Malta, Austria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Malta is a town in Carinthia, in the district of Spittal an der Drau, in southern Austria, in Malta valley, on Malta river.

This 14th century painting in Malta's old church reminds some people of Mickey Mouse.

Malta has a population of 2,080, and an area of around 262 square kilometres. Tourism brings 123,603 overnight stays per year. Attractions include the former provost´s cottage (turned into an open-air museum), the Koschach nature trail, and the Malta-Hochalm road (a mountain road leading to the Kölnbrein Dam). In 1987 the Hohe Tauern National Park was extended as far as the Ankogel range. Today, some 85.7 square kilometres of municipal territory are part of the national park.

First settled in pre-Roman times, the first documented mention of Malta was between 957 and 992 under the name "Locus Malontina". The parish church of Maria Hilf Assumptio is gothic, built in various stages between the 13th and the 15th centuries. It has a Roman gravestone set into the wall, 15th-century paintings in the vaults, and 14th century frescoes on the walls of the choir. In the neighbourhood is Dornbach Palace (originally gothic, but with alterations added in the 16th century); it is surrounded by a circuit of walls and a moat.

Coordinates: 46°58′N, 13°31′E