Bürgerspital Döllersheim, Former hospital ruins in Pölla, Austria.
Bürgerspital Döllersheim is a former hospital ruin in Pölla featuring four wings arranged around a central chapel area. The surviving walls display rounded-arch openings and vaulted passageways that remain visible throughout the structure.
The facility was founded in 1660 by Baron Hans Franz von Lamberg and served the community as a care institution. It lost its original function after 1938 when residents were required to leave the area for military training purposes.
The structure reflects how medieval communities imagined care and healing, with the chapel, living spaces, and patient rooms all sharing the same courtyard. Walking through the ruins today shows how doctors, patients, priests, and residents lived and worked side by side in a shared daily rhythm.
The ruins have been open to visitors since 1981 following the removal of military restrictions from the site. Protected status means the structure is preserved as is, so visitors should move carefully as certain sections may be unstable.
A fire in 1804 damaged sections of the building but was reconstructed while maintaining the original floor plan. However, reforms during the Josephinian period led to chapel spaces being converted into living areas to meet changing needs.
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