The toll house in Stein

Thanks to their location next to the Danube river, Stein and Krems became important emporia already in the Middle Ages. Also the name of Stein – „stone“ – tells us about its most prominent feature: solid ground borders on the river.  Goods that were traded were e.g. cloth, furs, poppy seeds, saffron and pepper. But by far the most important products were salt, wine and cereals.

The tolls were to be paid at the toll house in Stein (Steiner Landstraße 84), which was errected in 1536. It is a seldom, but especially beautiful example for a Renaissance town house. Its colourful façade is as conspicuous as its decor: e.g. right on top of the front, in the gable ends, we see two heads depicting the emperor Ferdinand I. (1503 – 1564) and his wife Anna. Besides, the oriel shows the emperor’s coat of arms, above a window you can discover the imperial eagle with the Austrian and the Hungarian coat of arms. These elements tell us very clearly that the town of Stein was owned by the imperial familiy and so were all taxes and rents gathered here.