Hieflau: Church and Industrial History

Hieflau brings together several historical themes: sacred architecture and religious history, charcoal production linked to the iron industry, and the memory of the final days of the war in 1945. If you also choose a travel destination for its cultural points of interest, the town offers different perspectives. The church, chapel, industrial development and memorial site represent different eras and forms of remembrance. The following topics offer practical guidance for considering Hieflau as a destination for a stay.

Church and Chapel: Religious History

The Church of St John the Baptist was consecrated in 1616; the present building was constructed in 1747. Its high altar dates from around 1720 and was transferred from the older church. The consecration, the altar’s creation and the construction of the present building thus mark different stages in the church’s history. At the same time, the high altar connects the church to its older building, while 1747 is the year the present building was constructed. This distinction offers insight into the chronology of Hieflau’s sacred history: the furnishings and the building belong together, but do not share the same origins or date.

The Wandau Chapel, “Mary among the Seven Linden Trees,” offers another religious perspective. It probably dates from the 17th century and is surrounded by seven magnificent linden trees. Its name refers to this group of trees. The chapel is also regarded as a place of quiet, prayer and gathering. Alongside its probable historical origins, the linden trees and its spiritual character give it a distinct identity.

Charcoal and the Iron Industry

The connection between charcoal and the iron industry gives Hieflau another historical perspective. Timber floated down the river from the upper Enns Valley was collected in Hieflau and turned into charcoal. In connection with charcoal production at the time, Hieflau developed into a centre of the iron industry. This process links the timber’s origins with its processing locally and the town’s industrial development. The Historama Hieflau documents almost 400 years of charcoal production at Hieflauer-Lend. This gives the subject a clear timeframe and setting, while the town’s development into a centre of the iron industry reveals the broader context.

The Historama also features an exhibition of 16 images on local history, spanning from geological history to the present day. This broader perspective complements the specific topic of charcoal production: a long chapter of industrial history sits alongside an account encompassing Hieflau’s distant past and more recent history.

Remembering the End of the War

The military cemetery in the adjoining woods of Hieflau marks another sombre chapter. In the final days of the war in 1945, numerous soldiers of the German Wehrmacht were executed and buried there. The cemetery’s history is markedly different from the long-term history of the church and industry: it draws attention to specific acts of violence at the end of the war. This memory, too, is part of the different historical perspectives that shape Hieflau.

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Back to the higher-level travel overview: Leoben.