Leibnitz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the German scientist, see Gottfried Leibniz
Location in Austria
Statistics
State: Styria
District: Leibnitz (district)
Area: 5.96 km²
Geographic location: 46°47′N 15°32′E
Elevation: 274 m
Population: 6,893 (in 2001)
Postal code: A-8430
Area code: 0 34 52
Municipal code: 6 10 22
Address of town administration: Hauptplatz
A-8430 Leibnitz
Official website: www.leibnitz.at
E-mail address: stadtgemeinde@leibnitz.at
Politics
Mayor: Helmut Leitenberger (SPÖ)

Leibnitz is a town in the Austrian province of Styria and at the 2001 census had a population of approximately 6,892. It is located to the south of the city of Graz, between the Mur and Sulm rivers.

The town is capital of the Leibnitz political district, which extends to about 681 km², within which more than 75,000 people live. Leibnitz acts as a cultural, educational, judicial and economic focus for the surrounding disctict.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Main sights

  • the ruins of the Roman settlement of Flavia Solva in the village of Wagna
  • Castle Seggau (Schloss Seggau) situated above the town on the Seggauberg. Founded in the twelfth century by Archbishop Konrad I of Salzburg, now includes a conference center
  • Frauenberg church on the 381 m high hill of the same name, a site of some archaeological importance with finds dating back to the Neolithic period
  • Leibnitz Abbey

[edit] Culture

Leibnitz has a cinema, an ice rink located in the center, and an open-air swimming pool with campsite and tennis courts. These facilities are enjoyed both by locals and passing tourist traffic on its way to the Adriatic.

Interesting annual events include a fall festival with harvest thanksgiving procession, Leibnitz "wine week" and a "Perchtenlauf".

The vineyard-rich hilly countryside is home to many traditional wine-drinking establishments known as "Buschenschenke", where the local produce can be readily tasted.

The area is also crisscrossed by cycle trails, which are particularly popular in summer and fall. Leibnitz is situated on a branch of the cycle track which runs alongside the Mur river from Graz to the Slovenian border.

[edit] Economy

The area surrounding Leibnitz (known as the "Leibnitzer Feld") is extensively cultivated, the main crops being maize and pumpkin. The latter is used in the production of the black-green colored pumpkin seed oil, a Styrian speciality. Several small to medium-sized industrial companies and also some smaller hotels and boarding houses are located within the town.

The areas of hilly countryside around the town support many vineyards, which itself is a renowned center of wine production.

[edit] Transportation

Leibnitz lies on the main southern railway line, connecting Vienna to Slovenia and the Balkans via Graz. The journey from Graz main station to Leibnitz takes approximately 30 minutes using trains travelling to Spielfeld-Straß, Maribor or even Ljubljana or Zagreb. There are also several taxi firms based in Leibnitz.

Leibnitz is also served by the A9 motorway, the main route to Slovenia, via Spielfeld.

[edit] Famous people

Leibnitz is the birthplace of champion tennis player Thomas Muster.

[edit] Twin towns

[edit] Gallery

[edit] External links


edit Municipalities of Bezirk Leibnitz Flag of Austria

Allerheiligen bei Wildon | Arnfels | Berghausen | Breitenfeld am Tannenriegel | Ehrenhausen | Eichberg-Trautenburg | Empersdorf | Gabersdorf | Gamlitz | Glanz an der Weinstraße | Gleinstätten | Gralla | Großklein | Hainsdorf im Schwarzautal | Heiligenkreuz am Waasen | Heimschuh | Hengsberg | Kaindorf an der Sulm | Kitzeck im Sausal | Lang | Lebring-Sankt Margarethen | Leibnitz | Leutschach | Oberhaag | Obervogau | Pistorf | Ragnitz | Ratsch an der Weinstraße | Retznei | Sankt Andrä-Höch | Sankt Georgen an der Stiefing | Sankt Johann im Saggautal | Sankt Nikolai im Sausal | Sankt Nikolai ob Draßling | Sankt Ulrich am Waasen | Sankt Veit am Vogau | Schloßberg | Seggauberg | Spielfeld | Stocking | Straß in Steiermark | Sulztal an der Weinstraße | Tillmitsch | Vogau | Wagna | Weitendorf | Wildon | Wolfsberg im Schwarzautal