Those choosing Eferding as a cultural travel destination will find a clear focus on Gothic architecture and the town’s history. The cathedral, the St. Magdalena Chapel of the hospital church, Starhemberg Castle and the brewery offer different historical perspectives. Specific visiting arrangements are also important when planning: the town museum has seasonal opening days and set tour times, while tours at the Holzer organic farm require advance booking. Other options include a Danube Trail stage, the G´schichtenweg trail and the leisure pool, each offering a different kind of activity.
Gothic Architecture and the History of the Hospital
Eferding Cathedral was built in the Late Gothic style from 1451 to 1505 and is one of Upper Austria’s most significant Late Gothic hall churches. The St. Magdalena Chapel of the hospital church features high-quality granite stonework and frescoes dating from around 1430. The frescoes therefore predate the cathedral’s construction period—a specific point of comparison between two Eferding churches.
The origins of the hospital church also have a clear historical connection: it was built as a church for the hospital founded by Rudolf the Schifer. Those interested in architectural history will find another perspective on the town’s history here, alongside the cathedral’s Late Gothic architecture.
Starhemberg Castle and the Brewery
The north wing of Starhemberg Castle was once a castle belonging to the bishops of Passau and has been documented as a castle since 1167. The castle houses the Princely Starhemberg Family Museum and the Eferding Town Museum. The site thus combines its former role as a castle with two museums now housed there.
The brewery was first mentioned in a document in 1597/98 and formerly belonged to Starhemberg Castle as the “manorial Starhemberg brewery.” It was later converted into a cultural center and music school. Its history is therefore connected both with its former affiliation with the castle and with its later cultural use.
There are several ways to reach the brewery: by car, by train via Eferding station (LILO), by bicycle or on foot. You can plan your journey to the brewery according to your preferred mode of transport.
Seasonal Dates and Other Activities
The Eferding Town Museum is open on Sundays and public holidays from May 1 to September 30. Guided tours take place at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on these opening days. Check the dates before you travel to make sure the museum visit fits your chosen date.
The Eferdinger G´schichtenweg trail starts and ends at the east parking lot by the Eferding leisure pool. Danube Trail Stage 2_G02, “Eferding – Wilhering,” also starts in Eferding. This distinction is useful for planning: the starting point of the G´schichtenweg is also its endpoint, while the Danube Trail stage is a named route that begins in Eferding.
The Eferding leisure pool features a 48 m-long water slide, offering a different focus from the historical sites. Those interested in agriculture can arrange a guided tour for small groups at the Holzer organic farm by booking in advance. Advance booking is part of the planning process; the tours are intended for small groups interested in agriculture.
Eferding thus offers a range of options for a stay: Late Gothic buildings and town history, museum visits with seasonal opening times, and activities related to exercise and agriculture. You can choose what to include based on your interests and—at the town museum or the Holzer organic farm—the relevant visiting arrangements.
Discover more destinations: Scharten, Sankt Marienkirchen an der Polsenz, Hinzenbach, Hartkirchen, Haibach ob der Donau, Prambachkirchen, Stroheim, Aschach an der Donau.
Back to the overarching travel overview: Eferding.
