Steyr: Historic town with charm and industrial culture
Steyr, one of the oldest cities in Austria, is picturesquely situated on the rivers Steyr and Enns. The charming old town boasts well-preserved town houses and sights such as the Bummerlhaus and the town parish church. Steyr is also known for its long industrial culture, which can be discovered in the Museum Arbeitswelt. This mixture of history, architecture and nature makes Steyr a popular tourist destination.
Short info:
- Where is Steyr? Steyr is located at an altitude of 310 m in the Alpine foothills of Upper Austria on the border with Lower Austria.
- Is it worth a visit? Yes, Steyr is a city worth seeing with many architectural beauties.
- What are the highlights? The town hall, Bummerlhaus, Lamberg Castle, the Sternhaus, the castle garden and much more.
- What is produced in Steyr? Here are the headquarters of BMW, Hartlauer, Steyr Automotive and Motors (the tractors)
First of all, Steyr is not in Styria as one might assume, but rather in beautiful Upper Austria. After Linz and Wels, it is the third largest in the state and the twelfth largest in Austria. It currently has a population of just under 40,000.
In fact, Steyr is a really worth seeing city, here is a list of highlights:
The town hall
The Steyr town hall at Stadtplatz 27 is a Rococo building built between 1765 and 1778. The dominant element is the onion dome. On the balustrade and on both sides of the tower there are six allegorical figures (from left to right): Justitia with sword, scales and blindfold, Criminal Law with iron ball and chain, Omniscience with God's eye, Self-knowledge with mirror, Church Patronage with incense burner and Roman Law with book and column. The facade is decorated with a clock and colossal pilasters. The balcony, which protrudes above the magnificent portal, is surrounded by a grille.
Bummerlhaus
The Gothic “Bummerlhaus” at Stadtplatz 32 is the town’s landmark. Parts of it date back to the 13th century. Owners have been known since 1450. In 1473 it was sold to the wealthy merchant Georg Prandtstetter for a thousand guilders. In 1490 the property was inherited by Hans Prandtstetter, who was popularly known as the “rich Prandtstetter” due to his wealth.
Inside there are beautiful columns, wooden ceilings and artistically designed door fittings. Over the centuries, the patrician residence changed owners several times. Since the second half of the 17th century, only the wine shop and the inn remained in the building. The former “lion inn” owes its nickname “Bummerlhaus” to the lion above the mighty portal, which the people of Steyr called “Bummerl” because of its dog-like shape.
The VKB Bank is now located on the ground floor.
Sternhaus
The Sternhaus is located at Stadtplatz 12 and is essentially a medieval town house with a late baroque façade. In Steyer there are several beautiful façades that conceal the actual gable roofs and thus simulate a three-story building. The front wall has five window axes. The continuous central bay window has a gable with a relief showing Saint John the Baptist.
During World War II, a bomb hit an air raid on Steyr and destroyed the left half of the house and part of the facade. It was renovated after the war.
Lamberg Castle
The castle is located on a high terrace above the confluence of the Steyr and Enns. It was built at the beginning of the 10th century and was first mentioned in documents in 985. In 1192 the castle passed to the Babenbergs, later to the Habsburgs. The castle currently houses the premises of the police commissariat and the Steyr city police command. Some rooms are also used for cultural events.
Steyr Castle moat
Anyone who visits Steyr will surely remember the ibexes in the Lamberg castle moat. During our visit, one was just looking out of the window...
Bürgerspital
The Bürgerspital in the Steyr district of Steyrdorf, Michaelerplatz 2, is a building from the beginning of the 14th century. The attached former hospital church (today's rectory) dates from around 1500. Just as it did six hundred years ago, this care facility still accommodates old, needy city residents.
tower of the Steyr parish church
First, you have to climb 228 steps to enjoy the fabulous view, but the effort is worth it! The tower can only be reached during a city tour The parish was built in the 15th century in Gothic style and is the most important religious building in the city.
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