Gmunden

Gmunden (German: [ˈɡmʊndən] (listen)) is a town in Upper Austria, Austria in the district of Gmunden. It has 13,204 inhabitants (estimates 2016 [3]). It is much frequented as a health and summer resort, and has a variety of lake, brine, vegetable and pine-cone baths, a hydropathic establishment, inhalation chambers, whey cure, etc. It is also an important centre of the salt industry in Salzkammergut.

Gmunden
Lakeside
Coat of arms
Gmunden
Location within Austria
Coordinates: 47°55′05″N 13°47′58″E
CountryAustria
StateUpper Austria
DistrictGmunden
Government
 • MayorStefan Krapf (ÖVP)
Area
 • Total63.52 km2 (24.53 sq mi)
Elevation
425 m (1,394 ft)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[2]
 • Total13,191
 • Density210/km2 (540/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
4810
Area code07612
Vehicle registrationGM
Websitewww.gmunden.ooe.gv.at

Geography

Gmunden covers an area of 63.49 square kilometres (24.51 sq mi) and has a median elevation of 425 metres (1,394 ft). It is situated next to the lake Traunsee on the Traun River and is surrounded by high mountains, including the Traunstein (mountain) (5,446 feet or 1,660 metres), the Erlakogel (5150 ft), the Wilder Kogel (6,860 feet or 2,090 metres) and the Höllengebirge.

Municipal arrangement

Gmunden is divided into the following boroughs: Gmunden, Gmunden-Ort, Schlagen, Traundorf, Unterm Stein.

Neighboring municipalities
Ohlsdorf Gschwandt
Pinsdorf Sankt Konrad
Altmünster Ebensee

Population

As of 2001, Gmunden had a population of 13,336. Of that, 88.4% were Austrian in nationality, 1.5% are from other European Union states, and 10.2% are other foreigners. Citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina (3.6%) and the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (2.7%) placed the strongest foreigner portion, followed by Turks (1.2%) and Germans (1.1%).

The majority (69.3%) confess themselves to the Roman Catholic Church. Evangelicals are next, which 7.3% of the population associate with. 5.9% are Muslims and 3.3% are Orthodox. 10.3% are nonreligious.

Gmunden's population
YearPopulationYearPopulation
18696.857195112.894
18806.857196112.518
18907.521197112.331
19008.451198112.653
19108.451199113.133
19239.633200113.184
19349.838201113.086
193910.792201613.204

History

In 1000 BCE the Illyrians were mining salt here.[4] A settlement was already in existence in the fifth century CE. By 1186 Gmunden was a fortified place surrounded by walls, although it did not receive a church until about 1300. In 1278 Gmunden became a town. On November 14, 1626 an army of rebellious peasants was completely defeated at Gmunden by General Pappenheim, who had been ordered by Maximilian I to suppress the peasant rebellion in Upper Austria.[5] The dead peasant insurgents were buried in nearby Pinsdorf, where an obelisk styled memorial known as the Bauernhügel in their honour can still be seen.

Gmunden supplied battleships to Austria during the 17th century and helped wounded soldiers in hospitals in World War I. During World War II, an SS maternity home was located here, "to insure racial purity" in accordance with Nazi racial theories.[6]

Austria, 100 Schilling 1978 Silver Coin, reverse, celebrating the 700th Anniversary of the township of Gmunden.
Gmunden in the 16th century

Politics

The local council consists of 37 members. In the last municipal election in September 2015, the following are seats won by the political parties:

  • ÖVP: 20 seats (49.75%)
  • FPÖ: 5 seats (14.6%)
  • SPÖ: 5 seats (12.65%)
  • BIG - Bürgerinitiative Gmunden: 4 seats (10.20%)
  • Die Grünen: 3 seats (9.63%)

Mayors:

  • 1946–1955: Fritz Eiblhuber
  • 1955–1956: Alfred Klimesch
  • 1956–1973: Karl Piringer
  • 1973–1979: Karl Sandmeier (1917-2000)
  • 1979–1997: Erwin Herrmann
  • 1997–2014: Heinz Köppl

The current mayor is Stefan Krapf from ÖVP party. He became the mayor of Gmunden since 2014 replacing Heinz Köppl. The city council which includes of the mayor, consists of nine members; 5 from ÖVP, 2 from SPÖ, and 1 each from FPÖ and the Greens.[7]

Main sights
Schloss Ort
Town hall of Gmunden
Schloss Cumberland, built as exile seat for Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover, 3rd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, in 1882
Villa Toscana, 1870-1912 exile seat of Maria Antonia, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, and her family

There are a great number of excursions and points of interest round Gmunden, specially worth mentioning being the Traun Fall, 10 miles (16 km) north of Gmunden, a castle called Schloss Ort, and a ceramic factory producing Gmundner Keramik branded pottery. The town hall is also a popular tourist destination.

Education

In Gmunden there are four kindergartens, four elementary schools and three Hauptschulen. The three high schools are BG/BRG Gmunden, BRG Schloss Traunsee, and Gymnasium Ort.

People

Famous residents

See also

References
  1. "Dauersiedlungsraum der Gemeinden Politischen Bezirke und Bundesländer - Gebietsstand 1.1.2018". Statistics Austria. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  2. "Einwohnerzahl 1.1.2018 nach Gemeinden mit Status, Gebietsstand 1.1.2018". Statistics Austria. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  3. Statistik Austria - Gmunden's population.
  4. Mountain, Harry (1998). The Celtic Encyclopedia. Universal-Publishers. ISBN 9781581128901.
  5. Oberösterreichischer Bauernkrieg (German Wikipedia link)
  6. Christine O'Keefe, Concentration Camps.
  7. Stadtgemeinde Gmunden.
  8. hu:Szörényi Levente
  9. de:Horaz Krasnopolski
  • Media related to Gmunden at Wikimedia Commons
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