Oberwölz Stadt: Medieval History, Museums and Guided Tours

Oberwölz Stadt brings together medieval architecture, museums, historical guided town tours and routes with different historical contexts. You can focus your stay on architecture, local history, brass band music or a walking tour. The town’s history is reflected both in individual buildings and in the routes across the Glattjoch.

Townscape and Building History

The historic town of Oberwölz has a medieval main square, three well-preserved town gates, defensive towers and a city wall. The wall is about 1.2 kilometres long and intact throughout. Around the main square, the ground floors of all the houses date from the 15th and 16th centuries.

One building provides another historical landmark: the former Amtshaus (administrative building) was built in 1335 and is considered the oldest individual building in the town.

Museums and Musical History

The Oberwölz Local History Museum occupies around 250 m² in the medieval Schöttltor complex of the Kulturhaus. It presents the history of the former holdings of the Prince-Bishopric of Freising and Rothenfels Castle. In this way, its location in a historic complex is linked to themes relating to the history of former ownership.

The Austrian Brass Band Museum in Oberwölz focuses on different subjects. An audio-visual presentation shares fascinating information ranging from classical Harmoniemusik to brass band music today. At the museum rally, visitors can test their knowledge through interactive activity stations and try out instruments themselves. The audio-visual presentation offers an overview of the subject, while the rally invites visitors to try things out for themselves. The Documentation Centre of the Austrian Brass Band Association presents several current topics each year in cooperation with the Oberwölz municipal authority and the Austrian Brass Band Museum.

The Oberwölz Fire Brigade Museum is located north of the city wall, in the area of the Austrian Brass Band Museum and the Local History Museum. There is ample parking immediately outside and within the town for visits to the historic centre and museums.

Guided Tours and Routes

The seasonal programme includes three historical town tours: “Speiksitzen and Everyday Life in the Middle Ages”, the children’s tour “The Teeth in the Town Gate and Rich People”, and the “Evening Stroll Within Medieval Walls”. As the programme is seasonal, check the dates before your visit.

The history of the Glattjoch also places Oberwölz in a wider context. The town lay at the starting or ending point of the Alpine crossing over the Glattjoch. For centuries, this was an important trade route within Styria and between Bavaria and Italy. The Hemma Pilgrimage Route, opened in 2007, also crosses the same Glattjoch, running from Admont Abbey to Gurk. One long day stage runs between Donnersbachwald and the town of Oberwölz.

Nearby, the “Legendary Wölz Valley” circular trail begins north of the town by the night watchman. The circular trail starts north of the town by the night watchman; the long day stage of the Hemma Pilgrimage Route runs between Donnersbachwald and Oberwölz.

More Visitor Information

At the Oberwölz outdoor pool, the water is heated using local district heating and solar energy. The water temperature is kept between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius. This means swimming and historical attractions can cater to different interests during a stay in Oberwölz Stadt.

Discover more destinations: Laßnitz bei Murau, Oberwölz Umgebung, Krakauschatten, Sankt Lambrecht, Einach, Mariahof, Krakauhintermühlen, Schöder.

Go to the main travel overview: Murau.