Pinzgauer Stier

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The iconic Pinzgauer bull stands proudly at the former slaughterhouse in St. Marx, Vienna, its massive presence a testament to the city's rich history. Flanking the main gate are two imposing stone bulls, each a masterpiece of Austrian craftsmanship. On the left, a Hungarian Grey, and on the right, a Pinzgauer breed frozen in time, awaiting its fate at the slaughterhouse. The sculptures, created by renowned artist Anton Schmidgruber in 1883, have been meticulously restored to their former glory in 2014, their grandeur now even more striking. The Sankt Marx slaughterhouse, once the largest in Vienna, played a vital role in supplying the city's meat needs. Initially, slaughtering took place on Danube Canal bridges, where blood and waste could be easily disposed of. The actual construction of the slaughterhouse began between 1846 and 1848, but it wasn't operational until 1851 following a revolution in the Austrian Empire. The Pinzgauer breed is sadly facing extinction, with its population declining at an alarming rate of 10% annually. World statistics reveal approximately 1.3 million individuals remain, a stark reminder of the importance of conservation efforts to safeguard this precious heritage.