Stadtmauerstadt Eggenburg

The medieval town forms the gateway between the Waldviertel and Weinviertel: Eggenburg is still protected by its old town wall on the edge of the Manhartsberg. It is one of the few that has been completely preserved and holds some real treasures!

Where history begins

Documentary references from around 1140 speak of "Egenburch" and "Egenenburg". At that time, the construction of the town wall had just been completed and with the construction of the Romanesque church around 1180, the former castle town was finished - the two massive towers still bear witness to this period today. In August 1277, Rudolf von Habsburg renewed the town charter, which had already been in place for decades. After Duke Albrecht V was proclaimed sovereign in Eggenburg, the town really flourished in the middle of the 16th century: The nobility, council and citizens compete in the development of the town. The town owes its wealth in the Baroque period to the white stone of Eggenburg, the sandstone quarried in Zogelsdorf. A catastrophic fire in 1808 caused the town to decline. It was not until the construction of the Franz Josef Railway (1870) that Eggenburg became easily accessible from Vienna and thus more attractive again - the town and its popularity were revived. Thanks to the initiative of the merchant Franz Gamerith, the "Eggenburg Garden City", which is so worth living in today, was created at the end of the 19th century.

Where contemporary witnesses tell stories

The old town wall with its battlements demonstrates the military, political and economic importance of medieval fortifications over a length of almost two kilometers. If you walk along and on the wall with open eyes, you will see pitch noses, embrasures, kennel walls and defensive towers. The old keep from the 12th century also towers majestically into the sky - a stately remnant of the old "Veste Eggenburg" castle. Well protected by the old fortifications, you will discover magnificent town houses, monuments and the town church of St. Stephan - all witnesses to Eggenburg's famous stonemasonry. Fancy a completely different insight into the Middle Ages? Follow the night watchman's tour.

Where time stands still

A visit to the Krahuletz Museum is a must - 1 billion years of geological history in the Waldviertel and around 20 million years of the Eggenburg Sea come together here. The archaeological collection ranges from prehistory and early history to the early Middle Ages. Selected paintings, sculptures and small works of art from five centuries are on display in the art cabinet. The Ferdinand-Stangler clock collection tells of another time: 150 clockworks from three centuries stop time for a moment.

Where time passes too quickly

The unique flair of the walled city can be experienced at the annual Mittelaterfest in September. You can expect over 150 program items ranging from medieval music, historical crafts, exciting lectures and street art from jugglers to show fights.