!!!Vordernberg

Vordernberg, Styria, market town in the district of Leoben, alt. 
839 m, pop.1,832 (1981: pop. 2,109), area 27.74 km%%sup 2/%, 
located at the eastern foot of the Eisenerz Alps, near the Praebichl 
Pass (alt. 1,232 m). - Barbarasaele (ballrooms); emphasis on 
tourism; information centre of the Styrian Eisenstrasse road 
(association of several towns and villages along the Eisenstrasse road 
from Niklasdorf to Altenmarkt which, for instance, arranges tours of 
old hammer mills, open air museums, etc.). - From the Middle Ages 
until the end of the 19%%sup th/%  century centre of iron 
smelting, in 1840 foundation of the forerunner of the  Leoben 
University of Mining and Metallurgy; around 1850 more than 200 hammer 
mills. The last blast furnaces were put out of operation in 1921/1922. 
Old wheelworks (originally 14; wheelwork no. 3 with oldest 
preserved steam blower; wheelwork no. 4 dates back to 1846, has 
been converted into a museum). Even today, the remaining buildings of 
the former ironworks are amongst the most characteristic features of 
the town. - Assumption parish church (expanded in 1644 and in 1661) 
with St. Mary´s altar from 1715 and pulpit with reliefs 
(1765); Gothic church of St. Laurentius (former fortified church, 
around 1453, renovated at the end of the 19%%sup th/%  century) 
with Gothic frescoes and 2 stone reliefs (around 1510-1515, now 
copies); Trinity column (1717); town hall (16%%sup th/%  and 
17%%sup th/%  centuries, hall with stucco ceiling); ancient 
Gewerkenhaeuser (mineowner´s houses, most of them dating back to 
the 17%%sup th/%  century (Prinzen-Amtshaus, 
Erzherzog-Johann-Haus, Steyrer Gewerkenhaus with stucco ceiling, 
etc.).

!Literature
W. Schuster, Vordernberg und seine technischen Denkmale, 
1978; H. J. Koestler, Fuehrer durch Vordernberg und seine 
montanhistorischen Staetten, 1995.


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