Steinach am Brenner

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Steinach am Brenner

Coat of arms
Steinach am Brenner
Location within Austria
Coordinates: 47°05′00″N 11°28′00″E / 47.08333°N 11.46667°E / 47.08333; 11.46667Coordinates: 47°05′00″N 11°28′00″E / 47.08333°N 11.46667°E / 47.08333; 11.46667
Country Austria
State Tyrol
District Innsbruck Land
Government
  Mayor Hubert Rauch (ÖVP)
Area
  Total 28 km2 (11 sq mi)
Elevation 1,048 m (3,438 ft)
Population (1 January 2013)[1]
  Total 3,361
  Density 120/km2 (310/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 6150
Area code 05272
Vehicle registration IL
Website www.steinach.tirol.gv.at

Steinach am Brenner is a market town in the district of Innsbruck-Land in the Austrian state of Tyrol located south of Innsbruck in the Wipptal at the Sill River.

Geography

Steinach am Brenner is located in Wipptal, along the Sill River Valley at the junction of Gschnitz (Gschnitztal). It is run by B182 road and is 31 km south of Innsbruck and 12 km from the border with Italy. The A13 motorway, which runs the Wipptal on the western side, is on an elevated position above the village.

History

Origin

The first documented settlement of Steinach am Brenner dates back to 985, when the village was situated on a hill, near the Church of St. Ursula, as "Muron. The present name is mentioned for the first time in 1220, apparently derives from "Stein ", the many large rocks at the place. In 1349, the Court was moved permanently to Steinach from Aufenstein, placed at the entrance to the Valley of Navis, while the church depended on the Parish of Matrei am Brenner. In 1407 it was designated as a market town, than in 1574 and subsequently confirmed in 1639. Given its transit position, was a place for a rest for the many personalities over the years as: Charles V, Ferdinand I (1530) and Pope Pius VI (1782). Andreas Hofer, during the Tyrolean rebellion, had some times its headquarters here and, on November 3, 1809, took the decision to surrender. In 1936 received the official status as market town. During the Second World War Steinach was bombed several times because of the railway line.[2]

Coat of arms

The arms of Steinach consists of a shield with a blue background, crossed by a yellow diagonal arrow pointing down to the left and two yellow circles, arranged in opposite to each other. The significance of the emblem is not known if the two circles represent the stones from which the name of the village. The emblem was issued July 21, 1936.[3]

Population

Historical population
Year Pop.  ±%  
1869 1,223    
1880 1,294+5.8%
1890 1,319+1.9%
1900 1,360+3.1%
1910 1,421+4.5%
1923 1,533+7.9%
1934 1,617+5.5%
1939 1,697+4.9%
1951 2,015+18.7%
1961 2,155+6.9%
1971 2,729+26.6%
1981 2,976+9.1%
1991 3,104+4.3%
2001 3,287+5.9%
2011 3,359+2.2%

Sights

“St. Erasmus” Parish church

Interior sight of "St. Erasmus" parish church.

The church, built between 1337 and 1353, was originally a chapel dedicated to St. Erasmus, Quirino and Christopher. At the beginning of the sixteenth century under the Emperor Maximilian, was built a new church dedicated to St. Erasmus, in Baroque style designed and conducted by Franz de Paula Penz. In 1853 the Great Fire of Steinach destroyed the church too and two years later was rebuilt under the direction of Joseph von Stadl. It is characterized by an imposing facade with two towers and a Romanesque portico. The church, a parish in 1891, has a bright apse with large windows, a redundant altar and frescoed ceilings.

”St. Ursula” Church

The church of St. Ursula, situated at Mauern, is mentioned in 985 as the oldest of the place and still preserves the ancient Roman structure. The interior underwent a renovation in 1678 transforming the altar in late Gothic style. Near the church was the original cemetery then transferred to Steinach in 1483.

”St. Ulrich” Church

The church of St. Ulrich, situated in the village of Tienzens, once under the diocese of Augsburg, was built in 1306 and renovated in 1732 in baroque style. [4]

Notable people associated with Steinach am Brenner

Martin Knoller (* November 18, 1725, Steinach am Brenner, † July 24, 1804, Milan), a frescoes painter in South Germany and Austria.

Georg Luger (* 1849, Steinach am Brenner, † 1923, Berlin), an inventor and arms technician.

Alfons Graber (* 1901, Steinach am Brenner, † 1990, Steinach am Brenner), a painter.

Heinrich Messner (* September 1, 1939, Steinach am Brenner), Alpine skier.

References

  1. Statistik Austria - Bevölkerung zu Jahres- und Quartalsanfang, 2013-01-01.
  2. (German) Geschichte Tirol
  3. (English) Heraldry of the World, Steinach am Brenner
  4. (German) Geschichte Tirol

External links

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