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History of the market community of Windischgarsten
During the time of its foundation, Windischgarsten was situated along the Pyhrn road in the southern eastern part of the duchy of Bavaria . In the course of the Carolingian period around 800 AD, a manor estate developed, mainly occupied by Alpine Slavs as the name shows (sl. “forest mountain land”). During the 11th century the manor passed to the diocese of Bamberg in Franconia as the centre piece of a vast estate. During the 1st crusade, when pilgrimage increased, the manor was extended with outbuildings on the other side of the Dambach stream.
It is likely that a church was consecrated in 1119. During the ever increasing pilgrimage over the following years, the manor disolved into several outbuildings and turned into a village. On the night of Palm Sunday in 1170, Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa stayed overnight in the village together with a large entourage. A street market developed in the eastern part of the village during the 13th century. Many Slavs still lived in the village and the name changed from Garsten on the Steyr to “Windischgarsten”. In those days the Valentins Church stood at the Parrhofberg and only dissolved during the 17th century. In the late Middle Ages most of the village fell under the dominion of Spital am Pyrhn. The vilage and its immediate surroundings formed an alliance (bambergische “Hofmark“), which was morgaged to Spital am Pyhrn in 1435 and finally incorporated under its rulership in 1688. Already from 1383 onwards, Windischgarsten is mentioned as "market place" and in 1444 the village was awarded a weekly market by the king. The busy trading village received a new big church in 1462 (St. Maria). During the early modern times when the market community already consisted of over 60 houses, it was dedicated the rights of provisions to the Eisenwurzen region, bringing a rapid boom to the village. The confusions during the time of religious upheavals and several fires did great damage to its development. During the baroque period the market established itself as centre of numerous scythe factories and turned into a complacent bourgeois setting. Many buildings of the time are still present today. During the Napoleon Wars the village was occupied several times. Later the village belonged to “Austria above the river Enns”. During the 19th century cultural activities developed as well as a range of central administrative buildings (eg. district court) and tourism. After the annexation of Austria to the German Reich on 13th March 1938, the village belonged to the district of Upper Danube. At the end of the war 122 inhabitants of Windischgarsten were either missing or dead. In 1945 Upper Austria was re-establishd as a province of Austria. Since 1950 winter tourism started to florish and in 1951 the Alpine and Nordic Austrian Ski Championships took place here. Since 1964 Windischgarsten has been declared a spa resort with healthful climate. In 1994 the village celebrated its 550 year jubilee as market community.
It is likely that a church was consecrated in 1119. During the ever increasing pilgrimage over the following years, the manor disolved into several outbuildings and turned into a village. On the night of Palm Sunday in 1170, Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa stayed overnight in the village together with a large entourage. A street market developed in the eastern part of the village during the 13th century. Many Slavs still lived in the village and the name changed from Garsten on the Steyr to “Windischgarsten”. In those days the Valentins Church stood at the Parrhofberg and only dissolved during the 17th century. In the late Middle Ages most of the village fell under the dominion of Spital am Pyrhn. The vilage and its immediate surroundings formed an alliance (bambergische “Hofmark“), which was morgaged to Spital am Pyhrn in 1435 and finally incorporated under its rulership in 1688. Already from 1383 onwards, Windischgarsten is mentioned as "market place" and in 1444 the village was awarded a weekly market by the king. The busy trading village received a new big church in 1462 (St. Maria). During the early modern times when the market community already consisted of over 60 houses, it was dedicated the rights of provisions to the Eisenwurzen region, bringing a rapid boom to the village. The confusions during the time of religious upheavals and several fires did great damage to its development. During the baroque period the market established itself as centre of numerous scythe factories and turned into a complacent bourgeois setting. Many buildings of the time are still present today. During the Napoleon Wars the village was occupied several times. Later the village belonged to “Austria above the river Enns”. During the 19th century cultural activities developed as well as a range of central administrative buildings (eg. district court) and tourism. After the annexation of Austria to the German Reich on 13th March 1938, the village belonged to the district of Upper Danube. At the end of the war 122 inhabitants of Windischgarsten were either missing or dead. In 1945 Upper Austria was re-establishd as a province of Austria. Since 1950 winter tourism started to florish and in 1951 the Alpine and Nordic Austrian Ski Championships took place here. Since 1964 Windischgarsten has been declared a spa resort with healthful climate. In 1994 the village celebrated its 550 year jubilee as market community.
