Perg is a town in the Mühlviertel area north of Linz, the capital of Upper Austria. Perg is a county town, which means that it plays a role as administrative, educational and economic centre for a region. Perg has approximately 7,500 residents and locally known for its fairs and festivities - most importantly the "Vinium", a wine fest that attracts more than 100 farmers and companies from all of Austria. Beyond that, Perg is a neat market town with a historic city centre and well worth a stop if you happen to tour the Mühlviertel. A few words on the attractions of the town. Note the Erdstall, a network of underground caves, tunnels and catacombs - they were built around 1000 AD as a hide and shelter for situations of danger. In 1881, the Erdstall was incorporated into a park, named after the wife of Crown Prince Rudolf - "Stephaniehain". Sacral Sightseeing in Perg, Upper Austria There are several churches in Perg that are worth seeing. Start with the Stadtpfarrkirche, Perg′s parish church. Originally a Romanesque church, later extensions incorporated the old core; you can still estimate the Romanesque elements today. In the late 15th century, the church gained its current Gothic outlay with three naves. The tower was completed by 1480, but extended in 1528 - in 1542, Perg became a parish. Note the Gothic interiors; the organ was played by Anton Bruckner in 1863. Another significant church of Perg is the "Pfarrkirche Pergkirchen", which was first mentioned in 1088. It is dedicated to St. Martin and became a parish church in 1142. Its main altar is Baroque and dates back to the mid-17th century; the rest of the interiors is 19th century Historicist rubbish. The Kalvarienbergkirche is yet another church and one of the best-known attractions of Perg. The prosperity of Perg during the Baroque age allowed the town to construct a Calvary mount and a church - which was accomplished by 1754. The Kalvarienbergkirche is a late-Baroque, round building and Rococo interiors. You find the church only a few hundred metres away from the town square (Hauptplatz). More Attractions in Perg Schloss Auhof is a local "palace"; first mentioned as home to the local noblemen Dietrich and Dietmar von Au in 1294, it changed owners several times. Later is became also known as "Bernardishof". It is still a private property and not open to the general public. For a more accessible castle, note Burgruine Mitterberg. It can be found some 3 kilometres east of Perg on a rocky hill. Today, the castle is only ruins - but it was once the biggest castle of the entire Mühlviertel (this doesn′t necessarily ring a bell, but means quite something - the Mühlviertel was a rather prosperous place in Medieval times and constantly haunted by all sorts of invasions). The walls were demolished in the 17th century, when stone was needed for building a palace in nearby Windhaag. The Rathaus or city hall of Perg was built in 1736 at a prominent location on the market square. Sadly, it burnt down and was rebuilt in neo-Classicist style in 1876. Speaking of the market square: Here and around this area you will find several noteworthy burgher houses. For example the Seifensiederhaus, built around 1563, later equipped with a Baroque faηade in 1720.

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