I am a Murtaler - sacrificial wagon

04.10.2023

2 minutes of reading time

The Murtal is an archaeologically valuable area. Numerous historical finds have been excavated in the Murtal - such as the Strettweg Sacrificial wagon. It is considered one of the most precious finds from the Hallstatt period. That is why it had to leave the Murtal and has been living in the Joanneum in Graz since the end of the 18th century.

The oldest Murtaler

Here it tells proudly of its roots in the Murtal and still holds many a secret.

"In the Hallstatt period, around 600 BC, I was simply buried at the foot of Falkenberg. I don't remember exactly, but supposedly I was a burial gift for a powerful ruler who went into the afterlife so wealthy. It was quite boring here underground.

But imagine how excited me and my characters were when we suddenly saw the light flashing as the farmer Pfeffer ploughed his field. Suddenly I saw the light of day again with many other jewels. Above all, the farmer's children had a special joy with me and didn't know how valuable I was. That was in 1851. Then everything happened very quickly and I was suddenly incredibly famous. The town chaplain Wilhelm Decrignis heard about me by chance and immediately stopped my farmer Pfeffer in his field work. The church historian Mathias Robitsch then took me and published a first scientific treatise about me as early as 1853.

Unfortunately, I had to leave my home, the Murtal. But I still stayed in beautiful Styria. Mathias donated me to the Historical Society of Styria and ordered exhibiting me in the Joanneum Graz. Here I am treated like a real celebrity. I am the icon of the Hallstatt period.

But in a certain way I have still remained faithful to the beautiful Murtal. The Museum Murtal in Judenburg opened in 2019. In front of the museum is a great replica of me, that's my twin. In the foyer of the museum there is a huge replica of me on display. It was a project of the fruit growing school in Gleisdorf. I am always surprised how popular and well-known I am.“

sacrificial wagon in the interview

Erlebnisregion Murtal: "What connects you to the Murtal?"
Strettweger Kultwagen: "I am certainly one of the oldest Murtalers, hardly anyone has been here so early and is still part of this beautiful area of Styria."

Erlebnisregion Murtal: "When do you feel your heart pounding in the Murtal?"
Strettweger Kultwagen: "When I think of my old home, I feel my heart beating. The museum in Graz is fantastic and well visited. But home is home."

Erlebnisregion Murtal: "Where is your favourite place in the Murtal?“
Strettweger Kultwagen: "My favourite place in the Murtal is the Falkenberg in Strettweg. Here you have a great view of Judenburg and the Seetal Alps."