Cultural Region Eisenwurzen Upper Austria

NO OLD IRON IN THE EISENWURZEN

You have to see, experience and hear it! Old masters and young artists live an exciting variety of traditions, customs, centuries-old crafts and a lively cultural and natural bond in the Eisenwurzen cultural region. Some customs, remarkable old knowledge and valuable handicraft techniques have already been included in the national register of intangible cultural heritage in Austria, also the old beech forests in the Eisenwurzen are now part of the UNESCO World Heritage as part of the Kalkalpen National Park.

Modern, innovative and globally active industrial companies, medium-sized enterprises and renowned craft businesses still live the tradition of the Eisenwurzen, which was founded by miners almost a thousand years ago at the Erzberg. According to legend, they did not opt for "gold for one year or silver for ten years, but for iron forever".

Today, the history of the Eisenwurzen is still alive in numerous museums and demonstration mines. Unique are the still active manufactories for traditional Zaukerl, also known as pocket fiddles, high-quality Jew's harps, armour, swords, hunting and military weapons as well as quality scythes, which have been produced in the Eisenwurzen for hundreds of years. Magnificent burgher and merchant houses in the historic centre of the old iron town of Steyr and in the iron market of Weyer, representative hammer masters' estates and factory buildings of the Black Counts in the Eisenwurzen bear witness to the former wealth of the dominant metal industry.