High above the Innviertel nestled in the rolling hills stands Schardenberg. Its story is etched in stone and whispered on the wind. For centuries Schardenberg has witnessed the ebb and flow of history. Its location near the Inn River shaped its destiny.
Schardenberg first appeared in written records in 1084. The Schardenberger Stiftungsbriefe mention it. The early medieval church organization placed Schardenberg under the St Severin parish. This later became incorporated into the St Aegidien Hospital in Innstadt in 1182. This hospital administered the surrounding parishes including Schardenberg. The parish of St Severin was later moved to the St Aegidien/St Gilgen hospital church. It remained there until 1653. Schardenberg finally became its own parish in 1785.
Imagine the changing hands of power. Schardenberg was under Bavarian rule until 1779. The Treaty of Teschen shifted the Innviertel including Schardenberg to Austria. It briefly returned to Bavaria during the Napoleonic Wars. However the Treaty of Munich in 1816 firmly placed Schardenberg back in Upper Austria.
The year 1900 brought a new chapter. Salvatorian Father Elseus Gabelseder founded the Hamberg monastery. This served as a college for late-career students. A new parish church was consecrated in 1910. This impressive building is known locally as the Innviertler Dom.
Schardenberg’s history is not without its challenges. The Anschluss in 1938 brought the region under Nazi rule as part of Gau Oberdonau. Following the war Upper Austria was restored. The town’s population fluctuated throughout the 20th century. A positive birth rate and migration contributed to growth between 1981 and 1991. A negative migration balance followed impacting the population in 2001.
Schardenberg is more than just history. Visit the impressive Pfarrkirche. Admire its architecture. This church replaced an earlier building. Its baroque tower from 1741 still stands. Another place to visit is the Fatimakapelle. This chapel located in the Fronwald hosts thousands of pilgrims every year during its Fatimatage. Nearby in Ingling stands the former Salvatorkloster Hamberg. It now serves as student housing.
Stand here and feel the weight of centuries. See the echoes of empires. The struggles. The faith. Schardenberg stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of its people. Their resilience built this town. Their heritage continues here. This is Schardenberg a place where history lives and breathes.