25D | Fire Brigade Gate

Feuerwehrtor (Fire Brigade Gate)

The “Feuerwehrtor” is an arched opening in the south-western section of St Veit’s historical town wall. It was created in the 20th century as part of urban modernisation efforts to provide access to the fire station behind the wall.

The medieval town wall, originally built to protect the town, has largely been preserved. The new opening was carefully integrated into the existing masonry and serves as an example of the functional adaptation of historical substance to meet modern requirements.

Today, visitors pass through the Feuerwehrtor into the Botengasse – a narrow, cobbled lane with a medieval character, considered one of the most charming corners of the old town.

Memorial Stone

A modest black memorial stone, located next to the fire service gate in the centre of St. Veit, commemorates the founding of the local volunteer fire brigade in 1869 and its long-standing headquarters in the Botengasse.

The monument was erected in the mid-2000s by Josef Kropiunig, who was the commander at that time.

Historical Context

Historians report that the ducal town of St. Veit an der Glan was devastated by major fires and rebuilt eight times over the course of four centuries.

In 1869, following catastrophic fires in the stables of the old ducal castle and the complete destruction of the Dechantstadl, a volunteer fire brigade was established.

By 1870, the brigade had its own statutes, which were approved by the provincial authority on 4 August 1870, giving the unit official recognition within the monarchy.

From its founding, the fire brigade was based in a building located in the Botengasse, just behind the town wall. Over the years, the fire station was repeatedly upgraded.

The urgent need for a modern facility led to the decision in July 2013 to construct a new fire station. The project was implemented over the subsequent years. Since November 2017, the St Veit Volunteer Fire Brigade has been operating from its new base at 79 Herzog-Bernhard-Straße in the Wayerfeld district. The dedication ceremony for the new building and vehicles took place in May 2018.