Traunstein

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Traunstein
Image:Wappen1.gif

Country	Germany
State	Bavaria
Administrative region	Upper Bavaria
District	Traunstein
Population	18,351 (2005)
Area	48.53 km²
Population density	375 /km²
Elevation	591 m
Coordinates	47°52′ N 12°38′ E
Postal code	83278
Area code	0861
Licence plate code	TS
Mayor	Fritz Stahl (SPD)
Website	traunstein.de

For district, see Traunstein (district).

Traunstein is a town in the south-eastern part of Bavaria, Germany and is the administrative center of a district by the same name. It is situated at the heart of a region called Chiemgau, approximately 11 km east of Lake Chiemsee between Munich and Salzburg, 15 km north of the Alps, and 30 km west of Salzburg. Its geographical location is 47°52′N 12°38′E. Traunstein has a population of approximately 18,000. The town's most famous inhabitant is the current Pope, Benedict XVI, who attended the priest's seminary here before moving to Munich for his university studies.

[edit] Brief history

1120: the noble family of deTruna settles in the area
1245: first official mention of Trauwenstain as iudicium (court) and officium (office)
1275: formerly belonging to Salzburg, Traunstein becomes part of Bavaria
before 1375: Traunstein becomes city
1617-1912: the Saline (salt production by evaporation of rinsed rock salt) makes Traunstein one of the most important cities in Bavaria
1704 and 1851: fires devastate the city
1860: connection to the railroad between Munich and Salzburg
1946: site of displaced persons camps with refugees from Eastern Europe and the founding of the Orden Khrestonostsiv fraternal organization.
1948-1972: Traunstein is district free city
1972: Traunstein becomes district capital of the district denominated by the same name