Poor-Souls-Board

It was carved about 50 years ago by Mayrhofer-Irrsee. At that time the table set up here had almost decayed. It recalled the execution of the then owner of the Handlbauerngut at the time of the peasant wars.

The caretaker of Wildenegg and his wife treated the peasants with the utmost severity and arbitrariness. The farmers could not afford the required taxes and levies and complained in Linz. At the state parliament of Upper Austria in 1660 it was decided that the debt should be collected. On December 7, 1662 1400 soldiers came to Mondseeland for this purpose. The abbot of the monastery campaigned for leniency. The Abbot of Lambach wanted to show his power and make an example.

On 18. 12. 1662 the Richtstelle was erected on the market place Mondsee. 11 farmers were convicted - 2 were beheaded (Handlbauer and another farmer in the region), 9 were banished to the border. 14 more farmers were expelled from their farms.

The Handlbauer had to be buried on his property, as this was not allowed for a person condemned to death at the cemetery. The Poor Soul Shrine recalls this terrible event in our area and the harshness with which the peasants were treated.