Description of the attraction
Pöllau is an Austrian city located in the federal state of Styria, part of the Hartberg district. It is located about 55 km northeast of Graz.
Pöllau was documented in 1153. The name of the city in translation from German means “field, wide valley”. Pöllau's favorable location at the crossroads of two trade routes has turned it into a shopping center. In the 13th century, the village was significantly expanded. After the death of the owner of the castle and the land of Pöllau, Hans von Neuberg in 1482, the land was transferred to the Augustinian monks.
In 1677, Michael Joseph Meister began the global modernization of Pöllau. The barn and the house of Meir were built, and the main square of the city underwent changes. The reconstruction was completed only in 1779, after the death of Michael Meister.
The city, meanwhile, prospered economically. It has developed into an important trading area. The plans for the development of the city included the idea of building a railway; it was planned to bring the Feistritzbahn branch to Pöllau, however, due to two world wars, these plans were never realized. Currently, there are no railway stations within 10 kilometers of Pöllau. However, the city is not far away because the A2 motorway from Vienna to Graz is nearby.
The main attractions of Pöllau include the former Augustinian abbey and the huge baroque church of St. Vitus. The church was built in the early 18th century by the architect Joachim Carlone from Graz. The interior of the church is decorated with frescoes with an optical illusion of volume by Matthias von Görz, depicting saints and 12 apostles, as well as an altarpiece by Joseph A. Mölk. Also of interest are the Echo of Physics Museum, the Doll and Toy Museum, and the Ferrari Car Museum.
6 km from Pöllau is the 14th century Gothic Maria Lebing church with frescoes by Joseph A. Mölk and statues of the Virgin Mary from the 15th and 17th centuries.
