How about a journey back over 5000 years? That’s how long people have called Seekirchen am Wallersee home. This makes it Austria’s oldest continuously settled location.
Today Seekirchen am Wallersee boasts over 10000 residents. This milestone earned it official city status. Seekirchen sits in the Salzburg-Umgebung district. It is nestled in the heart of the Flachgau region.
The Wallersee lake shapes Seekirchen. It is bordering the town to the east. Wallersee offers many leisure activities. You can enjoy swimming or sailing. Kite surfing is also very popular. Cycling and e-biking routes wind around the lake. You can explore theme trails and lakeside paths. They will lead you to panoramic views.
But Seekirchen am Wallersee has much more to offer. The town’s history stretches back to 696 AD. Saint Rupert mentioned Seekirchen in a document. He established a hermitage. It included a church dedicated to Saint Peter. Some believe the name Seekirchen comes from a mispronunciation of this church’s name.
In 1424, Seekirchen gained market town status. Then in 2000, it officially became a city. In 2023, Seekirchen became even more important. The district court of Salzburg-Umgebung moved here. Also in 2023, the administrative headquarters of Salzburg-Umgebung were relocated to Seekirchen.
The landscape around Seekirchen is diverse. About 68% of the area is farmland. Forests cover 15% and bodies of water make up 6%. The Fischach and Mattig rivers flow through the area.
Schloss Seeburg is home to the civil registry office. It also houses a private university. The Schloss Kräutergarten was recreated in 2014. It is one of fourteen herb gardens in the Salzburg Lake District.
Seekirchen offers a range of cultural experiences. The Kunstbox Cultural Association hosts workshops, concerts and theatre. It also organises readings. The Heimat und Stiftsmuseum showcases local history.
Seekirchen’s coat of arms tells a story. A silver church with red roofs stands over wavy lines. It symbolizes Seekirchen’s location by the lake. Two arms reach out to each other. They represent Saint Rupert. The years 1424 and 1974 are displayed. They commemorate Seekirchen’s market rights and reunification.
Several notable people have roots in Seekirchen. Football players Andreas Ibertsberger and Thomas Winklhofer were born here. Writer Thomas Bernhard spent part of his childhood in Seekirchen.
The Citymarketing Seekirchen organization promotes local businesses. Over 65 small and medium-sized businesses are members. They work together to enhance the town center.
Seekirchen’s railway station connects it to Salzburg. The S-Bahn provides fast access to the city. A second train station is planned for 2030. A local bus also serves the Trumer Seenland area.