Town Fortification Zwettl

In the 12th century, Bavarian settlers, led by the Kuenringer, advanced deep into the Waldviertel. They built a castle on a hill above the confluence of the Kamp and Zwettl rivers. At its foot, the settlement of Zwettl emerged, first mentioned in a document in 1139.

Duke Sobieslaw II of Bohemia invaded Austria with a strong army in 1176, severely affecting Zwettl. In 1200, Duke Leopold VI granted Zwettl city rights. In 1229, the city was expanded and surrounded by city walls. In 1230, the Kuenringer, along with other nobles, rose against the sovereign Friedrich II the Quarrelsome. Subsequently, the sovereign conquered the city of Zwettl.

The castle and city wall were destroyed, but the latter was soon rebuilt and reinforced. In 1256, a Zwettl city judge was first mentioned. In 1325, the Liechtensteiner and Kuenringer quarreled over the court of Zwettl. Armed conflicts over the city ensued. Ultimately, Duke Friedrich the Fair settled the dispute at the instigation of Abbot Gregor. In 1419, Zwettl became a princely city. In 1426 and 1427, the city was unsuccessfully besieged by Hussites.

In 1483, the citizenry acquired the Puchheimers' manor house on the main square. From then on, it served as the city's town hall. A devastating fire disaster destroyed large parts of the city in 1500. In 1588, another major fire destroyed parts of the city. Shortly after the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War (1618), Bohemian troops invaded the city of Zwettl, leading to bloody clashes. In 1645, Swedish troops occupied the city. In 1649, another fire disaster occurred in Zwettl. In this year, as well as in 1679, the plague raged in the city. In 1772, a fire broke out in the suburb of Syrnau, incinerating almost the entire city. In the 3rd Coalition War, French troops also marched through the Waldviertel. In the Zwettl area, units of Napoleon's victorious army had to be quartered in 1809.

Significant parts of the current city wall date from the first half of the 15th century. The ring wall, which enclosed the actual city area of Zwettl until the mid-19th century, had three gates and originally ten towers, two of which were demolished in 1619. Today, 917 meters of city wall with six towers and a mighty wall projection are still preserved.