Schärding, Medieval trading town in Upper Austria, Austria.
Schärding is a medieval town with city privileges in Upper Austria situated on the border with Germany. Its center features the Silberzeile, a collection of gabled houses with colorfully painted facades arranged along the central square.
The settlement first appeared in records in 806 AD under the name Scardinga and later developed into a major trading hub under Wittelsbach rule, dealing in salt, timber, wine, and textiles. This commercial importance shaped the town until the mid-18th century when economic conditions shifted.
The buildings around the central square were painted in different colors to help residents quickly identify what each served, with green marking pharmacies and yellow the town hall. These colors became a practical language that shaped how people navigated and understood the town.
The town sits on the Inn River at the German border and offers river cruises plus walking paths along a riverside promenade roughly 3 km long starting from the old town pier. It's easy to explore on foot since the center is compact and the riverside routes are flat and straightforward to walk.
The Wassertor gate bears marks that record water levels from past flooding events, revealing how high the river rose historically. These natural markings on the stone provide visitors with insight into the challenges the town faced living near the river.
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