steyr.info: City centre

Town Hall

The Town Hall, rated among Austria´s most important buildings of the Rococo era, was erected by Gotthard Hayberger, mayor and judge of Steyr, from 1765 to 1778. The balustrade depicts four Baroque female figures representing the then authorities of town: Justitia (sword and scales), criminal law (iron chain and ball fastened to the ankles), church patronage (incense bowl) and Roman law (holding the code of law).

Bummerlhaus

Stadtplatz 32. The town's landmark and one of Austria's best preserved profane Gothic buildings. A part of the building dates back to the 13th century. In the 19th century, the building accomodated the inn "Zum Goldenen Löwen". The lion is still the building's sign up to this day. Visitors to the inn were so fond of th elion that they called it "Bummerl" (= a small, corpulent dog). So eventually, the Bummerl inn became the Bummerlhaus.

Sternhaus

The Sternhaus Building was destroyed by the great fire of 1727. As a result the House was completely rebuilt with a façade in late-Baroque style. It derives its name from the golden Star installed above the main entrance. The star is held by two birds of prey and represents the thriving iron industry. The angelic figures above the windows depict the five senses of man.

Meditzhouse and Meditzcourtyard

Opposite from the Sternhaus Building you´ll find the Meditz House, named for its former proprietor. The House boasts a lavishly decorated Baroque façade and one of Steyr´s most magnificent inner courtyards in Renaissance style. Lovely arcades of Tuscany columns surround three sides of the Courtyard.

Enns Quey

Apart from the lovely Steyr downtown square, another especially delightful jewel of old urban building art can be seen on the bank of the Enns River. Time seems to stand still here. The lovely housefront of historic buildings and a very special atmosphere entice for a walk through the narrow lanes and alleys with arcades and passage ways leading down to the river.

Innerberger Stadel

The Innerberger Stadel was built as a two-gable storehouse in 1612. Today, the historic storehouse is the home of Steyr´s Municipal Museum. The town was at the heart of Austria´s iron industry for centuries and the legacy of this thriving trade is on display at the museum. The exhibitions mainly focus on iron processing and include a scythe hammer, a nail smithy, an important collection of knives, a bird show and the famous Steyr Crèche, depicting Medieval scenes of peasant life.