Description of the attraction
Judenburg is an Austrian city located in the federal state of Styria, on the banks of the Mur River. The city is located at an altitude of 737 meters above sea level. The first written mention of this area dates back to 1074, we are talking about Eppenstein Castle. At that time, Jewish traders occupied the territory of modern Judenburg, where an important trade route passed from the valley of the Mur River through the mountain pass to Carinthia.
Judenburg received city privileges in 1224 and gradually grew into an important trade center. One of the most important commodities produced in the city was valerian, whose raw materials were used to make scented soaps. The city was home to 22 successful Jews who actively invested in the development of urban infrastructure. In 1496, the Jews were expelled from Judenburg by order of Emperor Maximilian I, however, under Emperor Franz Joseph I, they were able to return.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the city was one of the centers of the steel industry. Today, only an insignificant part of industrial production has survived in the city.
During Nazi rule, there was an idea to rename the city in order to remove all associations with Jews from the name. The Zierbenstadt option was considered, however, the discussion was postponed until the end of World War II. As a result, the renaming never took place.
Most of the population of Judenburg was exterminated by the Nazis. Today the city is home to several hundred Jews.
The most interesting to visit is the Jewish quarter of the city around the church of St. Nicholas, although little is left of the old buildings. The Church of St. Nicholas was rebuilt in 1673 in the Baroque style, later elements of the neo-Renaissance were introduced. In the interior of the temple there are figures of 12 apostles by the local sculptor Balthasar Brandstattar. Next to the altar is a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary with the Child of 1500. The Church of Mary Magdalene is famous for its restored Gothic stained glass windows. There is a Museum of Local Lore in Judenburg.
