Hieflau’s local history offers a range of perspectives: sacred architecture, charcoal production and the memory of the final days of the war in 1945. At the church, you can distinguish between its consecration, the present building and the high altar that was brought over from the older church. The Historama documents almost 400 years of charcoal production; the soldiers’ cemetery in the adjacent forest represents a distinct chapter of wartime history. These topics give you a concrete starting point for exploring Hieflau according to your own travel interests.

Church and Chapel: Sacred History

The Church of St John the Baptist has a history that cannot be reduced to the age of the present building. It was consecrated in 1616; the current building was constructed in 1747. The high altar was made around 1720 and brought over from the older church. These three dates mark different events: the consecration, the creation of the altar and the construction of the present church building. The high altar in particular shows that the church’s furnishings have a longer history than the current building.

The Wandau Chapel, “Mary Among the Seven Linden Trees,” offers another sacred perspective. Its origins are thought to date to the 17th century. It is surrounded by seven magnificent linden trees, which are also reflected in its name. The chapel is regarded as a place of quiet, prayer and fellowship. The sacred sites thus highlight both the datable architectural and furnishing history of the church and the linden trees and religious significance of the chapel.

Charcoal and the Iron Industry

Charcoal production is also part of Hieflau’s history. Timber floated down the Enns Valley from upstream was collected here and turned into charcoal. In connection with charcoal production at the time, Hieflau developed into a centre of the iron industry. This connection offers a different way of looking at the town: the focus is not on building phases, but on a production process carried out over a long period.

The Historama Hieflau documents almost 400 years of charcoal production at Hieflauer-Lend. The exhibition features 16 images of local history and spans the period from geological history to the present day. This brings together a long industrial history and a broader overview of the town’s past. For travellers interested in industrial heritage, charcoal production offers a concrete way to explore Hieflau, while the exhibition covers a wider range of historical periods.

Remembering 1945

The soldiers’ cemetery in the adjacent forest at Hieflau offers a different focus from the history of the church and industry. During the final days of the war in 1945, numerous soldiers of the German Wehrmacht were executed and buried there. This specific historical memory differs from the long timescales of architectural and economic history, turning attention to the violence at the end of the war.

Different Historical Timescales

The timescales also offer a point of reference: individual dates mark the church’s consecration, altar and present building, while charcoal production spans almost 400 years. The history of the soldiers’ cemetery, by contrast, is tied to the final days of the war in 1945. You can use these differences to guide your interests: are you more interested in architectural history, long-term economic processes or the memory of a specific wartime event?

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