The twin-towered Pfarrkirche (Parish Church) of St. Stephan on Wiener Strasse grew out of a 12th-century Romanesque basilica dedicated to St. Stephan. Its west portal was built in the 13th century. A Gothic overlay added in its early centuries fell victim to the 18th-century baroque craze that swept the country. A 1786 altarpiece commemorates the martyrdom of St. Stephan.
Adjoining the church is the Karner (Charnel). This funereal chapel is the major sight of Tulln, the finest of its kind in the entire country. Built in the mid-13th century in the shape of a polygon, it's richly decorated with capitals and arches. The Romanesque dome is adorned with frescoes.
In a restored former prison, Tulln has opened the Egon Schiele Museum, Donaulände 28 (tel. 02272/64570), devoted to its other famous son, born here in 1890. Schiele is one of the greatest Austrian artists of the early 1900s. The prison setting might be appropriate, as the expressionist painter spent 24 days in jail in 1912 in the town of Neulengbach for possession of what back then was regarded as pornography. While awaiting trial, he produced 13 watercolors, most of which are now in the Albertina in Vienna. The Tulln museum has more than 90 of his oil paintings, watercolors, and designs, along with much memorabilia. It's open daily from 10am to 6pm. Admission is 4€ ($5.20) adults and 2€ ($2.60) children. The museum is closed in December and January.
