Moldanubian granulite facies rocks of Lower Austria occur in several independent complexes with their own tectonic style. Kyanite-bearing quartz-rich pyroxene-free rock types predominate, but dark-colored orthopyroxene and two pyroxene granulites, though occurring in subordinate amounts, are important for discussing genetic problems. Mesoperthite is the most frequent feldspar. Garnet is ubiquitous, and biotite is a constituent of many rocks, often forming the well-known banded granulites. The combinations mesoperthite-kyanite, as well as quartz-garnet-orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene in silica saturated environment are stable parageneses. Electron-microprobe studies on ferromagnesian minerals revealed distribution coefficients of low magnitude for Fe, Mn and Ca, thus putting the re-crystallization into high temperature environment. Application of experimental data gave evidence for granulite formation under low water pressure, total pressure in the neighborhood of 11 kb and temperature of a minimum of 760°C. The granulite metamorphism falls into Caledonian time. On cooling a re-arrangement of some elements took place, leading to somewhat higher distribution coefficients. The granulite facies assemblage was not abandoned by this process. A Hercynian uplift of this deep crustal section resulted in a retrogradation with amphibolite facies mineralogy, affecting the granulite facies complexes only slightly.