Loosdorf: Renaissance Church, Ice Cellar and Nature

Loosdorf brings together several distinct themes for planning your trip: Renaissance and Gothic history, Baroque architecture, a museum with staged rooms and a protected floodplain landscape. If you are looking for a hotel in Loosdorf, these highlights can help you choose a destination that suits your interests.

Parish Church, Charnel House and Hohe Schule

Loosdorf’s parish church is one of the country’s rare Renaissance churches. A well-preserved Gothic charnel house stands right next to it. This means you can encounter two distinct architectural styles in one place. The church’s history also gives your visit a historical context: in the second half of the 16th century, Hans Wilhelm von Losenstein had the house of worship rebuilt after it was destroyed by the Turks.

In 1574, Hans Wilhelm von Losenstein also established a “Hohe Schule”, a grammar school, in Loosdorf. The historical account links its founding to Loosdorf’s importance as a cultural centre of the country. The church and the Hohe Schule thus represent two facets of the town’s history: the rebuilding of an important religious building and the founding of an educational institution.

Baroque Ice Cellar and Castle Museum

The ice cellar is one of the few surviving Baroque secular buildings in Loosdorf. It was built around 1700. Its cellar is cylindrical in shape and has a hemispherical domed vault. This clear description makes the design easy to picture: a round, cylindrical room is topped by a hemispherical vault.

The Old Ice Cellar is the home and event venue of the Loosdorf Cultural Association. The building therefore has a role in local cultural life as well as a history of its own. If you would like to attend an event during your stay, check the dates in advance.

At Loosdorf Castle Museum, visitors can explore Neoclassical state rooms furnished with furniture and featuring rare wall paintings. The museum is organised as a sequence of individually staged room installations. The rooms are therefore the focus of the museum experience, while the ice cellar stands out for the distinctive form of a single historic building.

Floodplain Landscape and Nature Reserve

The Pielach - Ofenloch - Neubacher Au Nature Reserve protects more than 70 hectares of wild river landscape between Spielberg and the Lochau near Sitzenthal. The landscape includes lush floodplains and a particularly rich variety of animal and plant life. Visitors can enjoy the recreational value of the floodplain landscape here.

Existing paths in the nature reserve may be used for low-impact recreation, including hiking and wild swimming. Use the existing paths; local rules may change. So check the current information about the area before your visit.

Plan Hiking Routes and Your Journey

The Loosdorfer Tut-gut hiking trail project connects Loosdorf and Schollach through a network of signposted circular walking routes. It offers hiking enthusiasts another way to shape their trip. As route details may change, it is a good idea to check the latest official information before setting out.

Loosdorf is accessible by train. If you plan to travel by rail, check the appropriate timetable and connections in advance, as train services and journey times may change. This will help you combine the cultural and nature-related experiences that interest you during your stay with realistic travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Braunegg, Mank, Hofamt Priel, Persenbeug, Blindenmarkt, Yspertal, Ybbs An Der Donau, Dunkelsteinerwald

For the wider travel overview: Melk.