Top 8 Natural Monuments around Markersdorf-Haindorf

On the website for the television series – which is unreservedly recommendable from my point of view – 'Treasures of the World – Heritage of Mankind', it says: 'The Wachau is, first and foremost, a roughly 30 km long Danube breakthrough between Melk and Krems in Lower Austria. The river forms a narrow rocky valley here. A landmark of the Wachau and actually the staging of this landscape is Melk Abbey ...' The quarter-hour contribution about this highlight, which has been awarded the 'World Heritage' designation by UNESCO, can be accessed in the ARD media library via the following link =>> https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/schaetze-der-welt/die-wachau-oesterreich-folge-282/swr/Y3JpZDovL3N3ci5kZS82ODcyNjk0

Faced with such a Cross, which we can not only look at, but also allow Jesus Christ to look at us – each of us very personally and individually – I would like to briefly offer a thought from the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, for spiritual contemplation: “Having become our brother, the Son of God looks at people, looks at humanity… Jesus sees and loves. He loves and suffers for us, with us: His mercy expresses not only brotherly closeness, but the will for salvation.”

St. Pölten

A really good place

The Windcatcher fountain sculpture has stood in Europaplatz in St. Pölten since 2024. Erected as a new landmark as part of the square's redesign, it replaces the previous fountain. The sculpture consists of approximately 16,000 handmade bricks and forms an open rotunda equipped with an irrigation system. This system provides cooling through cascading water and evaporation, improving the microclimate. Inside, a tree is surrounded by a bench. The structure also reduces noise and particulate matter, and provides habitat for birds and insects. The design combines ecological function with a pleasant public space and was implemented with the participation of the local community, who were able to symbolically sponsor individual bricks. The Windcatcher thus represents climate awareness, sustainability, and social cohesion.

"The large-scale fountain sculpture offers, on the one hand, a place of retreat and lingering at this busy traffic intersection, thanks to its structural design, and on the other hand, the object is designed in such a way that its special brick structure creates a space that is permeable to air and light," says the Graz-based artist collective "Breath Earth Collective", who will implement the project.

The Holy Trinity Column was built in the 18th century (1714-1782) to thank for the end of the plague epidemic. It is an excellent example of Baroque art and symbolizes the triumph of the Holy Trinity. Take time to look at the ornate details of the column, the sculptures of the saints and the inscriptions that testify to the history of the city and its religious tradition. Notice the fine details of the column created by local artists and sculptors. The central group of figures represents the Holy Trinity surrounded by angels and Saints Sebastian, Rochus and Charles Borromeo, who were venerated as patron saints against the plague. The column is richly decorated and is an example of the Baroque splendor that was popular in Austria at the time.

Foundation dug in 1753/54, foundation stone laid for the column in 1768, which was erected by the citizens on the basis of a vow to be spared from war, earthquakes, fire and epidemics by the Trinity; in 1755 a basic concept already existed, which was approved by K. Maria Theresia; 1759 marble deliveries from Lilienfeld for the fountain basin, which was not placed on the town hall square until 1766; 1767 contract with St. Pölten sculptor Andree Gruber; 1768 ceremonial laying of the foundation stone; construction progress repeatedly delayed, 1769 up to the main cornice finished, 1774 another contract with Gruber for work up to the pyramid, completed in 1782