Literature, churches and nature give a stay in Ohlsdorf several distinct focal points. The Bernhard House preserves the characteristic furnishings of its former resident unchanged and documents Thomas Bernhard’s life and development. A circular trail is dedicated to his writing; churches in Aurachkirchen and the Lower Traun European Protected Area add sacred history and protected landscapes to the picture. This allows you to choose where to stay based on the topics that interest you most.
Literature and local history
The Bernhard House preserves its characteristic furnishings unchanged and documents the life and development of its former resident, Thomas Bernhard. The house thus brings together its furnishings and his biography. For literature enthusiasts, it offers a tangible way to engage with Bernhard alongside quotations from his work, which feature on the trail named after him.
The Thomas Bernhard Trail was created in 2008 for the provincial exhibition and runs as a circular route through the municipality of Ohlsdorf. At 15 stations, significant quotations from Bernhard’s work are displayed on objects whose design is modelled on his characteristic wingback chair. The text and the objects’ form are both part of the trail’s concept: the quotations do not stand alone but are paired with a recurring design motif.
Churches and historical landmarks
The Romanesque church of Aurachkirchen is one of Austria’s best-preserved Romanesque village churches. It therefore gives your choice of topics a clear focus on Romanesque religious architecture. The branch church of Aurachkirchen houses two bells considered probably the oldest surviving bells in the Diocese of Linz. They are believed to have been cast around 1280; one weighs 120 kilograms and the other 70. The date is therefore an estimate, while the weights are clearly distinct.
The Trial Museum adds a technical and cultural dimension. Its probably most significant exhibit is a 1978 KTM T325. Its local connections and Austrian design are among the reasons for this assessment. Alongside literature and religious landmarks, the history of technology and a specific motorcycle model are therefore also among the topics on offer.
Nature and pilgrimage history
The Lower Traun European Protected Area is a bird sanctuary (AT3113000) and also includes areas in Ohlsdorf. If you plan to visit these areas, check the current access rules in advance. The protected-area designation adds a distinct natural focus alongside the cultural topics.
The devotional image “Mother of Good Hope” was created by Christian Degenhart in 1657; it soon made Ohlsdorf a much-visited pilgrimage destination. Thus, alongside architectural history, bells and literature, the historical development of pilgrimage is another of the area’s cultural connections.
The dates mark different historical periods: the bells are believed to have been cast around 1280, the devotional image was created in 1657, and the trail was established in 2008. Medieval-dated bells, the history of pilgrimage and a more recent way of presenting literature can therefore be found side by side. Travellers interested in different periods of history will find more than a single historical focal point here.
Discover more destinations: Gschwandt, RuĂźbach, Bad Ischl, Rindbach, Roitham, Ebensee, Sankt Konrad, Scharnstein
View the overview of the wider travel region: Gmunden.
