Sankt Poelten is a city located near Vienna. This is the oldest Austrian city, largest city in the federal state Lower Austria and the young capital of the administrative area. The city was founded on the site of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Hippolytus in 771. Sankt Poelten gained the official status of the city in 1159.
There’s no wonder why Sankt Poelten is known for its amazing broad squares, the concentration of cultural life and magnificent baroque buildings, because the majority of architectural structures have appeared around the time of the famous baroque architect Jakob Prandtauer moving to Sankt Poelten. He created today's architectural monuments of the city - the central building of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin and the Female Monastery of the Order of Carmelites.
The city still has an ancient Wasserburg castle. The first written mention of it dates back to 1185. The first owner of the castle was the noble aristocrat Dietmar von Wassenburg. His descendants owned the castle until the end of the 13th century. Over the war years, the magnificent Baroque castle was used as a place for soldiers' rest. Despite the difficult history, it managed to preserve its unique appearance. Now, the castle is located in the territory of a vast park with a nice pond with dots. In summer, a swimming pool, a golf course, tennis courts and other sports grounds operate there.
Nearby, is another interesting fortification, Oksenburg castle. It is located on the bank of the river Traizen. The castle was built on a small rocky ledge, whose height is 30 meters. Built in the 14th century, it has been run by various monasteries and religious organizations for the years of its existence. During the Second World War, it was used as a military hospital. Recently, the ancient castle is available for various ceremonies. Wedding events are often held there.
At the intersection of the historic Kremsergasse and Venerstrasse you can see a small old house with a beautifully decorated facade. In 1545 a pharmacy was opened in it. It is still operating now and is an important historical symbol for the city. The pharmacy has an amazing old interior. Here, you can purchase quality organic cosmetics of local production, balsams, and a lot of other nice souvenirs.
In summer, guests of the city should definitely visit Mitterar castle. It is best appreciated in a warm season. In summer, the façade of the old castle is practically covered with a wild grape, which gives the building a fabulous view. The fortress was built in the 17th century and was part of the city fortifications. From the middle of the 18th century, its external appearance remained almost unchanged. On its territory is an old chapel. For more than 200 years the entire territory and the castle itself have been privately owned. In the immediate vicinity of the historic building originate excellent hiking trails. Most tourists visit these places in the warm season.
