Waidhofen an der Ybbs - Austrian town, located in the southwest of the country in the state of Lower Austria, in the foothills of the Alps at an altitude of 362 meters above sea level. The origin of the name of the city is still not fully established. One of the most common version is associated with the name of a large livestock farming.

The city's history begins with 955, when Emperor Konrad II gave the land of the Diocese of Freising. In the 12th century a small castle was built as the administrative center of the region Frayzinger (3 kilometers from the city center). During the conflict between Duke Rudolf IV (1339-1365) and the bishopric of Freising in 1360, the castle was abandoned under mysterious circumstances. In the years 1390-1410 the bishop Berthold of Vehingera, who was then Chancellor of Austria, began a powerful upgrade of the city, has started construction of 13 defensive towers along the walls.

From the 12th century began in the Styrian iron ore. Waidhofen is at the crossroads of two major trade routes, so the town became quite successfully engaged in metal processing. So, by the middle of the 16th century the city was treated to 20% of the European iron. Manufacturing has developed so rapidly that the product began to export to Venice and the Middle East.

In the center of the city preserved many historic buildings, including the late Middle Ages. In the 19th century the facades of many buildings acquired features Renaissance, Neo-Baroque and Biedermeier style. Against this background, highlights the two towers - the remains of the medieval fortifications of the city. Tower Ibsturm dates back to the 13th century, in the 50-meter Shtadturm was erected in 1534 after the defeat of the Turks near the town. Since then, the clock on the tower always show 11.45 - time victory over the enemy.

It is interesting to visit the Regional Museum of the city, is one of the modern museums of Lower Austria.