Oberndorf

Notable People

Joseph Mohr

In 1817, at the age of 25, Joseph Mohr was sent to the socially disadvantaged Oberndorf district as coadjutor (assistant priest). Here Mohr met the organist Franz Xaver Gruber. He was full-time teacher, sacristan and organist at the pilgrimage church "Maria im Mösl" in Arnsdorf and the organist service in Oberndorf was an additional income for him. The meeting between Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber turned into a friendship that led to them composing the song, “Silent Night! Holy Night! ” together. On December 24, 1818, the two played the song for the first time during Christmas mass in what was then the church of St. Nikola in Oberndorf.

Museums, memorials, events

Silent Night District with Silent Night Chapel and Silent Night Museum

Gruber Mohr monument in front of the parish church of St. Nikolaus and at the Silent Night Chapel

Historical two-city circular route

Oberndorf / Laufen

Silent Night Peace Path Oberndorf, Lamprechtshausen / Arnsdorf, Göming and Laufen

Local Community

Local Community - Oberndorf City

The Bavarian town of Laufen with its suburb of Oberndorf on the right bank of the Salzach was first mentioned in 748. The separation took place in 1816 through the Treaty of Munich. Oberndorf came to Austria and became an independent municipality.

The former Oberndorf was in the area of today's "Altoberndorf". Fires and floods (the bridge to Laufen was torn away in 1899) were the reason why the place was relocated up the Salzach from 1901. In 1903 the new bridge to Laufen was completed - one of the most beautiful Art Nouveau bridges in Europe. In 1906 the foundation stone was laid for the parish church in the new town center. The church of St. Nikola in the old part of the village was demolished. In 1937 the Silent Night Chapel was built in its place.

In 2001 the city was raised. The municipality of Oberndorf with almost 6,000 inhabitants is a health, social and educational center as well as a popular residential and shopping town for the northern Flachgau, the adjacent Innviertel and the Bavarian border area.

In 2006, the Europasteg for pedestrians and cyclists created a second connection across the Salzach to Laufen. In 2016, Oberndorf and Laufen celebrated a year of remembrance of their shared history with numerous events.