Page 138 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Austria

136  A u STRIA REGI o n B y REGIon

1 St Pölten friary, occupies the narrow,
northern end of the square.
The capital of Lower Austria since 1986, St Pölten was A Rococo church with a
the first Austrian city to be granted municipal rights, in delightful pink façade, it is
1159. Its history dates back to Roman times, and it achieved unusual because it has no
considerable status under the Augustinian orders in the 8th tower. The church interior, also
century. St Pölten’s fastest period of growth, however, was decorated in Rococo style,
features an altarpiece by
during the Baroque period, when outstanding masters of that Andreas Gruber. There are four
era, such as the architect Jakob Prandtauer and the painters wing paintings by another
Daniel Gran, Paul Troger and Bartolomeo Altomonte, made well­known Austrian Baroque
their home here. Economically, St Pölten became the most artist, Martin Johann Schmidt,
important city in Lower Austria when trade switched from the known as Kremser Schmidt.
Danube waterways to overland roads.
P Rathaus
Rathausplatz 1.
Tel (02742) 333 3000.
The present town hall was
built in the 16th century by
combining two Gothic
buildings in a mishmash of
incongruous styles. The niches
of the Gothic entrance gate
abut a Renaissance portal, the
Gothic tower has a Baroque
onion dome on top, and the
entire structure has been
concealed behind a Baroque
façade. Inside, however, it is
worth seeing the ceiling
stuccowork in the Mayor’s
Rathausplatz in St Pölten, with the Holy Trinity column Chamber and sculptures by
Christoph Kirschner.
Exploring St Pölten in Baroque style to designs by The town hall occupies the
The beautiful Baroque Jakob Prandtauer. Deceptively southern side of Rathausplatz,
centre, with several older plain on the outside, the cathe­ once considered the most
buildings, lies to the south of dral’s interior is a typical example beautiful square in Austria.
the railway station between of exuberant Baroque ornamen­ Today, it is lined with modern
Domplatz, Riemerplatz and tation. Daniel Gran and buildings, and has lost some
Rathausplatz. The town Bartolomeo Altomonte of its Baroque charm. Next
centre is compact created the large wall to the town hall you can see
and easy to explore and ceiling paintings, the house where Austrian
on foot, being depicting scenes composer Franz Schubert
largely pedestrian­ from the life of Jesus. once lived, and at No. 5 is
ized. Apart from Adjoining the the Montecuccoli Palace.
fascinating Baroque cathe dral is the Bishops’ The façades of both buildings
buildings and those Palace, once an abbey, were created by Prandtauer’s
associated with the A detail on with a lovely staircase, nephew, Joseph Munggenast.
town’s administrative the cathedral door also by Prandtauer, and At the centre of the square
role, St Pölten also a magnificent library stands the marble column of
has more recent architecture decorated by Paul Troger. the Holy Trinity, with a fountain
of interest. The Diocesan Museum and statues of saints.
houses a collection of sculptures,
R Domkirche Mariä paint ings and decorative art
Himmelfahrt objects dating from the
Domplatz 1. Tel (02742) 353 402. Gothic and Baroque periods.
Diocesan Museum: Tel (02742) 324 Behind the palace, at No. 1
331. Open May–Oct: 10am–noon, Klostergasse, is the apartment
2–5pm Tue–Fri, 10am–1pm Sat. 8 of Jakob Prandtauer.
In the 12th century, a church
dedicated to St Hippolytus stood R Franziskanerkirche
on this site. After a devastating Rathausplatz.
fire in 1278, the church was The Franciscan church of the Portraits line the walls in the Mayor’s
renovated and practically rebuilt Holy Trinity, together with its Chamber, Rathaus
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p295 and pp316–18

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