The best running trails around Garsten

Christiane Völkel has expressed an interesting thought about the inner connection between the Christmas nativity scene, which, along with the CHRIST CHILD, forms the conceptual center of this church, and the cross of Good Friday – with which Christians always commemorate Christ's suffering, but also the Easter perspective of hope for the resurrection. For those lingering in the Christkindl-Kirche, I would like to pass on her consideration for the rest of your journey: + “Jesus, who appears to us as a failure on the cross, begins his journey to the cross [already] at the nativity scene for me… Just as the cross does, the nativity scene also speaks of the triumph of love – in God's way, which Jesus has given us for our life's journey. For me, the nativity scene and the cross are the door to believing hope in God.”

Further text contributions and pictures about the Christkindl Church can be found at =>> https://www.komoot.com/de-de/highlight/637791

Steyr's Old Town is one of Austria's most atmospheric historic city centers. Situated at the confluence of the Enns and Steyr rivers, it combines a medieval urban structure with well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings. Around the town square with its magnificent burgher houses—including the famous Bummerlhaus—narrow lanes, courtyards, and squares unfold, reflecting the former prosperity of this iron-producing city. High above, Lamberg Castle sits atop the walls of the ancient Styraburg, the city's origin. A visit to the Old Town leads past characteristic facades, across bridges to the riverbanks, and to viewpoints offering particularly evocative vistas of the historic ensemble. Overall, Steyr's Old Town presents a harmonious blend of history, architecture, and picturesque urban ambiance.

Steyr's Old Town is one of Austria's most atmospheric historic city centers. Situated at the confluence of the Enns and Steyr rivers, it combines a medieval urban structure with well-preserved Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque buildings. Around the town square with its magnificent burgher houses—including the famous Bummerlhaus—narrow lanes, courtyards, and squares unfold, reflecting the former prosperity of this iron-producing city. High above, Lamberg Castle sits atop the walls of the ancient Styraburg, the city's origin. A visit to the Old Town leads past characteristic facades, across bridges to the riverbanks, and to viewpoints offering particularly evocative vistas of the historic ensemble. Overall, Steyr's Old Town presents a harmonious blend of history, architecture, and picturesque urban ambiance.

The Enns was used for rafting for centuries

I have never been there but the only place in the vicinity

This church is one of the most important Gothic churches in the country, and is also known as the smaller sister of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. As the residence of the Ottokars (also: Otakars), the city of Steyr, strategically located at the confluence of the Steyr and Enns, gained importance even before the year 1000. Vedute of the Schedel World ChronicleAfter the city had also become the capital of Styria, Steyr became the most powerful and important city above the Enns in the Middle Ages through iron trading and iron processing. The first written mention of a church building, "ecclesia sancti Egidii in Styria", also dates from this period. The first documented mention of a patronage of St. Giles for Steyr is dated April 22, 1275, but this patronage (as well as that of St. Koloman) may have existed earlier. The settlement in the shadow of the Styraburg had already grown into an "urbs" by this time, and the construction of a church must have taken place earlier. The church building, which had been damaged by a fire, soon proved to be too small for the rapidly growing population. In 1443, Hans Puchsbaum, master builder of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, began construction on a new building, which he managed until 1454. The plans are documented by the designs that have survived to this day. War events and religious turmoil interrupted the construction work several times for longer periods, which resulted in changes to Puchsbaum's plans. After 1454, Mert Kramschach (until 1482), Wolfgang Tenk (until 1513) and Hanns Schwettichauer (until around 1525) managed the construction work. After the fire of the tower spire in 1876, the current neo-Gothic top was built from stone blocks in 1889 according to plans by the Viennese cathedral master builder and the builder of the Vienna City Hall, Friedrich von Schmidt. The old cross has been erected on the church tower since 1961.

This mighty, richly decorated town house in the western row of houses on the lower town square is named after the golden star held by two griffins above the portal, which not only symbolizes the iron trade, but can also be seen in the coat of arms of the Schoiber family, to whom the magnificent building once belonged. Completely destroyed during the great town fire of 1727, the Sternhaus was rebuilt after the catastrophe with a late baroque façade. It was named after the golden star held by two birds of prey above the portal, which is the symbol of the iron trade. The angel figures above the windows embody the five human senses with their attributes.