Architectonical gems of all eras lurk around every corner, inviting you to embark on a travel of time long past. The town of Hallstatt, on the lake of the same name, gave its name to one of the most important eras of prehistory and boasts many finds from early history and Roman times. There is hardly any European region as rich in churches and monasteries as Upper Austria´s Danube valley. Some of them even date back to Austria¿s first settling period following the migration of peoples (such as Wilhering for example). Gothic-style churches and impressive town houses (i.e. ¿Bummerlhaus¿ in Steyr) were built as of the 14th century. The art of wood carving was perfected, especially in combination with Late Gothic panel painting (winged altar of Michael Pacher in St. Wolfgang), in the splendid winged altar of Kefermarkt. Witnesses of the Renaissance are beautiful Aistersheim Castle and Greinburg among others. In the Baroque and the following Rococo era the artistic work reached its peak with the erection of magnificent churches and monasteries (e.g. Kremsmünster Abbey).