Main Square Leoben

Leoben

1100 years of eventful history have left manifold traces in the second largest city of Styria, which is also considered the "Gateway to the Styrian Iron Road". History is omnipresent in Leoben.

A walk through the old town is therefore like a journey through the centuries. Starting at the 13th century main square, the most beautiful "living room" in Styria, you embark on a journey to monuments of a glorious past and architectural treasures.

City walls, city gates, four corner fortifications, and several wall towers formed the fortifications of the town during the Middle Ages and the early modern period, which fell victim to modernization in the 19th century, leaving only one corner tower, one gate tower, and some minor remnants of the walls.

The elongated main square has been the heart of Leoben since the settlement of the Murschleife in the 13th century. Today, the main square, redesigned in 1997, is free of traffic, invites strolling and lingering, and is considered one of the most beautiful squares in Austria.

In 1717, the citizens erected the Trinity Column (Pest Column) on the main square as a thank you for the extinction of the plague, with sculptural decorations by Johann Jakob Schoby. At the northern end of the square stands the Angel Fountain (1794), over which a classicist sculpture of an angel rises, holding a shield with the Leoben city coat of arms. At the southern end of the square stands the Miner's Fountain (1799), depicting a miner in Maximilian-era attire. Here, an annual tradition called the "Kiss of the Statue" takes place during the "Philistrierung" of newly graduated mining students.

The main square is ideal as a backdrop for large events and offers a wonderful relaxation oasis with its many outdoor cafés.