Oberwölz Stadt

Oberwölz Stadt, Styria, town in the district of Murau, alt. 830 m, pop. 1,026, area 4.64 km², located on Wölzer Bach stream, at the southern foot of the Wölzer 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 14^th -16^th 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. Mölk (1777), furnishings in late Baroque style; St. Sigismund Church (15^th century) with high altar (1651) and larger than life-size crucifix (early 16^th 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 16^th -19^th centuries, Österreichisches Blasmusikmuseum - museum of brass-band music in Austria, local museum with exhibits of the history of Oberwölz Stadt and popular culture.

Literature: I. Woisetschläger-Mayer, Die Kunstdenkmäler des Gerichtsbez. Oberwölz, 1973.