This castle and former Augustinian monastery is located In the middle of the town of Pöllau. In 1482 Hans Neuberg, the owner of both the castle and the town at the time, stipulated in his will that the castle be converted to an Augustinian monastery on his death . Pöllau Abbey was finally founded 22 years later. In the same year, eight canons under Provost Ulrich moved there from Vorau Abbey. Between 1677 and 1779, the monastery was rennovated and expanded. The floor plan of the church and its mighty dome were modeled after the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome, and so the church came to be known popularly  as "Styria's St. Peter's Cathedral".

Pöllau Abbey was already disbanded only six years after completion of construction as a consequence of Joseph II's religious reform. The monastery complex became the property of the state. Nonetheless, the nearly 300 year's the canons live and worked in Pöllau left an indelible mark on the Pöllau valley, and Pöllau remained its spiritual, cultural and economic center even after the dissolution of the monastery. Today, the castle is owned by the market town of Pöllau. The parish church and the east wing belong to the diocese of Graz-Seckau. The castle houses event space, including a large and a small "fresco hall", refectory, seminar and exhibition rooms, the Pöllau-Vorau-Joglland Music School, the rehearsal rooms of the renowned Pöllau Marching Band, the tourist office and much more.

The former Abbey Church in Pöllau, which is known as "Styria's St. Peter's cathedral", is one of the largest baroque churches in the province.

Guided tours may be booked by contacting the tourist office.

T: +43 3335/4210

HISTORICAL VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY IN PÖLLAU

Content:  Although Pöllau's imposing church and fomer monastery building can be seen from afar, they have not been the only influences on its historical townscape. On a tour through the town center, the secular history of the town comes alive in several impressive architectural monuments. Old artisanry, the Augustinian canon's work outside the abbey walls and the Altes Handwerk, das Wirken der Augustiner Chor­herren außerhalb der Klostermauern und the system of rule during past centuries have left their mark everywhere in the twon. . Meeting point: main entrance of the parish church Pöllau
This tour is free With the GenussCard!  

EXHIBITION ECHOPHYSICS - EUROPEAN CENTER FOR THE HISTORY OF PHYSICS 
 

Content: Echophysics "Radiation - Humans Exposed" shows the minds and devices that brought us our knowledge about radiation. The exhibition presents the development of modern physics in text and pictures. The collection includes more than 600 instruments, photos, films and documents, including all of the original measuring instruments of the Vienna Institute for Radium Research and Styrian Nobel Laureate for Physics, Victor Franz Hess.

Duration: 1 hour

Price: €1.50 per pupil

Surcharge a guided tour: €1.00 per pupil

Meeting point: Pöllau Castle

Dates: April to November, Thu. to Sun., 10 am to 5 pm or by appointment

Reservations: required for guided tours at Tel: +43 (0) 664/88 615 896

8225 Pöllau bei Hartberg, Schloss 1

Phone: +43 (0)3335-42 10 

Fax: +43 (0)3335-42 35

info@naturpark-poellauertal.at
www.naturpark-poellauertal.at

Monday to Friday from 9am - 4pm

Pictures ©

Alfred Mayer

Martin Ziverts

Helmut Schweighofer

Hans Weissenbacher

Tourism Association of the Pöllau Valley Nature Park

Martins Ziverts