Shocking theft: Children's graves desecrated in Linz!

Shocking theft: Children's graves desecrated in Linz!

A scandal shakes the quiet city of Linz: In the course of renovation work in the former Capuchin Church of St. Matthias, the graves of late children of the Starhemberg family were desolated. This is reported by the Kurier . Three men, including two Czechs and one Austrian, penetrated the locked crypt and not only stained coffins, but also filmed themselves with the human remains.

The incident occurred during the renovation work, which has been carried out by the diocese since the Capuchin Church was profaned in 2016. This shows what sad turn the story of this holy place has taken. Walter Eichinger, spokesman for the Linz State Court, indicates that the accused do not guilty. One of the defendants even describes himself as "Urban Explorer" and claims to have discovered the property.

robbery of saints and coffins

But that's not all: In addition to the coffins, the men also robbed 20 figures of saints worth at least 10,000 euros. The serious allegations against the accused can lead to imprisonment of up to three years. One person is pursued separately, which makes the story all the more exciting.

The Capuchin Church has a rich story that goes back to the 17th century. One of the remarkable features includes a magnificent baroque ambience that has attracted many visitors over the years. About the conversion and historical importance of the church is reported, among other things, in Austria-forum

monument protection and conservation measures

Especially in times like this, when respect for culture and history is so important, new regulations in the Monument Protection Act make a significant contribution to the preservation of the cultural heritage. The Federal Monument Office took measures in 2024 to ensure that the preservation of Austrian monuments in a contemporary manner. These new regulations enable ensembles to protect faster in world work and include a conservation obligation for listed objects, which is particularly important in view of the incidents in Linz. There is more on these topics on the website of Federal Monumentamts .

Design in Linz is not only an act of vandalism, but also raises questions about the responsibility towards cultural heritage. At a time when places with profound history like the Capuchin Church are still part of our community, it is important to strengthen the values of respect and monument protection to prevent such incidents in the future.