Köstendorf

Nestled between the shimmering Wallersee and the rising slopes of the Tannberg, lies the charming municipality of Köstendorf. Köestendorf isn’t just a pretty picture. It’s a place steeped in history, whispering tales that echo back to the Stone Age. Imagine, on the shores of the Wallersee in the hamlet of Weng, a Stone Age dugout canoe was unearthed. Later, in the summer of 1924, a settlement from the Neolithic period was discovered on the slopes of the Tannberg. This discovery, made by Martin Hell and his wife, adds another layer to Köstendorf’s rich tapestry of time. Köstendorf also holds secrets from the younger Hallstatt period, around 700 BC. Several burial mounds near Fischachmächle have yielded artifacts from this era. These mounds were carefully excavated and studied between 1907 and 1924. The Roman Empire also left its mark on Köstendorf. The municipality lies along the old Roman road that connected Salzburg (Juvavum) to Wels (Ovilava). Roman remnants have been unearthed in various locations, including a bronze vessel discovered in Tannham in 1866. The first documented mention of Köstendorf appears in 784 AD under the name Chessindorf, a name with Romanesque origins. This suggests a Roman presence in the area. Over the centuries, Köstendorf’s fortunes waxed and waned. In the Middle Ages, Köstendorf, along with Seekirchen and Henndorf, belonged to the Alt- und Lichtentann jurisdiction. Köstendorf served as the mother parish for Lichtentann and Seekirchen for Altentann. However, with the founding of Neumarkt am Wallersee in 1240, Köstendorf began to lose its prominence. The last plague epidemic to hit Salzburg, between 1713 and 1715, tragically impacted Köstendorf. Victims from Köstendorf and Steindorf were laid to rest in a dedicated plague cemetery. This poignant reminder of a dark chapter in history is located near the St. Johann am Berg chapel in Kleinköstendorf. In 1849, Köstendorf finally became an independent municipality. But its territory was much larger. Before World War II, it included areas now belonging to Neumarkt am Wallersee. During the war, the municipality was dissolved. Some parts were absorbed into Neumarkt and Schleedorf. Through the dedicated efforts of its residents, Köstendorf regained its independence on April 4, 1950, though with a smaller territory. Today, standing here in Köstendorf, you’re not just admiring a picturesque Austrian village. You’re standing on the layers of centuries of history. Every stone, every building, whispers a story of the past, inviting you to delve deeper into the heart of this captivating municipality.