultural association. The kick-off event presented a rich cultural programme to honour the village's past and make it visible.

As part of the event, the book Brandneu was presented, which documents the reconstruction of the village up to the present day. This was complemented by an exhibition of prints by the artist Alessandro Gatto, who has captured the history of the Charterhouse from its foundation as a monastery to the present day in impressive illustrations. These works can be seen throughout the village and create a symbolic bridge to the 700th anniversary of the Charterhouse, which will be celebrated in 2025. The exhibition invites visitors to experience the historical and cultural development of the village on a visual walk.

The new year will be filled with a number of initiatives aimed at further highlighting the cultural heritage of Charterhouse. Key events include an exhibition as part of ‘Art in the Charterhouse’ and the musical theatre piece Die letzten Kartäuser (The Last Carthusians), a major community project that will involve the local population.

The "Karthaus 700" celebrations show how historical memory and contemporary creativity can enter into dialogue to open up new perspectives on the past and inspire the present. A unique opportunity to discover the Schnalstal Valley through the prism of time, light and art.