With 24,756 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2020), Traun is the
fifth largest city in Upper Austria; it is located in the Linz-Land
district. The southern city limit is the Traun, the northern one is
Wiener Straße (B 1). The responsible judicial district is the
judicial district of Traun.
Traun has become a popular place
to live, as the city has a good infrastructure, such as high quality
of living, school facilities, large shopping opportunities, many
sporting and cultural offers, district authorities and quick
transport links to the nearby state capital Linz and the A1 and A25
motorways.
The city administration planned a modernization
for 2006 and 2007. Across from Traun Castle, an area of around
13,000 m² was purchased, and a new four-story shopping center with
business, office and living space was built there. This should also
give the city a new and representative quarter. In January 2007, the
new center in the city center, which was livened up by business
relocations, opened.
The city of Traun has been a “climate
alliance community” and also a “bicycle-friendly community” in terms
of a healthy environment.
Museums
The gallery of the city of Traun offers visitors
constantly changing exhibitions by artists (e.g. pictures,
sculptures).
Buildings
Traun Castle is a castle complex in the Upper Austrian town of
Traun (Schloßstraße 8). The moated castle was first mentioned around
the year 1120 (1111) with B (P) ernhard de Trune. The Trauns were a
noble family that even belonged to the so-called "Apostles", but
then descended into the ministry of the Otakare, later the
Babenbergs and finally from 1246 the bishops of Passau. The reason
for this is likely to be the withdrawal of fiefs or a marriage to
the "worse hand", i. H. an inappropriate marriage. The brothers
Wernhard and Dietrich von Traun were already ministerials. They
remained in the possession of their ancestral castle until 1630.
Then Siegmund Adam von Traun, married to Eva von Pollheim, had to
sell his rule to Werner t‘Serklaes von Tilly, a nephew of the
general Johann T’Serclaes von Tilly, who had already acquired the
rule of Tillysburg Castle, because of his Protestant creed. This
succeeded in loosening the feudal bond and transforming Traun into a
free property. After a long process, Ernst Graf von Abensperg and
Traun (1608–1668), who had been converted back to Catholicism, was
able to regain possession of the castle and lordship of Traun in
1664.
After the genealogical link to the Counts of Abensberg,
confirmed by the emperor, and the ensuing elevation to the rank of
imperial count by Emperor Ferdinand III. under the name Abensperg
and Traun 1653 the Traun counts of Abensperg and Traun called
themselves. This family still owns Traun Castle to this day.
Traun Castle is a three-storey, eight-axis complex with small corner
turrets. A round arched granite portal forms the entrance to the
manor house. The castle is covered by a double hilted roof. The
current building was probably built in the Renaissance style in the
second half of the 16th century by Otto († 1572) and Otto Bernhard
von Traun († 1605). A fire of 1620 caused some damage. It used to
have a square tower, which can still be seen in a windowless part of
the outer front. As can be seen in the engraving by Georg Matthäus
Vischer, the castle was enclosed by a wall with round towers, which
formed a connection to the two side wings and closed the castle on
all sides from the surrounding pond. The design of the baroque front
side dates from 1725.
The entrance is a bailey with an
entrance gate (the presumed original castle complex) and a chapel.
The gateway, which is provided with a round tower, is now at an
angle to the access path, as the previously existing moat was filled
and the bridge that was no longer needed was demolished. Two side
wings lead off from the gateway:
the one on the right is a former
farm wing (brewery from the 17th century in the north wing of the
castle; the brewery was active until 1851, then the premises were
converted into apartments),
on the left is a small house
connected to the gate wing, in which the sacristy of the adjoining
chapel is housed.
These side wings enclose a large,
tree-lined courtyard.
The castle chapel dedicated to St.
Margaretha was built in 1363 by Johann (Jan) von Traun and his wife
Dorothea. The chapel was a Protestant place of worship for around 80
years during the Reformation period until 1624. In 1788, after the
St. Dionysen Church in Traun was closed, the chapel became the first
parish church. In the 19th century, the chapel was piled up with
rubble to build apartments here. A false ceiling was also installed
in the chancel and the baroque stucco in the nave was removed. The
wall paintings were partially destroyed or painted over by the
installation of windows, intermediate walls and an attic staircase.
The castle already suffered a lot in the 19th century, as it was
no longer the main residence of the owners and was only managed by
carers. In 1884 the castle pond was filled in; the outbuildings and
even the manor house became apartment buildings. Traun Castle was
also badly damaged by a shot down American plane in World War II.
The northwest tower was completely destroyed.
Renovation work began in 1956, so that the facility is in very good condition today. During the renovations, the rolling slots of a drawbridge, Gothic windows in the chapel and scratched plaster ornaments on the fore lock and on the surrounding wall were exposed. In 1961 the facade of the gate building was rebuilt. The palace complex is leased to the state of Upper Austria and is used for cultural events. The local history museum of Traun is located in the ring mantle complex of the castle.
Catholic parish church in Traun: The church in the center of
Traun was built in the neo-Gothic style and consecrated in 1890. The
architect was Raimund Jeblinger.
Evangelical parish church in
Traun
The Catholic parish church of Traun-St. Martin was
consecrated in 1960.
The Catholic parish church of Traun-Oedt was
consecrated in 1989.
Traun / Pucking power plant: The power plant
was opened on July 8, 1983. After the power plant was built, the
Traunau meadows were revitalized and cycling and hiking trails were
built along the Traun.
freetime and sports
Bathing center
Traun and Oedter See: One of the most important leisure facilities
is the bathing center Traun, with its indoor pool, outdoor pool,
sauna and ice rink, as well as the Oedter Lake right next to it,
which attracts thousands of bathers in summer and many strollers in
the rest of the time.
At the Trauner Stadion (sports center)
there is a large sports hall, which can be divided into three small
halls, a hard court and two soccer fields (one main and one side
field). The main field is bordered by a running track. On the west
stand there is seating in the south curve and standing space on the
east stand. The total capacity of the stadium is around 6,000 seats.
Since 2010 the name of the stadium has been HAKA-ARENA.
From the
western city limits to the railway bridge, the Traun is accompanied
by an asphalt bike path, the Traunauradweg, at the railway bridge
and leads a few hundred meters north, parallel to the river to the
eastern city limit, from where the trail exists Possibility to
continue to Linz. In a westerly direction you can go to Marchtrenk
and further. This cycle path is also popular with walkers, hikers,
joggers and other recreational athletes, as it is an ideal local
recreation area in the city with its many route options within the
Traunauen.
Regular events
In the spinning mill, guests are
offered cabaret, cabaret, concerts (e.g. rock, pop, alternative, a
cappella), theater projects from the Traun schools and more.
Since the opening of the renovated Traun Castle, events have been
held in the newly created “Schönberg Hall”, with the main focus
being on classical music and performance.
The “Trauner Culture
Days” take place in early summer.
In summer, open-air rock
concerts under the title “FR.I.Z.” (Friday in the center) are held
on the Pfarrplatz.
The farmers' market with regional specialties,
held every Friday afternoon in the former pedestrian zone (Linzer
Straße), is a magnet for the people of Traun and the surrounding
area.
On the last Saturday in July, the popular "Traun-Vinum"
takes place in the city center, where Austria's best winemakers
present and serve their best wines.
Every year in September the
Trauner Fest takes place in the hall of the sports center and the
parking lot and the meadow south of the stadium.
The Easter
market on Palm Saturday and Palm Sunday in the castle courtyard has
already become a traditional and loved institution for many
visitors.
On the 1st weekend in Advent, a Christmas market is
held in the atmospheric courtyard of the castle.
Traun has become a popular place to live, as the city has a good
infrastructure, such as high quality of living, school facilities,
large shopping opportunities, many sporting and cultural offers,
district authorities and quick transport links to the nearby state
capital Linz and the A1 and A25 motorways.
The city
administration planned a modernization for 2006 and 2007. Across
from Traun Castle, an area of around 13,000 m² was purchased, and a
new four-story shopping center with business, office and living
space was built there. This should also give the city a new and
representative quarter. In January 2007, the new center in the city
center, which was livened up by business relocations, was opened.
The city of Traun has been a “climate alliance community” and
also a “bicycle-friendly community” in terms of a healthy
environment.