The municipality of Weikendorf in the district of Gänserndorf was given to Melk Abbey by Margrave Ernst in 1074. At that time, it was called ‘Wikkendorf am Gänsbach’ (Weidenbach) and was the estate of a nobleman whose farmland was worked by farmhands and maidservants. In 1411, Weikendorf was granted market town status, and in 1462, the emperor allowed Melk Abbey to build a castellum in the monastery’s official residence – thus Weikendorf Castle was created. Over the centuries, Weikendorf developed into a thriving community that charms its guests with its charming cellar square and several listed buildings.
The Weikendorf Topotheque contains early photographs and digitised postcards that show how the village has changed over time. In the 1920s, for example, the village stream still flows through the centre, dividing the main street into two sides. From the 1930s onwards, we can see a paved main street; the stream has disappeared, which certainly made it easier for the master baker to make his deliveries with his horse and cart. Another photo shows not only the historic townscape but also a horticultural aspect: even back then, trees in public spaces were pruned back to their bare trunks.
The Topothek is still a ‘delicate little plant’ that will certainly grow into a remarkable collection with a lot of care and attention. As is so often the case, the help of the population is needed here – whether by providing old photos or their knowledge of things and people from the past.
weikendorf.topothek.at