Stadtmauerstadt Waidhofen an der Thaya

High on the rocky plateau above the Thaya lies the historic center of Waidhofen, protectively surrounded by old town walls. The path leads steeply up over the Thaya bridge - towards the baroque parish church. Up here, in Austria's northernmost district capital, history and tradition meet the future.

Life in the old border region

Waidhofen an der Thaya was first mentioned in 1171 and received its town charter in 1230. The Counts of Pernegg are considered to be the founders. Together with the towns of Weitra, Litschau and Drosendorf, Waidhofen was part of the line of defense against the Kingdom of Bohemia. Due to its border location, the town repeatedly had to contend with enemy invasions, but it was hardly ever taken. The situation only calmed down in 1526: the Habsburgs acquired Bohemia and Moravia - Waidhofen remained a sovereign town until 1848. At the end of the 17th century, the textile cottage industry in the surrounding area brought an economic boom and Waidhofen an der Thaya developed into the most important industrial town in the Waldviertel alongside Krems an der Donau - the first ribbon weaving mill in the region, employing 350 people, was established in the Capuchin monastery, which was dissolved under Joseph II in 1784. Year after year, Waidhofen develops into the economic and cultural center of the entire administrative region as the administrative center, school town and location of numerous commercial enterprises and museums.

New life in old walls

Impressively well preserved: The fortifications still have their original triangular shape with a spacious, ring-like square. The city walls surround the historic city center - they reach a length of three kilometers and are up to two meters thick in some places. Outside the city walls, the south and north promenades with their powder towers invite you to take a stroll. To the west, on the site of the former moat, there are now fragrant gardens. The Baroque parish church is now enthroned at the highest point of the complex - its Gothic predecessor stood here until the beginning of the 18th century. In 1713, the current nave was built over the old one - only after the outer walls were completed was the Gothic church below finally torn down. One can only marvel at these old construction methods! Just like the complex itself.

All year round: living culture

The history of the old fortifications is often recited: In the Theater an der Mauer, part of the old city wall is integrated into the auditorium. The town museum combines the town's history, the Waldviertel Weaving Museum and annually changing special exhibitions in one building. Don't be alarmed: This is where many centuries-old exhibits begin to "speak".
Beneath the town houses are large cellars, some of which are two storeys high. The gneiss, on which Waidhofen is built, is a relatively soft rock that made it easier to construct the cellars, two of which can even be visited as part of a guided tour of the town.