City fortifications Bruck an der Mur

Bruck a der Mur’s city walls encircle the ancient town of the municipality of Bruck a der Mur in the district of Bruck-Mürzzuschlag in Styria.

After the territory was separated, mostly from Admont Abbey, King Ottokar II Pemysl Pemysl had the town reconstructed in 1263.It was built in the strategically advantageous triangle formed by Mur and Mürz, and was fortified by the fortress atop the Schlossberg.Bruck was documented as a “oppidum” in 1265, and the town charter was ratified by Rudolf von Habsburg in 1277.The Minorite monastery was established in 1301 to strengthen the city wall.The town suffered an economic collapse when the salt deposit rights were terminated in 1541 and the salt trade was restored in 1575.There were city fires in 1461, 1510, 1683, and 1792, with the last devastating practically the whole city.Graz Gate was demolished in 1839, Vienna Gate in 1844, Leobner Gate in 1876, and Schifftor in 1888.

The city fortifications are on the Mur’s south side and the Mürz’s east side, with the Minorite monastery with the former Vienna and Graz gates and integrated Landskron Castle with a northern fortification tower (today’s clock tower) as the north-east corner; in the west, there was a moat with today’s Friedrichsallee.The streets within the city walls were set up in a long line pattern, with a prominent wide rectangular main plaza (Kolloman-Wallisch-Platz) at the center.Bruck a der Muris parish church is separated from the main square by a row of homes and was originally encircled by a cemetery, so it stands alone in a church square. A total of 12 towers protected the medieval wall. Some city fortification towers have been retained, including today’s clock tower, the ship’s tower, and the towers at Stephanienpark and Fridrichsallee (ruins). Nothing of the four strongly defended gates used to enter the city remains.