The path of the seven women

Village Development Project

The Path of the Seven Women – Pettenbach’s local history comes to life. They were doctors, cooks or cultural figures. Remarkable women who contributed to the community with great energy. Veronika Pitschmann draws attention to seven of these figures. By placing very special bouquets of flowers outside historic buildings in the town centre, local history is brought to life.

Veronika’s commitment has one aim: Pettenbach should be “a charming place that is mindful of its roots”. She founded the ‘Pettenbacher Gartenhöflichkeiten’ association and created a new pilgrimage route, the ‘Via Alm’, for which she was awarded the State Prize for the Environment and Sustainability. The latest project she is working on is to honour seven women with links to Pettenbach.

“It is important to me to highlight the significance of these figures. Their influence is lasting and extends right into the present day!”

Veronika Pitschmann

Bouquets

• Countess Barbara von Wallsee
  The last of her dynasty, heiress to, amongst others, the Schlössl, Seisenburg, Waxenberg and Pernstein;
  Location: Schlössl, now a music school, 1500
  
  
• Marie, the innkeeper’s wife
  Cook, gardener and servant at the Hofwirt inn throughout her life;
  Location: Dechanthof, now a building society, 1230
  
  
• Käthe Klotz
  Cultural manager, founder of the ‘Goldhaubenfrauen’ and a theatre group, poet;
  Location: Parish Church, 1190
  
  
• Big Fanni
  50 years as a parish housekeeper and gardener, a remarkable character;
  Location: Vicarage, 1761
  
  
• Countess Alice von Platen-Hallermund, MD
  District doctor from 1943 to 1945, observer at the Nuremberg Trials;
  Location: First School, now the library, 1780
  
  
• Berta Seeland
  Viennese teacher, botanist, dialectologist, owner of the Seeland Garden;
  Location: Primary school, 1931
  
  
• Mother Superior Antonia
  Mother Superior at the little convent, old people’s home, military hospital, children’s home, garden;
  Location: the little convent, now a residential building (partially demolished), 1898