Heidenreichstein

Heidenreichstein, Lower Austria, town in the district of Gmünd, alt. 561 m, pop. 4,849 (1981: pop. 5,325), area 58.42 km², industrial and commercial town on the Romaubach stream in the north-west of the Waldviertel region, numerous ponds in and around Heidenreichstein: Edelwehrteich, Hofwehrreich, Neuteich and Steinbruckteich, Rohrbacher Teich, Winkelauer Teich and Haslauer Teich. - Volksheim adult education centre, "Hochmoor-Gemeindeau" country park (50 hectares, since 1985 nature reserve, since 1989 country park), with log footbridge and "Hanging Stone", wood and moorland trail, peat and moor museum (fauna, flora and the exploitation of the moors); Lenziade festival (May). Manufacturing sector predominates (about 65 % of all employed persons 1991, many of them commute to Heidenreichstein): textile industry (weaving mills, hosiery, knitwear, and articles made of terry cloth), metal-working industry (various metal products, fittings, school and office furniture), plastics industry (e.g. windows), glass industry, wood-working industry (furniture, garden houses, etc.), building trade, some tourism. - Founded around 1180-1190, first documented mention 1200, granted town status 1932; originally Romanesque parish church with Gothic choir, Baroque alterations from 1753-59; largest and best-preserved moated castle in Lower Austria with Romanesque core and late-medieval extensions (by stages, 12^th - 16^th  centuries), columnar portal (1550), high-medieval keep with saddle roof, fortress chapel with remains of Gothic scroll paintings (1456), in the north wing 2 rooms with ornate Baroque timbered ceilings, some Gothic furniture; Trinity column (1730).

Literature: Österr. Städtebuch, vol. IV, part 2, Die Städte Niederösterreichs, 1976; A. Wittig (ed.), Festschrift 50 Jahre Stadt Heidenreichstein, 1982.