World Guide Day | Blood, Baroque & High Treason: Steyr's Dark Heritage

Steyr as a Bastion of Resistance

In 1626, the "Iron City" was much more than a side stage of the Upper Austrian Peasant War – it served as its political and strategic center. The predominantly Protestant citizenry formed an extraordinary alliance with the peasants to rise up against the Bavarian pledge rule and the enforced Counter-Reformation. While Stefan Fadinger led the army, influential Steyr residents like city judge Wolf Madlseder and city lawyer Dr. Lazarus Holzmüllner guided the course of the uprising from behind the scenes.

"Steyr, as a strategic center, controlled important trade routes and secured supplies for the siege of Linz," explains Wolfgang Hack, a tour guide in Steyr. "But the fight for religious freedom and justice came at a high price: After the defeat in November 1626, the city faced the full force of imperial retribution."

An Unprecedented Drain

The punishment for high treason was draconian: The leaders Madlseder and Holzmüllner were executed, and their families were dispossessed. The imposed confessional compulsion triggered a massive wave of emigration, resulting in an unprecedented economic and social drain for Steyr, forever changing the face of the city.

Event Notice:
Learn all the details about this exciting chapter of the city's history during the guided tour by the Austria Guides for the World Day of Tourist Guides.

Contact for inquiries: Mag. Martha Rieß, +43 664 3969 645
When: Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 10:00 & 14:00
Duration: 90 minutes
Meeting point: in front of the Steyr Town Hall

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