Three different city tours are offered from July 1 to September 7:
- “Speiksitzen and everyday life in the Middle Ages”, every Tuesday at 10.00 a.m., meeting point at the Infopoint opposite the petrol station
- “About teeth in the city gate and rich people” - children's city tour, every Wednesday at 10.00 a.m., meeting point at the brass music museum
- “Evening walk in medieval walls”, Thursdays at 9 p.m. until August 3, then Thursdays at 8 p.m., meeting point at the Brass Music Museum
The children's tours and the guided tours of the town on Tuesdays do not require registration, if you would like to take part, just come along. Accompanying adults are also very welcome! Registration is required for the evening walks by 4 p.m. at the latest.
Group tours
Groups/bus groups are welcome to book a historical city tour in advance by calling +43 3581 7366.
Become part of a piece of history and culture on a guided tour through the beautiful town of Oberwölz. Guides will show you the highlights and great places of Oberwölz.
A HISTORICAL TOWN TELLS OF ITS HISTORY
Oberwölz and its surroundings belonged to the diocese of Freising in Bavaria from 1007 to 1803.
The settlement was located at the beginning/end of the Alpine crossing over the Glattjoch, which for centuries was an important trade route within Styria, but also between Bavaria and Italy. In 1305 Oberwölz already had the town charter. In the same year, the town fortification is also documented, of which three town gates and a large part of the defense wall are still preserved.
In the Middle Ages, about 2000 people lived within the town walls. Many of them found work in the numerous craft workshops and taverns, as long-distance trade caused a lively coming and going even then. For this reason, the citizens achieved prosperity and prestige, which can still be seen today in the appearance of the main square: Although the orientation of the houses - the eaves side has been facing the square for a long time - is no longer preserved in its original form, the largely seamless juxtaposition of the buildings reveals their medieval origins.
In fact, the ground floor of all the houses around the main square dates back to the 15th/16th century: behind the mostly semicircular front doors are mighty barrel vaults and thick stone walls. The oldest building substance is preserved in the house "Zum Platzschuster" on the right opposite the plague column; it is the only building on the main square with a Gothic pointed arch portal.
In recent years, it has been possible to renovate some old town houses in a way that preserves the façade and to put them to modern use, such as the "Speikerhaus", the municipal office, the former Freisinger Amtshaus and the JUFA Hotel. However, these houses have a very interesting past, which visitors can learn about on guided tours of the town or read about for themselves in various brochures published by the tourist board.
Due to a local grocer, a gas station, inns and several cafes, the main square of Oberwölz is always lively, which is especially emphasized in the summer months by the lively activity in the guest gardens.
Guests will find ample parking immediately in front of, but also within the town, to pay a visit to the historic center or one of the museums. The square is closed off to the north by the Schöttl Gate and to the south by the massive city parish church of St. Martin, so it can occasionally be used in its entirety for events.