Magnesitkugel

The Magnesitkugel stands in the main square of Trieben, a town in the Liezen district of Styria. The polished sphere is a monument to the local magnesite industry. It was designed by Austrian sculptor Rudolf Hoflehner for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. The globe symbolises the global reach of Trieben’s magnesite products. A metal band around the sphere carries an inscription that traces the town’s history from a Roman horse-changing station to its present role as a centre of magnesite processing. The monument was installed in 1966 during the town’s market-celebration festivities. Visitors find the polished sphere set on a low pedestal in the heart of the main square. The surrounding streets are lined with shops and cafés typical of an Austrian market town. The globe’s gleaming surface reflects the buildings and passers-by, making it a popular spot for photographs.