Leoben: Cultural and University City in Styria
Short info:
- Where is Leoben? The city of Leoben is located on the Mur in the state of Styria.
- How old is Leoben? Leoben dates back to a conscious foundation by King Ottokar II Premysl around the year 1268.
- What can you experience here? Leoben has a very interesting old town. It is also a good starting point for excursions, such as the Leopoldsteiner See, Green Lake or Erzberg Adventure.
- What are the highlights? The town hall, Hacklhaus, Trinity Column, Schwammerlturm and Jakobikirche
Leoben in general
After the state capital Graz, Leoben is the second largest city in Styria. It is one of the most important locations of the Austrian iron and steel industry. But even though Leoben is an important industrial city, it is still very worth seeing. The old town center was founded on a loop of the Mur river.
The main square
The main square, measuring 180 x 32 metres, is the heart of the city. The newly designed main square is traffic-free. There are many beautiful buildings and monuments here, including the Trinity Column (Plague Column), the Hacklhaus, the Town Hall, the Miner's Fountain and the Angel's Fountain
The town hall
The town hall on the main square was built in 1485. In 1568 it finally received its five-sided corner tower. In 1607 it was expanded to include the neighboring houses to the south. In 1728, on the occasion of the visit of Emperor Charles VI, the row of coats of arms of the Habsburg countries was added to the front of the house. It was the seat of the city administration until 1973. In 1990 it was converted into a congress and conference center, including an attached shopping center and hotel. In 2022, after a two-year renovation phase, the Live Congress Leoben was completed. The shopping center was replaced by a new building and added to the premises of the Old Town Hall. Three halls form the core of the event center, which is designed for a capacity of 1000 people.
Hacklhaus
It is probably the most beautiful house on the main square. It dates from the 16th century with a richly decorated stucco facade from the Baroque period of 1660. The four seasons are depicted starting from the right: winter, autumn, summer, spring. You can also see the Christian virtues starting from the right: strength, love, faith, justice, hope, truth. The house is named after one of its owners, Georg Hackl. There are beautiful ceiling paintings in the staircase. A few meters further on is the inn. Arkadenhof Schwarzer Adler. It's a good place to stay in a beautiful atmosphere.
Trinity Column
As a plague column, which forms the centre of the main square, it was designed by Johann Jacob Schoy and erected in 1718. The central column is flanked by a total of six figures of saints.
Bergmannsbrunnen
The miner's fountain is located at the southern end of the main square. It was built in 1799 by master stonemason Franz Pack. It features a depiction of a miner.
Engelsbrunnen
The Angel Fountain is located at the northern end of the main square. It was built in 1794 by Josef Carlone. Above its basin is a depiction of an angel holding a shield with the coat of arms of Leoben.
Schwammerlturm and Murbrücke
No longer on the main square, but only a few hundred metres away within sight, is the Schwammerlturm, also known as the city tower. It was originally built in 1280. It was badly damaged by an earthquake in February 1794. During the repairs, it was given the mushroom-shaped dome, which replaced the original pointed roof and to which it owes its current popular name. If you go south, you can see FreimannsturmThis is where medieval Leoben once ended.
St. Jakob – Jakobikirche
It was first mentioned in documents in 1188. There are numerous art treasures from the 17th and 18th centuries here. In front of it is a beautifully designed cemetery.
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