Windischgarsten
| Windischgarsten | ||
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 Windischgarsten
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| Coordinates: 47°43′16″N 14°19′51″E / 47.72111°N 14.33083°ECoordinates: 47°43′16″N 14°19′51″E / 47.72111°N 14.33083°E | ||
| Country | Austria | |
| State | Upper Austria | |
| District | Kirchdorf an der Krems | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Norbert Vögerl (ÖVP) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 4.9 km2 (1.9 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 602 m (1,975 ft) | |
| Population (14 June 2016) | ||
| • Total | 2,399 | |
| • Density | 490/km2 (1,300/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| Postal code | 4580 | |
| Area code | 07562 | |
| Vehicle registration | KI | |
| Website | www.windischgarsten.at | |
Windischgarsten is a municipality in the district of Kirchdorf an der Krems in the Austrian state of Upper Austria. Since 1964, the town has been classified as a Luftkurort, a mountain spa town.
Windischgarsten lies in the Traunviertel and is surrounded by mountains: the Haller Mauern in the South, the Sengsengebirge in the North, and the Totes Gebirge in the West.
River system: Dambach, Teichl, Steyr, Enns and Danube
Roman Windischgarsten (Gabromagus)lay to the Southwest and was a mansio (a stopping place) on the Norican Main Road (seeTabula Peutingeriana) that existed between the 2nd and 5th Centuries. The name "Gabromagus" has Celtic roots and allows two interpretations: Gabro is a Celtic name but also means Goat (male and female). And Magus is clearly a field. In German a "Bocksfeld" (field of a male goat) or field of Gabro. Archaeological digs show quite complex structures which could point to a settlement set up for trading. But recovered bricks with the stamp of the II Italian Legion also point to a possible military installation. The settlement saw its high-point around 200 and then declined. We next hear about Windischgarsten around 1200: to differentiate from the "Garsten" by Steyr, which was largely German and the settlement in the valley, which was largely settled by "Windische" (Slovenes). Garsten has its roots in the Slavic term for mountainous woods. Based on the development of the language it is assumed that the name was already in use around 800.
Contemporary Windischgarsten was founded as part of the Dukedom of Bavaria. During the Carolingian dynasty, around the year 800, a command post was likely set up with the name "Waldbergland" where a group of Alpine-Slavs were concentrated. In the 11th Century, this settlement became central to the Archdiocese of Bamberg. As the pilgrim population swelled during the First Crusade, the settlement became a hub of religious activity. A church was likely founded in 1119 ("in garsten capellam"), rough dated through the reign of Bishop Otto I of Bamberg, 1102-1139. The current church of Windischgarsten (St.Jacob maior, August 14, 1462 and the tower (Wehrturm)was built in 1495. It must also be noted that the term "Garsten" was equally applied to the settlement as well as the whole valley ("in Garsten situm"), right up to 1300. In the following centuries, the population swelled due to the continual influx of pilgrims and farmers. Documents show that the population elected a mayor (Dorfmeister - magister ville) in 1269. In 1492 the village had: two leather works, one furrier, three blacksmith shops, two mills (flour), one tailor, two butchers, one weaver, one locksmith, one rope-maker and one stonemason. Rope makers and wire-pullers became one of the strongest trades by 1577. By 1600 the village had 41 different trades living and working and was accorded the privilege of being a "Market Town".
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Wikipedia