Steyr, at the confluence of the Rivers Steyr and Enns, is an old-established focal point of the Austrian iron and steel industry, drawing much of its supply of ore from the Erzberg at Eisenerz 100km/60mi away. The most important industrial firm in the town is the Steyr- Daimler-Puch AG. In 980 the Ottokars - the Margraves and later Dukes of Styria - built the "Styraburg" (now Schloss Lamberg) at the confluence of the Rivers Enns and Steyr, and the town subsequently grew up around it and the parish church. In 1287 it was given its municipal charter; a large part of the old town was destroyed by fire in 1727. Josef Werndl (1831-89) inherited his father's business and modernized it, manufactured the breech- loaded rifle and - with his conveyor-belt production methods - made Steyr the "arms factory of Europe". The present day Steyr-Daimler-Puch works (making tractors, trucks, hunting rifles, etc.) developed from his original factory.
Steyr is famous for its historic town center around the "Stadtplatz" (town square). This area has been very well preserved for several hundred years. The Bummerlhaus is considered one of the finest pieces of Gothic architecture for its size in Central Europe.
The city is rich in cultural and architectural heritage, which attracts tourists to enjoy the modern amenities and ancient city combination.
This little 18th C. church was built by the Baroque master builders Carlo Carlone and Jakob Prandtauer. A special post office set up here at Christmas time receives letters from children all over the world. The church has an open plan of five circles in the form of a cross; the high altar incorporates the religious symbol of the Christ Child, as the Son of God.
The elongated Stadtplatz in Steyr, running parallel to the River Enns, is surrounded by many old arcaded houses. On the eastern side of the square stands the Rathaus (1765-78), with a beautiful Roccoco facade and a slender tower crowned by a Baroque helm roof. Opposite it can be seen the "Bummerlhaus" (1497; restored 1970-73), a Late Gothic burgher's house and the emblem of Steyr (now a bank). Enge Gasse, a street leading northward from the square, is a pedestrian zone.
Gleink has a fine Baroque church of the 17th-18th C. (originally belonging to a Benedictine abbey which was dissolved in 1784) built on Romanesque foundations. In the choir can be seen two paintings by Martin Altomonte; the high altar and organ are also impressive. The frescos have unfortunately been partly disfigured by overpainting.
6km/4mi further to the northeast of the Seitenstetten Abbey lies the village of Krenstetten, with a notable Gothic parish church (Late Gothic winged altar of 1576, pulpit of 1636 and 14th-16th C. stained glass in the choir).
South of the Rathaus in Steyr stands the Marienkirche (1642-47), originally Gothic with a Baroque front and two towers. The tabernacle in the main choir is Gothic; otherwise most of the interior is Roccoco (restored 1976).
From the Stadtplatz in Steyr the Grünmarkt continues southward to the Innerberger Getreidestadel (1612), an old granary which now houses the Municipal Museum; exhibited are collections of local art and culture, sculptures and paintings, old tools and weapons, a collection of knives, a nail making machine and a hammer-scythe. The "Steyrer Kripperl", a mechanical crib with a mixture of secular and religious scenes, operates only in December and January.
This museum ("Museum Arbeitswelt") in the Wehrgraben in Steyr is worth a visit; it portrays developments that have taken place since industrialization began and its effect on the life, work and culture of the people. Exhibitions are held on various topics.
The museum traces the development of industry and technology in Austria and the rest of the world. Temporary or special exhibitions are also held regularly.
Address: Museum Industrielle Arbeitswelt, Wehrgrabengasse 7, A-4400 Steir, Austria
Hours:
March 10 to July 31: 9am-5pm; Closed: Mon
September 3 to December 17: 9am-5pm; Closed: Mon, Mon
At No. 16 in Kirchengasse in Steyr note the picturesque Dunklhof (16th C.) with its beautiful arcaded passage (concerts held in summer). At No. 1 Sierninger Strasse is the Lebzelterhaus, with a fine facade of 1567.
The Steyr old town, on a tongue of land between the Rivers Enns and Steyr, still preserves a medieval quality. Of the old fortifications three gates and the "Tabor" tower (16th C.; restaurant) still remain; the Schnallentor gate in Gleinker Gasse has a tower with rich sgraffito decoration.
Pass along the Pfarrgasse at the southern end of the Steyr Stadtplatz to come to the Gothic parish church (15th-17th C.) on Brucknerplatz; note the font of 1569, the Gothic tabernacle and some beautiful stained glass and old gravestones. In the 19th C. the Baroque furnishings were removed and replaced by Neo-Gothic. Anton Bruckner often stayed at the nearby presbytery, where there is a memorial to the composer. Immediately to the south of the church stands the Late Gothic St Margaret's Chapel (Margaretenkapelle), originally a cemetery chapel (c. 1430 by Hans Puchsbaum), with an interesting roof turret.
Schloss Lamberg stands on high ground between the two rivers at the northern end of the old town in Steyr; the oldest remaining part is the keep. After the great fire in the town it was rebuilt in 1727-31 to a design by Domenico d'Angeli, with a long arcaded approach to the bridge over the castle moat. The castle park extends along the western edge of the old town.
This Benedictine abbey, founded in 1112, was rebuilt by Josef Munggenast in 1718-47; of the medieval buildings only the Knights' Chapel (Ritterkapelle) remains. The abbey contains a large collection of pictures.
On the northern bank of the River Steyr St Michael's Church, a Jesuit foundation of 1635-77, has two massive towers and a fine gable fresco. Nearby stand the Public Hospital and its former church, recognizable by the Baroque tower.
Continuing south along Enns river the town is roughly 30km southeast of Steyr. The Enns Museum is located in Weyer. The museum is dedicated to the raftsman of the area as well as raft transport of iron and iron processing exhibits.
Address: Weyer Ennsmuseum, Steyrerstrasse 27, A-3335 Weyer, Austria
Hours:
May 1 to October 31: 10am-12pm, 2pm-5pm; Closed: Mon
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