Oberwölz Stadt#

Oberwoelz Stadt, Styria, town in the district of Murau, alt. 830 m, pop. 1,026, area 4.64 km2, located on Woelzer Bach stream, at the southern foot of the Woelzer Tauern mountains. - District court, forest ranger station, trade. - Settlement dating back to the Hallstatt Period and Roman times, first documented mention in 1007, when it was acquired by the bishopric of Freising (until 1806); documented mention as town in 1305; trade centre in the Middle Ages. Well preserved, partially medieval townscape: parts of the town fortifications date back to the 14th -16th centuries (city walls, tower and 3 gates), parish church in late Romanesque style, pier-supported basilica with tower above the square choir, chancel in late Gothic style (1480), frescoes by J. A. Moelk (1777), furnishings in late Baroque style; St. Sigismund Church (15th century) with high altar (1651) and larger than life-size crucifix (early 16th century), pews in Gothic style, painting by J. Lederwasch (1789); east of the town on a steep rock formation, Rothenfels Castle (documented mention in 1305), parts of the medieval core of the castle have been preserved, various buildings dating back to the 16th -19th centuries, Oesterreichisches Blasmusikmuseum - museum of brass-band music in Austria, local museum with exhibits of the history of Oberwoelz Stadt and popular culture.

Literature#