Oberwölz Stadt combines a townscape shaped by the Middle Ages with subjects ranging from trade history to music. This offers different ways to focus your stay: on the architectural landmarks around the main square, the museums or the history of the Glattjoch. Guided tours and a circular route in the surrounding area also offer distinct starting points for planning.
Townscape and Historic Routes
The historic townscape includes a medieval main square, three well-preserved city gates, defensive towers and a city wall. It is about 1.2 kilometres long and intact along its entire length. Around the main square, the ground floors of all the houses date from the 15th and 16th centuries. The former administrative building was built in 1335 and is considered the town’s oldest standalone building. Together, these structures illustrate different aspects of the town’s history: its fortifications, the buildings around the main square and a single building with a recorded date of construction.
The Glattjoch is part of both trade history and the history of the Hemma pilgrimage route, though in different contexts. Oberwölz lay at the starting or finishing point of the Alpine crossing over the Glattjoch. For centuries, this was an important trade route within Styria and between Bavaria and Italy. The Hemma pilgrimage route, which opened in 2007, runs from Admont Abbey to Gurk via the Glattjoch; one long day’s stage runs between Donnersbachwald and the town of Oberwölz. Those interested in historic routes will find both a connection to former trade and a link along the pilgrimage route.
Music History and Town Museums
The Austrian Brass Band Museum in Oberwölz offers a range of ways to explore its exhibits. Visitors can test their knowledge through play in interactive action corners as part of a museum rally, and try out instruments themselves. An audio-visual presentation shares information ranging from classical Harmoniemusik to contemporary brass band music. Trying things out for yourself is thus combined with an overview of the development of music. In addition, the Documentation Centre of the Austrian Brass Band Association presents several current topics each year in collaboration with the Oberwölz municipal administration and the Austrian Brass Band Museum.
The Oberwölz Local History Museum occupies around 250 m² in the medieval Schöttltor complex of the Culture House. It presents the history of the former property of the Prince-Bishopric of Freising and Rothenfels Castle. The Fire Brigade Museum is located north of the city wall, in the area of the Austrian Brass Band Museum and the Local History Museum. The three museums therefore represent different subjects: music, the history of former property and the history of the fire brigade.
Guided Tours, Circular Route and Practical Planning
The seasonal programme includes three historic town tours: “Speiksitzen and Everyday Life in the Middle Ages,” the children’s town tour “From the Teeth in the City Gate to Rich People,” and the “Evening Stroll within Medieval Walls.” Check the specific dates for 2026 before making plans. Another option in the surrounding area is the “Legendary Wölz Valley” circular route, which starts north of town by the night watchman.
There is ample parking immediately outside and within the town for visits to the historic centre and museums. The outdoor pool also offers a practical point to consider when planning: its water is heated using district heating and solar energy, and remains at a constant temperature of between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius. Oberwölz Stadt therefore offers options ranging from town history and museums to a circular route and an outdoor pool, without requiring a fixed itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Oberwölz Surroundings, Niederwölz, Stadl An Der Mur, Schöder, Katsch an der Mur, Schönberg-Lachtal, Predlitz-Turrach, Murau
Go to the main travel overview: Murau.
