Hauptplatz Leoben

Ring walls, city gates, four corner fortifications and several wall towers formed the city's fortifications in the Middle Ages and early modern period, which, except for one corner and one gate tower as well as minor wall remnants, fell victim to 19th-century modernization. Since the settlement of the Mur loop in the 13th century, the elongated Hauptplatz has formed the heart of Leoben. Today, the Hauptplatz, redesigned in 1997, is car-free, invites visitors to stroll and linger, and is considered one of Austria's most beautiful squares. On the Hauptplatz, the Trinity Column (Plague Column) was erected in 1717 by the citizenry as a thank you for the cessation of the plague, its sculptural decoration by Johann Jakob Schoby. At the northern end of the square is the Angel Fountain (1794), above whose basin rises the classical sculpture of an angel holding a shield with the Leoben city coat of arms. At the southern end of the square stands the Miner's Fountain (1799) depicting a miner in Maximilian costume. Here, as a tradition, the "Kiss of the Statue" takes place annually during the "Philistrierung" of newly graduated Montanists. The Hauptplatz is ideal as a backdrop for large events and, with its many outdoor dining areas, offers a wonderful oasis of relaxation.