Fürstenfeld’s main square measures around 100 by 100 metres and is one of the largest squares in all of Styria. The city’s history is reflected here in more than just individual dates: connections to the Knights Hospitaller, fortifications and historic buildings offer different ways to explore the city’s past.
Knights Hospitaller, City Fortifications and Historic Buildings
The parish church of Fürstenfeld was founded by the Knights Hospitaller around 1202. The Fürstenfeld commandery was established around 1200 as a hospice and, in its present form, is the oldest establishment of the Knights Hospitaller in Austria. Both details give the order’s history in Fürstenfeld particular significance, but refer to different institutions.
The city’s fortifications can also be seen in its buildings. Graz Gate was built in 1565 and formed part of Fürstenfeld’s defences. The Old Town Hall dates from 1569: Jonas von Wilfersdorf had it built as a Freihaus, a house exempt from certain civic obligations. It replaced a city tower in Klostergasse behind it, which had been demolished as part of the modern-era fortifications. The main square, gate and town hall thus represent different aspects of the city’s history—from the scale of its central square to changes in its fortifications.
The Pfeilburg incorporates the building’s core, the “Schwarzturm” (Black Tower), dating from the 13th century, one of the few surviving medieval residential towers in Styria. At the Pfeilburg Museum, 14 exhibition rooms document Fürstenfeld’s eventful history, from its time as a fortified town through crafts and trade to the first half of the 20th century. Guided tours are available during opening hours and last about an hour.
Art, Water Displays and Outdoor Culture
The history of the Augustinian Hermits marks another period in the city’s past. Citizens of Fürstenfeld founded their settlement in 1362; the church and monastery were built between 1365 and 1368. In 2004, two groups of artworks were unveiled in the Josefi Chapel: twelve modern metal Stations of the Cross by Erich Unterweger and seven reverse-glass paintings depicting the Stations of the Cross by Erika Wolf-Rubenzer. Unterweger had already created the Stations of the Cross in 1959 for the Mission Church of St Severin; the reverse-glass paintings date from 1983 and 1984.
Since 2021, the Marienbrunnen fountain has featured a water display with 14 water columns and colourful jets that move to the rhythm of three musical pieces. The historic courtyard of the Pfeilburg provides a different setting for cultural events. Located near the main square, right by the old fortification wall, it is a venue for concerts, summer festivals, children’s festivals, open-air films and presentation evenings.
Fortifications, Cycling Tour and Outdoor Pool
The Fortress Trail takes visitors around the city’s restored fortifications, which can be explored at 13 stations. If you’re looking for an activity with a historical focus, there is also the Knights’ Orders Cycling Tour. It starts at the church square in Fürstenfeld, links three historically significant church complexes and traces the work of the Knights Hospitaller. The easy route is 17.8 kilometres long, takes about two hours and is also suitable for e-bikes. Its length and approximate duration help you estimate how much time to allow for this cycling option.
Fürstenfeld outdoor swimming pool has 23,000 square metres of water surface and 100,000 square metres of green space. It also has a 116-metre speed slide. As facilities may change, check the latest information about the pool before your visit.
Getting Here
There is a bus stop on Badstraße, a short walk from the starting point for a tour of Fürstenfeld. The railway station is about two kilometres from the city tour area. These distances refer to different points, so you can take the specific starting point and the railway station into account separately when planning your route. Check the latest connections before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Karnerviertel, Bad Waltersdorf, Geiseldorf, Burgau, Kaibing, Sankt Stefan, Ebersdorf Bei Hartberg, Siebenbrunn.
Return to the main travel overview: Hartberg-Fürstenfeld.
