Discover Schlatt: Lenten Crib, History and Nature

Schlatt combines an exceptional ecclesiastical attraction with traces of mining, the Roman period and the Early Middle Ages. It is also home to the preserved ponds of the former clay pits and a tree frog population of importance beyond the region. Those planning a trip with cultural discoveries and natural-history themes will find several different focal points here for shaping their daily activities.

The Lenten Crib in Philippsberg Church

Philippsberg Church in Schlatt is home to the only mechanical Lenten crib in Central Europe. Its special character lies in its movement: on a two-storey rotating stage, painted wooden or tin figures pass by the viewers. The stage is powered by a clockwork mechanism dating from 1712. This makes not only religious art visible, but also historic mechanics in an unusual context.

The Lenten crib can be viewed on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. You can take these specific times into account when planning your trip if the crib is to be the focus of your stay. For families in particular, the combination of moving figures, different materials and an old clockwork mechanism provides an engaging opportunity to talk together about craftsmanship, technology and religious traditions.

Church, Railway and Settlement History

The history of Philippsberg Church also goes further back. It was converted into a Calvary church in 1721. The Calvary Church of St. Philippi and Jakobi at Philippsberg 4, 4690 Schlatt, is protected as a historic monument by decree. Another protected site is the Breitenschützing reception building at Breitenschützing 22, 4691 Schlatt. It is protected as a historic monument on the basis of a positive declaratory decision pursuant to Section 2.

Excavated Roman-period structural remains dating from the 3rd century can also be found near Breitenschützing. An Early Medieval burial ground is located near Breitenschützing-Schlatt. These two references offer a glimpse into different eras without requiring you to focus on a single historical topic. The coal railway forms part of the more recent economic and transport history: from 1854 to 1965, it transported the extracted coal from the Kohlgrube mining area to Breitenschützing railway station, which was a railway junction at the time.

Hannak Ponds and Tree Frog Population

The Hannak ponds show another side of Schlatt. The ponds of the former clay pits have been preserved and are known as the Hannak ponds. The clay-pit complex is home to a tree frog population of importance beyond the region. For travellers who would like to include landscapes and wildlife in their plans alongside churches and historic traces, this area provides a clear natural-history focus.

Schlatt as a Suitable Base for Different Travel Interests

The different themes can be arranged according to your personal interests. You can focus on the Lenten crib and the churches on Philippsberg, explore the railway and mining history around Breitenschützing, or note the clay-pit complex as a natural-history attraction. A Stations of the Cross trail leads from Schwanenstadt to Philippsberg Church in Schlatt, adding another specific point of reference to the ecclesiastical perspective.

When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday house in Schlatt, you can therefore consider which of these experiences should shape your trip. If you are travelling with children, the clearly distinguishable themes make it easier to accommodate a variety of interests when planning your trip together, without combining all the activities into a single route.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

For additional travel ideas, you can also view the entries Mühlbach, Steinbach Am Attersee, Unterach Am Attersee, Ottnang Am Hausruck, Frankenburg Am Hausruck, Ungenach, Gries and Fornach.

For the overarching travel overview: Vöcklabruck.