Scheibbs

Scheibbs lies in the Erlauf valley of Lower Austria, at the edge of the iron-producing Eisenwurzen. In 1338 it passed to the Carthusian monastery of Gaming, whose officials used the castle as an administrative seat. Duke Albert II granted Scheibbs the title of town in 1352, though it continued to be known as a market for centuries. In 1448 Scheibbs and Purgstall received privileges to trade in iron and provisions with Innerberg, the mining centre now called Eisenerz. Merchants supplied the ironworks with food and other goods and took part in the movement of iron. Scheibbs became an Innerberg principal market in 1588, as this trade brought prosperity to the community. The abolition of iron and provision trading privileges in 1781 opened the region to freer competition and contributed to its economic decline. The monastery itself was dissolved in 1782, ending a long relationship between the market and its ecclesiastical landlord.