Wheel of fortune in the Bad Waltersdorf parish church - Impression #1 | © Bernhard Bergmann

Wheel of fortune in the Bad Waltersdorf parish church

Bad Waltersdorf

A unique cultural-historical jewel is the Waltersdorf Wheel of Fortune from the 14th century, which was discovered during restoration work in the parish church in 1990.

During restoration work, a large painting (about 3x4 m) was uncovered in the chancel.

The representation of an ocher wheel with cruciform axis, which is turned by 4 kings, in the center of which the remains of a red dress can be seen. The secret of the image revealed, the text located under the wheel in Gothic script: "The wheel of fortune". Such a wheel of fortune is very rare - in Styria it is unique, in Lower Austria in Spitz a.d. Danube one was uncovered as well as in the South Tyrolean castle ruin Lichtenberg.

The wheel of fortune shows the vicissitudes in the lives of people & peoples, with the symbolism of 4 kings as representatives of earthly power, the transience of wealth and beauty. Even a king has to bow to the power of fate.

The wheel of fortune proves that during the reconstruction of the church after the last total destruction in 1683, the old foundations & wall pews remained.

Contact

Kirche Bad Waltersdorf
Sorin Brandiu
Bad Waltersdorf 1
8271 Bad Waltersdorf

What the weather will be like

Bad Waltersdorf (291m)

Morning
weather.icon.73
1°C
85%
10 km/h
Noon
cloudy
3°C
15%
15 km/h
Night
sunny
-1°C
0%
5 km/h
Light snowfall ending in the morning, then slowly becoming sunny during the day.
Morning
slightly cloudy
-3°C
0%
5 km/h
Noon
very sunny
6°C
0%
10 km/h
Night
very sunny
-1°C
0%
5 km/h
Some clouds in the morning, lateron much sunshine and hardly any clouds
24.11.2024
sunny
-4°C 7°C
25.11.2024
very sunny
-2°C 7°C
26.11.2024
slightly cloudy
1°C 8°C