Experience culture & history in Puch bei Salzburg
Your cultural holiday near Salzburg City
Discover unique museums, concerts and events during your cultural holiday in Salzburger Land. Because we are so close to the “Festival City” Salzburg and “Celtic City” Hallein, the opportunities in Puch are virtually limitless.
Puch, itself, has a few historical jewels of its own to offer. Puch parish church with its Roman milestone and the “Puch Palm Donkey”, the castles and the pilgrimage church in St. Jakob am Thurn bring history vividly to life.
Puch parish church & Roman milestone
The Late Gothic parish church in Puch, with its pointed tower, was consecrated to the Nativity of Mary, first chronicled in the year 1347. The Baroque high altar dates from 1685. The parish church may be visited in daytime hours as well as during holy mass.
The Roman milestone can be found in the cemetery wall next to the entrance. It indicates the 7th mile of the important Roman trade road between Juvavum and Teurina (Salzburg-Carinthia), first erected in the year 200 CE under Emperor Septimius Severus.
Puch Palm Donkey
One unique artefact is the wood-carved Puch Palm Donkey with a figure of Christ. This processional figure was beloved back in the Middle Ages at Eastertime and may be visited in the Bell House at Puch parish church.
D`Puachstoana during the Palm Sunday procession. You can read the whole story about the Pucher Palmesel and why it was hidden for years in the PUCH MAGAZINE!
Pilgrimage Church of St. James the Greater
The baroque Pilgrimage Church in St. Jakob am Thurn is a Roman-Catholic parish church consecrated to St. James the Greater. The existence of a church at this site was first chronicled in 1238, while the Loreto Chapel was built in 1753 under Josef Anton Graf Platz.
In the church square, the benches around the old Imperial Linden Tree dating back to 1908 and the Jakobsbrünnlein fountain invite you to enjoy a welcome rest after your stroll around the pond. The sculptural group featuring Saint Johannes Nepomuk is by Baroque artist Josef Anton Pfaffinger and dates from 1744!
Castles
The first record of Schloss Puchstein, in the center of town, dates from the year 822. During the Middle Ages it was used to oversee salt barges sailing downriver. This castle is used just as privately as the listed castle tower in St. Jakob am Thurn from around 1200.
Schloss Urstein, built in 1691, together with the old “Meierei”, is owned by the “Schloss Urstein Academy Private Foundation” of the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce. Since 2002, it has provided college-level education to adults.
Folk Heritage Societies
The folk heritage societies in Puch nurture centuries-old traditions and proudly parade at church festivals, weddings or jubilee events. The Jakobischützen is the oldest folk society in Puch, originally founded as the Jakobibrüderschaft to defend against the threat of Turkish invasion in 1476. The story is commemorated by the "Rotmantei" in a historic dance performed during the Jakobikirtag, a fair held at the end of July.
Also always part of local festivities is the Puch Village Band. After all, what would a parade in Puch be without spirited wind music. In addition, the D`Puachstoana folk costume society performs folk dances (including Schuhplattler) during Folk Evenings.
Stadt Salzburg
Salzburg City was born in the year 696 upon the ruins of the Roman town of Juvavum. The immense wealth of the prince-archbishops – due to salt mining – is still evident to this day in the form of monumental buildings that shape the city skyline. The over 900-year-old Hohensalzburg Fortress treats you to one-of-a-kind views whilst bringing the history of Salzburg to life.
For over 100 years, Salzburg has been famous and treasured worldwide, not only as the home of Mozart and “The Sound of Music”, but also as the Festival City. Further information about sightseeing there can be found under “Salzburg City“
Hallein – the Celtic City
The narrow lanes, picturesque fountains and broad squares of Hallein’s historic Old Town invite you to take an extended stroll. One highlight of the annual cultural calendar is when the Salzburg Festival comes to the Pernerinsel. Popular attractions for culture lovers include the Celtic Museum and the Silent Night Museum.
In Bad Dürrnberg, high above the town of Hallein, you will learn all about salt and the Celts. Salzwelten Salzburg invites you to tour the salt mine and explore the history of “white gold”. Right next to it, in SALINA Celtic Village, the history of the Celts on the Dürrnberg is brought vividly to life.
Experience Salzburg traditions in your holiday
Discover the unique museums and cultural events in the nearby “Festival City” of Salzburg and the “Celtic City” of Hallein - Bad Dürrnberg. In Puch, you are greeted by sincere hospitality, living traditions and small historical jewels, such as the “Puch Palm Donkey” and the Jakobischützen. Make the most of the cultural opportunities in Salzburg and book your accommodations right here!
Photos of culture & history in Puch bei Salzburg