Waldkirchen am Wesen

Waldkirchen am Wesen is situated on the high plateau of the Sauwald not far from the steep drop into the Danube valley. The centre of the rural village stretches along the village street south of the parish church.

The Gothic parish church of St Nicholas is absolutely worth seeing! Special features: the unusual contrast between the stone masonry of the church tower and the plastered nave; the magnificent ribbed vault; the circular dove symbolism on the church ceiling; the well-balanced baroque interior, ...

Not visible from the village centre, but interesting nonetheless:
The ruins of Wesen Castle: This castle is located in the Donauleiten around 300 metres east of the Waldkirchen parish church as the crow flies. It was probably built in the 12th century by the later lords of Wesen. After the Wesen family died out, the fortress fell to the Waldeckers, who eventually bequeathed it to the diocese of Passau as a perpetual endowment. When the administrative centre of this lordship was moved to nearby Marsbach Castle in the 16th century, the fortress began to fall into disrepair. After the secularisation of the diocese of Passau in 1803, the ruins were sold. Today it is privately owned and inhabited again. Visits are unfortunately not possible.
Wesenufer: The historic market town of Wesenufer is located directly on the south bank of the Danube, around 2 kilometres upstream from Waldkirchen. You would hardly know it from looking at the small village, but it is the third oldest Danube town in Upper Austria, after Aschach (777) and Linz (799)!
However, archaeological finds prove that settlements were already being made here in the Neolithic Age. The name "Wesenufer" was first mentioned in a document in 1310. The word "-ufer" is derived from Urfahr (=overpass). This also explains the
This also explains the existence of today's Danube bridge a little to the north of here, as bridges were primarily built at the sites of existing Danube crossings - learn to read Danube bridges!

In 1582, the Danube town was granted market rights by Emperor Rudolph II. From 1826, it was even allowed to hold two annual fairs. Incidentally, Wesenufer has been part of the municipality of Waldkirchen since 1850.
Two tall, elongated buildings - the former Niederwesen Castle - stand out in the centre of the village on the banks of the Danube. Nothing is known about the founders of the castle, nor about its relationship to Wesen Castle at the top of the Donauleiten. After the secularisation of the diocese of Passau in 1803, the castle came into public ownership. Today it is home to a psychosocial care centre run by pro mente Oberösterreich, a seminar hotel and a market shop.

Tip: On the Donausteig-Eatppe "1_N03 Niederranna-Obermühl", a marvellous view of Wesenufer and its former castle opens up from the opposite Donauleiten!