Page 204 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

202  A USTRIA REGION B Y REGION

The town’s symbol is the stone
tower of the Stephanskirche
(parish church of St Stephen)
which is nearly 100 m (330 ft)
tall. Construction of the church
began in 1492, but the Baroque
cupola dates from a later period.
Inside is a lovely stone pulpit. The
only surviving parts of the
original altarpiece by Michael
Zürn are figures of the Madonna
with Child and saints Stephen
and Laurence. The altar itself
dates from 1906; it is a Neo-
Gothic copy of Michael Pacher’s
Baroque house façades on Marktplatz in Obernberg altar in St Wolfgang (see p209).
Among the tombs outside the
8 Obernberg the family were outstanding church is one of Hans Staininger,
am Inn artists, active in the region who is shown with a curly
from 1632 to 1838. The local beard that reaches to his toes –
Road map D3. * 1,500. @ museum, at No. 13 Kirchenplatz, and was said to have been the
n Marktplatz 36, (07723) 8555. exhibits some of their works. cause of his untimely death.
∑ obernberg.at Braunau was also the
birthplace of Adolf Hitler,
9 Braunau am Inn
Until the late 18th century, who lived at No. 15 Salzburger
Obernberg belonged to Bavaria Road map D3. * 16,000. £ @ Vorstadt until he was two.
and was ruled by the bishops n Stadtplatz 2, (07722) 62 644.
of Passau. In 1779, it transferred ∑ tourismus-braunau.at
to Austria. The old market
town has preserved its lovely Braunau is a substantial border
Marktplatz, the central town town on the Inn river and one of
square, lined with pretty houses the prettiest spots in the entire
with exceptionally beautiful, region. It was built by the dukes
richly ornamented stucco of Lower Bavaria, who ruled it for
façades. Particularly interesting a long time. Originally intended
are the façades of the houses as a bridgehead in their battles
at Nos 37, 38 and 57, with with the Turks, the it remained
deco rations attributed to the one of the best-fortified towns in
promi nent Bavarian artist Johann this part of Europe until the
Baptist Modler. A fountain in 17th century. In 1779 it passed
the centre of the square is to Austria, together with the
surrounded by sculptures. rest of the province. The
When visiting the Anna- Baroque fortifi cations were The birthplace of Adolf Hitler in
kapelle, the parish church dismantled by Napoleon, Braunau am Inn
of Obernberg, it is worth but some sections
taking a look at the survived, includ- ing the
16th-century wood- remains of several 0 Schmiding Zoo
carving of the Holy Family. medieval buildings. Road map E3. £ @ Tel (07249)
A castle, once owned The centre of this 46 272. Haiding: Open Mar–Nov:
by the bishops of Gothic town is occupied 9am–5:30pm daily. & 7 -
Passau, has stood in by the unusually ∑ zooschmiding.com
Obernberg since the elon gated Stadtplatz,
12th century, but little surrounded by historic Upper Austria’s largest zoo,
remains of it. houses. At No. 18 Johann- covering an area of some
Fischer-Gasse, built in 1385, 120,000 sq m (30 acres), is based
Environs: 15 km an old bell-foundry has at Schmiding, 7 km (4 miles)
(9 miles) southeast survived almost intact. north of Wels. This modern
of Obernberg is the Together with the zoo, with giraffes, monkeys,
largest town of the Figure from fountain in former ducal castle at crocodiles, exotic birds and
province, Ried im Obernberg town square No. 10 Altstadt, next 1,500 other animal species,
Innkreis, an agri- door, it is now the is famous for its walk-in aviary
cultural centre and home of home of the regional museum, with birds of prey. A huge
the Schwanthaler family of showing art, handicrafts and tropical house, an African
sculptors. Many members of traditions of the Inn region. savannah and a large colony
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp296–7 and pp320–21

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