Zwettl
Encyclopedia
Zwettl is a town and district capital in Lower
Austria
. It is chiefly known as the location of Zwettl Abbey
, first mentioned in October 1139.
at the confluence of the Kamp
and Zwettl rivers. After Vienna
and Wolfsberg in Carinthia
, it is the third largest municipality in Austria by area.
, in 2008 there were 11,444 people residing in Zwettl. In the town the population was spread out with 14.6% under the age of 15 years, 64.9% from 15 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older.
The name originates from Slavic
"svetla" meaning "glade
". Although the etymology suggests an early population of Slavic people no archeological evidence has been found yet. Zwettl was founded by the knights of Kuenring and was first mentioned in a monastery record in 1139. It was granted town privileges
on December 28, 1200. Today, the Cistercian convent in Zwettl houses the only remaining manuscript of the life of Saint Agnes Blannbekin
.
Lower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. It is chiefly known as the location of Zwettl Abbey
Zwettl Abbey
Zwettl Abbey is a Cistercian monastery located in Zwettl in Lower Austria, in the Diocese of St. Pölten.- History :Zwettl Abbey was founded in 1137 by Hademar I of Kuenring, with Herrmann, a monk of Heiligenkreuz Abbey, as its first abbot . It was a daughter house of Heiligenkreuz, of the line of...
, first mentioned in October 1139.
Geography
Zwettl has a total area of 98.9 square miles (256.7 km²). The town is found in the middle of WaldviertelWaldviertel
The Waldviertel is the northwestern region of the Austrian state Lower Austria. It is bounded to the south by the Danube, to the southwest by Upper Austria, to the northwest and the north by the Czech Republic and to the east by the Manhartsberg , which is the survey point dividing Waldviertel...
at the confluence of the Kamp
Kamp
The Kamp is a 153 km long river in northern Austria, left tributary of the Danube. The source of the Kamp is on the border of Lower Austria and Upper Austria, near the town Liebenau, in the Mühlviertel. It flows generally east through Rapottenstein , Zwettl, Krumau am Kamp and Gars am Kamp...
and Zwettl rivers. After Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Wolfsberg in Carinthia
Wolfsberg, Austria
Wolfsberg is the capital of the Wolfsberg district in the Austrian state of Carinthia.The town consists of the Katastralgemeinden Aichberg, Auen, Forst, Gräbern-Prebl, Gries, Hartelsberg, Hattendorf, Hintertheißenegg, Kleinedling, Kleinwinklern, Lading, Leiwald, Michaelsdorf, Oberleidenberg,...
, it is the third largest municipality in Austria by area.
Demographics
According to Statistik AustriaStatistik Austria
The Statistik Austria is the name with which the Austrian statistical office appears in public matters.In 2000 a bill transformed the Österreichisches Statistisches Zentralamt into the Statistik Austria.Statistik Austria is an independent, not profit-seeking institution with public...
, in 2008 there were 11,444 people residing in Zwettl. In the town the population was spread out with 14.6% under the age of 15 years, 64.9% from 15 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older.
History
Slavic languages
The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic...
"svetla" meaning "glade
Glade (geography)
A glade or clearing is an open area within a woodland. Glades are often grassy meadows under the canopy of deciduous trees such as red alder or quaking aspen in western North America. They also represent openings in forests where local conditions such as avalanches, poor soils, or fire damage have...
". Although the etymology suggests an early population of Slavic people no archeological evidence has been found yet. Zwettl was founded by the knights of Kuenring and was first mentioned in a monastery record in 1139. It was granted town privileges
Town privileges
Town privileges or city rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium.Judicially, a town was distinguished from the surrounding land by means of a charter from the ruling monarch that defined its privileges and laws. Common privileges were related to trading...
on December 28, 1200. Today, the Cistercian convent in Zwettl houses the only remaining manuscript of the life of Saint Agnes Blannbekin
Agnes Blannbekin
Agnes Blannbekin , also referred to as Saint Agnes Blannbekin or the Venerable Agnes Blannbekin, was an Austrian Beguine and Christian mystic. Her controversial revelations were compiled by her confessor Ermenrich and later published in 1731 as Venerabilis Agnetis Blannbekin. The copies were...
.
People
- Josef HaslingerJosef HaslingerJosef Haslinger is an Austrian writer.Haslinger was born in Zwettl, Lower Austria. He studied philosophy, drama and Germanic studies...
(born 1955), writer, born here (de) - Florian MetzFlorian MetzFlorian Metz is an Austrian international footballer who plays as a defender for LASK Linz.-Austria Wien:He is one of the first graduates of the Frank Stronach Academy...
, born here - (Johann) Michael von PuchbergMichael von PuchbergJohann Michael von Puchberg was a textile merchant who lived in Vienna in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
(1741 - 1822), merchant, philanthropist, born here
- Peter HärtlingPeter HärtlingPeter Härtling is a German writer and poet. He is a member of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and he received the Großes Verdienstkreuz for his major contribution to German literature.-Biography:...
, lived here - Hugo JuryHugo JuryHugo Jury was an Austrian Nazi....
, lived here - Walter NowotnyWalter NowotnyMajor Walter "Nowi" Nowotny was an Austrian-born German fighter ace of World War II. He is credited with 258 aerial victories in 442 combat missions...
, lived here - Georg Ritter von SchönererGeorg Ritter von SchönererGeorg Ritter von Schönerer was an Austrian politician active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and a major exponent of German nationalism in Austria....
, died here
External links
- Zwettl Town website
- Facts about Zwettl provided by the Austrian Statistical Central Office