STEYR

city, Obersterreich Bundesland (federal state), northeast-central Austria. The city is situated at the confluence of the Enns and Steyr rivers, southeast of Linz. Originating in the 10th century around the castle of the Traungau family, it was the centre of Austria's iron industry in medieval times. In the old town centre are the parish church (14431522), the Rococo town hall (176578), and several medieval houses with picturesque courtyards, notably the Bummerlhaus. The castle was last restored in 1727. A hospital dating from 1305 is in the suburb of Steyrdorf, and the magnificent Baroque churches of the abbeys of Gleink and Garsten are nearby. Still an iron and steel centre, Steyr has a number of additional manufactures, including trucks, automobiles, tractors, ball bearings, sporting guns, and machinery. Pop. (1991) 39,337.