Page 204 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - 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 began in 1492,
but the Baroque cupola dates
from a later period. Inside the
church 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 in Obernberg altar in St Wolfgang (see p210).
Among the tombs outside the
8 Obernberg were outstanding artists, active church is one of Hans Staininger,
am Inn in the region from 1632 to 1838. who is shown with a curly
The local museum, at No. 13 beard that reaches to his toes –
Road map D3. * 1,500. @ Kirchenplatz, exhibits some of and was said to have been the
Tel (07723) 8555. their works. cause of his untimely death.
Braunau was also the
Until the late 18th century, 9 Braunau am Inn birthplace of Adolf Hitler,
Obernberg belonged to Bavaria who lived at No. 15 Salzburger
and was ruled by the bishops Road map D3. * 16,000. @ £ Vorstadt until he was two.
of Passau. In 1779, it transferred n Stadtplatz 2 (07722) 62 644.
to Austria. The old market ∑ tourismus-braunau.at
town has preserved its lovely
Marktplatz, the central town Braunau is a substantial border
square, lined with pretty houses town on the Inn River and one of
with exceptionally beautiful, the prettiest spots in the entire
richly ornamented stucco region. It was built by the dukes
façades. Particularly interesting of Lower Bavaria, who ruled it for
are the façades of the houses a long time. Originally intended
at Nos 37, 38 and 57, with as a bridgehead in their battles
deco rations attributed to the with the East, the town remained
promi nent Bavarian artist, Johann one of the best-fortified towns
Baptist Modler. A fountain in in this part of Europe until the
the centre of the square is 17th century. In 1779 it passed to
surrounded by sculptures. Austria, together with the rest
When visiting the of the province. The Baroque
Annakapelle, the parish fortifi cations were The birthplace of Adolf Hitler in
church of Obernberg, it is dismantled by Napoleon, Braunau am Inn
worth taking a closer look but some sections
at the 16th-century wood- survived, includ ing the
carving of the Holy Family. remains of several 0 Schmiding Zoo
A castle, once owned medieval buildings. Road map D3. Tel (07249) 46 272.
by the bishops of Passau, The centre of this @ £ Haiding. Open Mar–Nov:
has stood in Obernberg Gothic town is occupied 9am–5:30pm daily. &
since the 12th century, by the unusually elon- ∑ zooschmiding.com
but little remains of it. gated Stadtplatz,
surrounded by historic Upper Austria’s largest zoo,
Environs: Near houses. At No. 18 Johann- covering an area of some
Obernberg, 15 km Fischer-Gasse, built in 1385, 120,000 sq m (30 acres), is based
(9 miles) to the an old bell-foundry has at Schmiding, 7 km (4 miles)
southwest, is the survived almost intact. north of Wels. This modern
largest town of the Together with the zoo, with giraffes, monkeys,
province, Ried im Figure from fountain in former ducal castle at crocodiles, exotic birds and
Innkreis, an agri- Obernberg town square No. 10 Altstadt next 1,500 other animal species,
cultural centre and door, it is now the is famous for its walk-in aviary
the home town of the home of the regional museum, with birds of prey – the world’s
Schwanthaler family of sculptors. showing art, handicrafts and largest. A huge tropical house,
Many members of the family traditions of the Inn region. an African savannah and Austria’s
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp296–7 and pp320–21

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