The Story of the City of Steyr
The old city of Steyr is located in the region known as the Traunviertel. In the heart of the city flow two rivers, the Steyr and the Enns. The two rivers meet near Lamberg Castle and St. Michael’s Church in the city center, which has caused many floods in the city throughout history.
The first settlers in the area were the Celts, who established their kingdom called Noricum in the region. During the rule of the Roman Empire, the kingdom was annexed to the empire and was under Roman control. The “Iron Road,” which led to the large Erzberg metal mine about 100 kilometers away, passed nearby.
In the 6th century, Bavarians settled in the city, and the rulers of the House of Otakars owned the area until the 12th century. Afterward, the city passed into the hands of the Dukes of the House of Babenberg. The city developed especially thanks to the many workshops it had, which were engaged in goldsmithing and weapon making.
After the disappearance of the House of Babenberg, the city came under the rule of the House of Habsburg and received special rights and status from the emperor. The regional iron trade contributed greatly to the city’s prosperity, but it declined during the Thirty Years’ War and the Peasants’ Revolt.
At the end of the 18th century, with the Industrial Revolution, factories were established in the city for the production of engines and weapons. The most famous of these was the Steyr-Daimler-Puch-Werke. These factories continued to operate until the end of World War II and were heavily used by the Nazi army. Because of these factories, the city was heavily bombed during the war, and most of its buildings were damaged by the numerous bombings of the Allied forces.
The American army arrived in the city in 1945, and it remained under its control until 1955.
In 1980, the city celebrated its 1000th anniversary. Today, the city continues to be an important industrial center in Austria and has several heavy industry factories.
The Old City of Steyr
The center of Steyr is very old, and after the war, extensive renovation and restoration work was carried out. In the city center, there is an impressive square called the Stadtplatz (City Square), which is surrounded on all sides by beautiful historic buildings. Among the beautiful buildings, you can see the old town hall and St. Michael’s Church. Two other very important buildings are the Gothic House and Lamberg Castle.
The Gothic House (Bummerlhaus)
This building is located near the city’s main square. It is a remarkably preserved house from the 13th century. This building is considered one of the most beautiful of its kind in all of Austria. The style in which the house was built is ancient Gothic.
Address: Stadtplatz 32, 4400 Steyr
Map:
Lamberg Castle
The ancient castle is located in the heart of the old city, near the meeting point of the two main rivers of the region. The castle was built as early as the 10th century to protect against the Hungarian invaders who came to the area. The noble Lamberg family owned the castle for hundreds of years until it was taken by the Nazi regime when Austria was annexed to Germany. After the end of the war, it became Austrian property and is now under the supervision of the Austrian Federal Forests agency.
The area surrounding the castle is beautiful, but it is not possible to enter it.
Watch the views from the city:
Other Essential Information for Visiting Steyr
Address: Steyr, Upper Austria
Map:
Other Attractions in the Area
A 30-minute drive from the city begins the wonderful Kalkalpen National Park. This is a wild and pristine nature area with large forests, many springs, and gorgeous landscapes. Read more about the park in the comprehensive article we have prepared.
