Virgen
Virgen is a municipality in the district of Lienz in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It includes part of the Virgen valley in the Venediger Group mountain range, and extensive parts of the municipality are in High Tauern National Park. The history of the area goes back to 500 BC, when copper mining played an important role. After the end of the Roman period Slavs settled in the Virgen valley, who were gradually assimilated by Baiuvarii settlers beginning in the 8th century. The simultaneous Christianization of the area led to the creation of one of the first parishes in the region. During the middle ages Virgen was a part of Carinthia and the County of Gorizia, and by 1500 it was annexed by Tyrol. With a population of 2,200 (as of January 1, 2020), Virgen is the fifth largest community in east Tyrol in terms of population. Agriculture and tourism both play important economic rolls, but a lack of jobs and structural problems lead to a very high commuter rate. Virgen has won awards for being the most beautiful municipality in Tyrol several times.[3]
Virgen | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Coat of arms | |
 Location within Lienz district | |
  Virgen Location within Austria | |
| Coordinates: 47°00′12.5″N 12°27′28.5″E | |
| Country | Austria |
| State | Tyrol |
| District | Lienz |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Dietmar Ruggenthaler |
| Area | |
| • Total | 88.81 km2 (34.29 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,194 m (3,917 ft) |
| Population (2018-01-01)[2] | |
| • Total | 2,199 |
| • Density | 25/km2 (64/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 9972 |
| Area code | 04874 |
| Vehicle registration | LZ |
| Website | www.virgen.at |
Geography
Location
Virgen lies in northern East Tyrol and has an area of 88.8 km² being the sixth larges municipality in Lienz district. With around 42 km² being part of High Tauern National Park, almost half of the municipality's area is under nature preservation.[4] Virgen comprises the eastern part of the Virgen valley, through which the Isel river flows, from the Isel gorge to the village (part) of Mitteldorf. Because the Isel is pushed to the right side of the valley by the Virgen alluvial cone, all the settlements in the valley are to the left of the river with the exception of Welzelach. The highest point in the municipality is Hoher Eichham (3371 m) in the Venediger Group. Also, the highest mountain in the Lasörling Group, the Lasörling (3098 m), is on the border of the municipality.
Local Communities
Virgen consists of seven subdivisions with seven hamlets. Starting from the East, going along the state highway, the first subdivision is Mitteldorf with the hamlet of Bach. Further along the road is the Virgen village subdivision, the main center of the municipality, with the hamlet of Weite. Northeast of Virgen center is the subdivision of Mellitz on the stream of the same name, and northwest on the Virgen stream is the subdivision of Göriach with the Marin hamlet. Göriach and Mellitz are however partially merged with Virgen center. West of the municipality center is the Obermauern subdivision on the Nillbach stream, and south of Obermauern is the Niedermauern subdivision with the Gries und Rain hamlet. The westernmost subdivision is Welzelach. In addition to the subdivisions and hamlets, there are also high altitude individual farms such as Sonnberg above Mellitz, east of Obermauern.
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1869 | 1,390 | — |
| 1880 | 1,358 | −2.3% |
| 1890 | 1,276 | −6.0% |
| 1900 | 1,247 | −2.3% |
| 1910 | 1,136 | −8.9% |
| 1923 | 1,079 | −5.0% |
| 1934 | 1,149 | +6.5% |
| 1939 | 1,121 | −2.4% |
| 1951 | 1,275 | +13.7% |
| 1961 | 1,474 | +15.6% |
| 1971 | 1,687 | +14.5% |
| 1981 | 1,897 | +12.4% |
| 1991 | 1,957 | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 2,163 | +10.5% |
References
- "Dauersiedlungsraum der Gemeinden Politischen Bezirke und Bundesländer - Gebietsstand 1.1.2018". Statistics Austria. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- "Einwohnerzahl 1.1.2018 nach Gemeinden mit Status, Gebietsstand 1.1.2018". Statistics Austria. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- Kasupovic, Mersiha (30 October 2013). "Gemeinde Virgen als beste e5-Gemeinde ausgezeichnet". kleinezeitung.at (in German). Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- Oberwalder, Louis (1999). Virgen im Nationalpark Hohe Tauern (in German). Innsbruck: Edition Löwenzahn. p. 42. ISBN 3-7066-2197-5.
