Description of the attraction
Traunkirchen is an Austrian village located in the federal state of Upper Austria on the shores of Lake Traunsee. Part of the district of Gmunden.
The lands on which Traunkirchen stands have been inhabited since the Stone Age. Excavations carried out on the site indicate settlements, as well as a pagan place of worship, which is about 3,500 years old. The chronicles speak of the Traunkirchen monastery, which was founded in 1020. Initially, this territory belonged to the Duchy of Bavaria, and since 1490 it has ceded to Austria. During the Napoleonic wars, Traunkirchen found itself several times occupied by troops. Since 1918, this place has ceded to the province of Upper Austria. After the end of World War II, Traunkirchen was in the zone of American occupation until 1955.
Traunkirchen's main attractions include the 16th century St. John's Chapel, located on a mountain above the village, and the parish church, rebuilt after a fire in 1632, with an unusual pulpit in the shape of a fishing boat. The so-called Russian Villa was built in 1850-1854 by the famous architect Theophil Hansen and probably got its name because the customer was the Russian princess Sofia. Many famous guests spent their time at the villa, including Archduke Maximilian (brother of Emperor Franz Joseph), Russian conductor Anton Rubinstein, Adalbert Stifter and many others. Today the villa is privately owned.
Various festivals and music festivals are held annually in Traunkirchen, which attract tourists throughout Austria.
