The old Upper Austrian town of Braunau lies on the right bank of the Inn opposite the Bavarian town of Simbach, to which it is linked by a bridge. Branau am Inn was the birthplace of Adolf Hitler (1889- 1945). Braunau has many handsome burghers' houses of the 16th and 17th C. and remains of medieval walls.
In Braunau am Inn, in Johann-Fischer-Gasse, which runs west from the Stadtplatz, is the Glockengiesserhaus ("Bellfounder's House: No. 18), now a local museum.
There are some interesting exhibits covering history, art and culture in the Braunau am Inn Bezirksmuseum (District Museum) in the former Herzogsburg (Duke's Palace).
Southeast of the Stadtplatz in Braunau is the 15th C. Spitalkirche and opposite this the Palmpark, named after the Nürnberg bookseller Johannes Palm (born 1766: bronze statue) who was shot by the French in 1806 for distributing patriotic literature. On a house at Salzburger Strasse 19 is a tablet commemorating his execution, with the inscription "This is where J. Palm was shot on August 26th 1806 on the orders of Napoleon". In Palmweg, which branches off at this house, can be seen his memorial stone.
This church (1439-66) has a massive tower 95m/312ft high which forms Braunau's main landmark. The triple-aisled church, built by Stephan Krumenauer, contains 15th and 16th C. tombs. Notable are the high altar by Michael Zürn, a fine pulpit with bas-reliefs of the Fathers of the Church, statues of Christ and the Disciples and, in the fifth chapel to the left of the choir, the spectacular 16th C. "Bakers' Altar". The grave of Hans Staininger (outside) shows a man with a long curly beard.
To the south of Braunau lies Pischelsdorf, where the interesting parish church of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary dates from 1392-1419 and is probably an early work of Hans Stethaimer. In the funerary chapel is a wall painting of about 1400.
Address: Pischelsdorf Tourist Office, Informationsbüro, A-8212 Pischelsdorf, Austria
4km/2.5mi south of Braunau lies Ranshofen, which has an Augustinian monastery founded in 1125, rebuilt between 1624 and 1651 and dissolved in 1811, as well as a Late Gothic church with a Baroque interior containing an elaborately decorated altar and beautifully carved choir-stalls.
St Georgen an der Mattig possesses a little church containing three fine carved altars (c. 1650) depicting St George and the Dragon and the Marytrdom of St Sebastian.
Address: St Georgen an der Mattig Tourist Office, A-3282 St Georgen an der Mattig, Austria
South of the parish church of St Stephen in Braunau stands the former St Martins Church (1497), a Late Gothic building laid out as a double church. There is a war memorial chapel in the lower building.
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Pischelsdorf, Austria
