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ÖSTERREICH AUSTRIA
Bundesland: Niederösterreich Lower Austria
Bezirk: Mödling  

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Maria Enzersdorf

prev.: Maria Enzersdorf am Gebirge
lt: Marija Encersdorfas
ru: Мариа-Энцерсдорф

Maria Enzersdorf is situated at an elevation of 225 m to the south of Vienna. It was first mentioned in a document in 1130 as Engelschalkesdorf. In the late 14th century the name changed to Enzersdorf. After 1730, it became known as Maria Enzersdorf. A former place of pilgrimage and vine-growing, the market town has begun to concentrate its economic activities on the service sector in the 20th century. From 1938 until 1954 Maria Enzersdorf was part of Vienna (Groß-Wien, Greater Vienna). It became a market town in 1955. Between 1960 and 1976 the modern part of the town, the "Südstadt" (south town), was added to the old centre. On 16 December 1999 the official name of the municipality was changed from Maria Enzersdorf am Gebirge to Maria Enzersdorf (the old identifier am Gebirge refered to the town's location among vineyards). 1144 Maria Enzersdorf 470 Maria Enzersdorf

The Franciscan parish and former pilgrimage church [centre] was built in 1632. The miracle-working image of Our Lady ("Maria, Heil der Kranken", "Our Lady, Salvation of the Diseased") was brought to the parish church in 1730. The outstanding Baroque façade dates from 1787. A new transcept and chancel were added in 1906.

The Franciscan monastery was founded in 1454 by Johannes von Capistran (1386–1496; canonized as a Saint by the Catholic church in 1690). The buildings of the present monastery were built after 1725 after the destruction by the Turks of the older monastery buildings.

267 Maria Enzersdorf 1982 Maria Enzersdorf 3750 Maria Enzersdorf

2289 Mödling

 

Glass no. 2289 [left] is a souvenir from Mödling. The top right part of the picture on the glass shows Liechtenstein castle, which today is actually located within the borders of the municipality of Maria Enzersdorf. The castle was founded presumably before 1135. Hugo, a rich landowner from the area of Petronell, came in possession of some land in this area in about 1135/1140 and began to build a stronghold and chapel. The name Liechtenstein originally was a mere descriptive name of the rock where the castle is situated. 'Liechter Stain' in old German can be translated as something like 'free rock'. Hugo of Liechtenstein-Petronell is considered the founder of the today's Liechtenstein dynasty (see Vaduz, FL). In the second half of the 13th century, however, the family lost the castle by ways of inheritance. The Turks devastated the castle in 1480 and destroyed it completely in 1529. At that time it was in possession of the ruling Habsburg dynasty. In 1683 the Turks again raided the castle. Prince Johann I of Liechtenstein purchased the domains and the castle in 1807 and began to restore it. Under Prince Johann II the castle was remodelled in the Historicist style that was popular in the late 19th century. Beginning in 1873 the architects of the restoration works, who also worked on the restoration of Kreuzenstein castle (municipality of Leobendorf), aimed at restoring the 'original' appearance of Liechtenstein castle. Today, the castle is considered to be one of the most important examples of Historicist architecture in Austria. Since 1968 the castle is owned by the municipality of Maria Enzersdorf.

For the description of the other sights depicted on glass no. 2289 see Mödling.


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