Villach (German pronunciation: [ˈfɪlax](listen); Slovene: Beljak; Italian: Villaco; Friulian: Vilac) is the seventh-largest city in Austria and the second-largest in the federal state of Carinthia. It is an important traffic junction for southern Austria and the whole Alpe-Adria region. As of January 2018[update], the population is 61,887.[3]
Together with other Alpine towns Villach engages in the Alpine Town of the Year Association for the implementation of the Alpine Convention to achieve sustainable development in the Alpine Arc. In 1997, Villach was the first town to be awarded Alpine Town of the Year.
Villach is a statutory city, on the Drau River near its confluence with the Gail tributary, at the western rim of the Klagenfurt basin. The municipal area stretches from the slopes of the Gailtal Alps (Mt. Dobratsch) down to Lake Ossiach in the northeast.
The Villach city limits comprise the following districts and villages:
Drobollach am Faaker See (Drobolje ob Baškem jezeru)
Duel (Dole)
Egg am Faaker See (Brdo ob Baškem jezeru)
Goritschach (Goriče)
Graschitz (Krošče)
Gratschach (Grače pri Šentrupertu)
Greuth (Rute pri Beljaku)
Gritschach (Griče)
Großsattel (Sedlo)
Großvassach (Velike Laze pri Beljaku)
Heiligen Gestade
Heiligengeist (Sveti Duh)
Kleinsattel (Malo Sedlo)
Kleinvassach (Male Laze pri Beljaku)
Kratschach (Hrašče pri Mariji na Zilji)
Kumitz
Landskron (Vajškra)
Maria Gail (Marija na Zilji)
Mittewald ober dem Faaker See (Na Dobrovi)
Mittewald ob Villach
Neufellach (Nova Bela)
Neulandskron (Nova Vajškra)
Obere Fellach (Gornja Bela)
Oberfederaun (Gornji Vetrov)
Oberschütt (Rogaje pod Dobračem)
Oberwollanig
Pogöriach (Pogorje)
Prossowitsch (Prosoviče)
Rennstein
Serai (Seraje)
St. Andrä
St. Georgen
St. Leonhard
St. Magdalen
St. Michael
St. Niklas an der Drau (Miklavž na Dravi)
St. Ruprecht
St. Ulrich
Tschinowitsch (Činoviče)
Turdanitsch (Trdaniče pri Mariji na Zilji)
Untere Fellach (Spodnja Bela)
Unterfederaun (Pod Vetrovom)
Unterschütt (Zabuče pri Brnci)
Unterwollanig
Urlaken
Villach-Auen (Log pri Beljaku)
Villach-Innere Stadt (Beljak - Mesto)
Villach-Lind (Beljak - Lipa)
Villach-Seebach-Wasenboden
Villach-St. Agathen und Perau
Villach-St. Martin
Villach-Völkendorf
Villach-Warmbad-Judendorf (Beljaške Toplice)
Weißenbach
Zauchen (Suha pri Vernberku)
In 1905 a part of the municipal area St. Martin was incorporated. In 1973 the city area was further enlarged through the incorporation of Landskron, Maria Gail and Fellach.
The oldest human traces found in Villach date back to the late Neolithic. Many Roman artifacts have been discovered in the city and its vicinity, as it was near an important Roman road (today called Römerweg) leading from Italy into the Noricum province established in 15 BC. At the time, a mansio named Sanctium was probably located at the hot spring in the present-day Warmbad quarter south of the city centre. After the Migration Period and the Slavic settlement of the Eastern Alps about 600 AD, the area became part of the Carantania principality.
When about 740 Prince Boruth enlisted the aid of Duke Odilo of Bavaria against the invading Avars, he had to accept Bavarian overlordship. An 878 deed of donation, issued by the Carolingian ruler Carloman of Bavaria, mentioned a bridge (ad pontem Uillach) near the royal court of Treffen, in what is today Villach.[citation needed] In 979 Emperor Otto II enfeoffed Bishop Albuin of Brixen with the Villach manor. After his death, King Henry II in 1007 ceded the settlement to the newly established Bishopric of Bamberg. The bishops also held the adjacent estates along the strategically important route to Italy up to Pontafel, which they retained until 1759 while the surrounding Carinthian ducal lands passed to the Austrian House of Habsburg in 1335.
Drava bridge near the city centre
Villach received market rights in 1060, though it was not mentioned as a town in records until about 1240. The parish church dedicated to St. James was first documented in 1136. Emperor Frederick II conferred the citizens the right to hold an annual fair on the feast of 25 July (Jakobitag) in 1222. The 1348 Friuli earthquake devastated large parts of the town; another devastating earthquake occurred in 1690. There were also several fires in Villach, which destroyed many buildings. The first documented mayor took office in the 16th century.
From 1526 onwards, many citizens turned Protestant and the Villach parish became a centre of the new faith within the Carinthian estates, which entailed harsh Counter-Reformation measures by the ecclesiastical rulers. From about 1600, numerous residents were forced to leave the town, precipitating an economic decline. In 1759 the Habsburg empress Maria Theresa formally purchased the Bamberg territories in Carinthia for a price of one million florins. Villach was incorporated into the "hereditary lands" of the Habsburg monarchy and became the administrative seat of a Carinthian district.
During the Napoleonic Wars, the city was occupied by French troops and became part of the short-lived Illyrian Provinces from 1809, until it was re-conquered by the forces of the Austrian Empire in 1813 and incorporated into the Austrian Kingdom of Illyria by 1816. The city's economy was decisively promoted by a western branch of the Southern Railway line, which finally reached Villach in 1864, providing growth and expansion. By 1880, the town had a population of 6,104. In World War I, Villach near the Italian front was the seat of the 10th Army command of the Austro-Hungarian Army.
The town obtained statutory city status during the interwar period on 1 January 1932. After the Austrian Anschluss to Nazi Germany in 1938, the mayor of Villach was Oskar Kraus, an enthusiastic Nazi.[5] On 9 November 1938 Villach was a site of the nationwide Kristallnacht pogroms with violent attacks on the Jewish population. A memorial for the 1919 border conflict that led to the Carinthian Plebiscite caused controversy when it was inaugurated in 2002, as Kraus, who had not been especially prominent in the conflict, was the only person named.[6]
During World War II, allied forces bombed Villach 37 times. About 42,500 bombs killed 300 people and damaged 85% of the buildings. Nevertheless, the city quickly recovered.[7] Today, Villach is a bustling city with commerce and recreation, yet it retains its historic background.
Population
Historical population
Year
Pop.
±%
1910
27,451
—
1923
30,883
+12.5%
1934
34,085
+10.4%
1939
36,012
+5.7%
1951
43,358
+20.4%
1961
47,170
+8.8%
1971
51,112
+8.4%
1981
52,692
+3.1%
1991
54,640
+3.7%
2001
57,497
+5.2%
2011
59,285
+3.1%
2016
61,221
+3.3%
Politics
Town hall
Municipal council
The municipal council (Gemeinderat) consists of 45 members, with the mayor as president, and following the 2015 elections:[8]
The city government of Villach (Stadtsenat) consists of seven members. It is chaired by the mayor, who is directly elected by the people. The other members—two vice-mayors and four town councillors—are appointed by the municipal council, with party affiliations according to the election results.
Mayor Günther Albel, SPÖ
First vice-mayor Mag. Dr. Petra Oberrauner, SPÖ
Second vice-mayor Mag. Gerda Sandriesser, SPÖ
Councillor Mag. Peter F. Weidinger, ÖVP
Councillor Erwin Baumann, FPÖ
Councillor Mag. Harald Sobe, SPÖ
Councillor Katharina Spanring, ÖVP
In the March 2015 elections, Günther Albel was elected with 55.46 per cent of the votes cast.[9]
^"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.
^"Einwohnerzahl und Komponenten der Bevölkerungsentwicklung (Population and Components of Population Growth)" (PDF) (in German). Statistik Österreich (English Version). 2007-11-29. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
Official website of the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences - FH Kärnten
January 09, 2023
villach, german, pronunciation, ˈfɪlax, listen, slovene, beljak, italian, villaco, friulian, vilac, seventh, largest, city, austria, second, largest, federal, state, carinthia, important, traffic, junction, southern, austria, whole, alpe, adria, region, januar. Villach German pronunciation ˈfɪlax listen Slovene Beljak Italian Villaco Friulian Vilac is the seventh largest city in Austria and the second largest in the federal state of Carinthia It is an important traffic junction for southern Austria and the whole Alpe Adria region As of January 2018 update the population is 61 887 3 VillachDrava riversideFlagCoat of armsLocation of Villach within CarinthiaVillachLocation within AustriaShow map of KarntenVillachVillach Austria Show map of AustriaCoordinates 46 37 N 13 51 E 46 617 N 13 850 E 46 617 13 850 Coordinates 46 37 N 13 51 E 46 617 N 13 850 E 46 617 13 850Country AustriaState CarinthiaDistrictStatutory cityGovernment MayorGunther Albel SPO Area 1 Total134 98 km2 52 12 sq mi Elevation501 m 1 644 ft Population 2018 01 01 2 Total61 879 Density460 km2 1 200 sq mi Time zoneUTC 1 CET Summer DST UTC 2 CEST Postal code9500Area code04242Vehicle registrationVIWebsitevillach atTogether with other Alpine towns Villach engages in the Alpine Town of the Year Association for the implementation of the Alpine Convention to achieve sustainable development in the Alpine Arc In 1997 Villach was the first town to be awarded Alpine Town of the Year Contents 1 Geography 1 1 Climate 2 History 3 Population 4 Politics 4 1 Municipal council 4 2 City government 5 Twin towns sister cities 6 Festivals 7 Notable citizens 7 1 Sport 8 References 9 External linksGeography Edit Main square Villach is a statutory city on the Drau River near its confluence with the Gail tributary at the western rim of the Klagenfurt basin The municipal area stretches from the slopes of the Gailtal Alps Mt Dobratsch down to Lake Ossiach in the northeast The Villach city limits comprise the following districts and villages Bogenfeld Slovene Vognje Polje Dobrova Dobrova Drautschen Dravce Drobollach am Faaker See Drobolje ob Baskem jezeru Duel Dole Egg am Faaker See Brdo ob Baskem jezeru Goritschach Gorice Graschitz Krosce Gratschach Grace pri Sentrupertu Greuth Rute pri Beljaku Gritschach Grice Grosssattel Sedlo Grossvassach Velike Laze pri Beljaku Heiligen Gestade Heiligengeist Sveti Duh Kleinsattel Malo Sedlo Kleinvassach Male Laze pri Beljaku Kratschach Hrasce pri Mariji na Zilji Kumitz Landskron Vajskra Maria Gail Marija na Zilji Mittewald ober dem Faaker See Na Dobrovi Mittewald ob Villach Neufellach Nova Bela Neulandskron Nova Vajskra Obere Fellach Gornja Bela Oberfederaun Gornji Vetrov Oberschutt Rogaje pod Dobracem Oberwollanig Pogoriach Pogorje Prossowitsch Prosovice Rennstein Serai Seraje St Andra St Georgen St Leonhard St Magdalen St Michael St Niklas an der Drau Miklavz na Dravi St Ruprecht St Ulrich Tschinowitsch Cinovice Turdanitsch Trdanice pri Mariji na Zilji Untere Fellach Spodnja Bela Unterfederaun Pod Vetrovom Unterschutt Zabuce pri Brnci Unterwollanig Urlaken Villach Auen Log pri Beljaku Villach Innere Stadt Beljak Mesto Villach Lind Beljak Lipa Villach Seebach Wasenboden Villach St Agathen und Perau Villach St Martin Villach Volkendorf Villach Warmbad Judendorf Beljaske Toplice Weissenbach Zauchen Suha pri Vernberku In 1905 a part of the municipal area St Martin was incorporated In 1973 the city area was further enlarged through the incorporation of Landskron Maria Gail and Fellach Climate Edit Villach has a cool summer humid continental climate Koppen Dfb Climate data for Villach 1971 2000Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearAverage high C F 1 4 34 5 5 2 41 4 10 6 51 1 14 9 58 8 20 2 68 4 23 4 74 1 25 6 78 1 25 2 77 4 20 8 69 4 14 5 58 1 6 6 43 9 1 8 35 2 14 2 57 6 Daily mean C F 3 2 26 2 0 6 30 9 4 0 39 2 8 3 46 9 13 5 56 3 16 7 62 1 18 7 65 7 18 3 64 9 14 1 57 4 8 5 47 3 2 2 36 0 2 1 28 2 8 2 46 8 Average low C F 6 4 20 5 4 6 23 7 0 8 30 6 3 1 37 6 7 9 46 2 11 1 52 0 12 9 55 2 12 8 55 0 9 2 48 6 4 6 40 3 0 7 30 7 4 8 23 4 3 7 38 7 Average precipitation mm inches 46 8 1 84 47 1 1 85 65 5 2 58 83 2 3 28 96 1 3 78 120 5 4 74 133 7 5 26 111 3 4 38 102 3 4 03 105 5 4 15 102 2 4 02 61 2 2 41 1 075 4 42 34 Average precipitation days 1 0 mm 5 9 5 3 7 1 9 0 10 4 12 0 11 9 10 1 8 2 8 3 7 7 6 3 102 2Mean monthly sunshine hours 84 4 120 3 160 6 167 7 208 4 214 3 245 2 227 2 190 3 142 0 85 9 73 2 1 919 5Source Zamg ac at 4 History Edit Roman road in Warmbad The oldest human traces found in Villach date back to the late Neolithic Many Roman artifacts have been discovered in the city and its vicinity as it was near an important Roman road today called Romerweg leading from Italy into the Noricum province established in 15 BC At the time a mansio named Sanctium was probably located at the hot spring in the present day Warmbad quarter south of the city centre After the Migration Period and the Slavic settlement of the Eastern Alps about 600 AD the area became part of the Carantania principality When about 740 Prince Boruth enlisted the aid of Duke Odilo of Bavaria against the invading Avars he had to accept Bavarian overlordship An 878 deed of donation issued by the Carolingian ruler Carloman of Bavaria mentioned a bridge ad pontem Uillach near the royal court of Treffen in what is today Villach citation needed In 979 Emperor Otto II enfeoffed Bishop Albuin of Brixen with the Villach manor After his death King Henry II in 1007 ceded the settlement to the newly established Bishopric of Bamberg The bishops also held the adjacent estates along the strategically important route to Italy up to Pontafel which they retained until 1759 while the surrounding Carinthian ducal lands passed to the Austrian House of Habsburg in 1335 Drava bridge near the city centre Villach received market rights in 1060 though it was not mentioned as a town in records until about 1240 The parish church dedicated to St James was first documented in 1136 Emperor Frederick II conferred the citizens the right to hold an annual fair on the feast of 25 July Jakobitag in 1222 The 1348 Friuli earthquake devastated large parts of the town another devastating earthquake occurred in 1690 There were also several fires in Villach which destroyed many buildings The first documented mayor took office in the 16th century From 1526 onwards many citizens turned Protestant and the Villach parish became a centre of the new faith within the Carinthian estates which entailed harsh Counter Reformation measures by the ecclesiastical rulers From about 1600 numerous residents were forced to leave the town precipitating an economic decline In 1759 the Habsburg empress Maria Theresa formally purchased the Bamberg territories in Carinthia for a price of one million florins Villach was incorporated into the hereditary lands of the Habsburg monarchy and became the administrative seat of a Carinthian district During the Napoleonic Wars the city was occupied by French troops and became part of the short lived Illyrian Provinces from 1809 until it was re conquered by the forces of the Austrian Empire in 1813 and incorporated into the Austrian Kingdom of Illyria by 1816 The city s economy was decisively promoted by a western branch of the Southern Railway line which finally reached Villach in 1864 providing growth and expansion By 1880 the town had a population of 6 104 In World War I Villach near the Italian front was the seat of the 10th Army command of the Austro Hungarian Army The town obtained statutory city status during the interwar period on 1 January 1932 After the Austrian Anschluss to Nazi Germany in 1938 the mayor of Villach was Oskar Kraus an enthusiastic Nazi 5 On 9 November 1938 Villach was a site of the nationwide Kristallnacht pogroms with violent attacks on the Jewish population A memorial for the 1919 border conflict that led to the Carinthian Plebiscite caused controversy when it was inaugurated in 2002 as Kraus who had not been especially prominent in the conflict was the only person named 6 During World War II allied forces bombed Villach 37 times About 42 500 bombs killed 300 people and damaged 85 of the buildings Nevertheless the city quickly recovered 7 Today Villach is a bustling city with commerce and recreation yet it retains its historic background Population EditHistorical populationYearPop 191027 451 192330 883 12 5 193434 085 10 4 193936 012 5 7 195143 358 20 4 196147 170 8 8 197151 112 8 4 198152 692 3 1 199154 640 3 7 200157 497 5 2 201159 285 3 1 201661 221 3 3 Politics Edit Town hall Municipal council Edit The municipal council Gemeinderat consists of 45 members with the mayor as president and following the 2015 elections 8 Social Democratic Party of Austria SPO 23 seats Austrian People s Party OVP 10 seats Freedom Party of Austria FPO 7 seats Austrian Green Party 3 seats Verantwortung Erde 1 seat NEOS 1 seatCity government Edit The city government of Villach Stadtsenat consists of seven members It is chaired by the mayor who is directly elected by the people The other members two vice mayors and four town councillors are appointed by the municipal council with party affiliations according to the election results Mayor Gunther Albel SPO First vice mayor Mag Dr Petra Oberrauner SPO Second vice mayor Mag Gerda Sandriesser SPO Councillor Mag Peter F Weidinger OVP Councillor Erwin Baumann FPO Councillor Mag Harald Sobe SPO Councillor Katharina Spanring OVPIn the March 2015 elections Gunther Albel was elected with 55 46 per cent of the votes cast 9 Largest groups of foreign residents 10 Nationality Population 2013 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 549 Germany 1 421 Croatia 1 238 Italy 482 Slovenia 459 Russia 364Twin towns sister cities EditVillach is twinned with Bamberg Germany Udine Italy Suresnes FranceFestivals EditThere are several festivals throughout the year The carnival in Villach which starts on November 11 and ends on March 4 The arts and crafts festival with self made goods Villacher Fasching or Mardi Gras The streets art festival displays performances of artists and singers The Villacher Kirchtag a festival spanning a whole week in summer and ends on August s first Saturday Performances on a floating stage on the Drau RiverNotable citizens Edit Anton Janezic Oskar Potiorek Eva Glawischnig Marc Sand Guido Burgstaller Anton Janezic 1828 in St Jakob im Rosental 1869 Carinthian Slovene linguist philologist author and literary historian Oskar Potiorek 1853 in Bad Bleiberg 1933 Austro Hungarian Army officer Governor of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo from 1911 to 1914 when Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated there Anton Ghon 1866 in Villach 1936 Austrian pathologist viz Ghon focus and Ghon s complex Hans Kurath 1891 in Villach 1992 American linguist of Austrian origin emigrated to the US in 1907 Carl Heinz Birnbacher 1910 in Villach 1991 German naval officer of Austrian origin Vice admiral of the German Navy Albert Bach 1910 in Treffen 2003 Austrian soldier Generalmajor and skier competed at the 1936 Winter Olympics Hubert Petschnigg 1913 1997 Austrian architect born in Klagenfurt went to school in Villach Heidemarie Hatheyer 1918 in Villach 1990 Austrian film actress appearing in 43 films between 1938 and 1988 Paul Watzlawick 1921 in Villach 2007 Austrian American therapist psychologist communications theorist and philosopher Kurt Diemberger born 1932 mountaineer and author Bruno Gironcoli 1936 in Villach 2010 Austrian modern artist Heidelinde Weis born 1940 Austrian actress Hermann Knoflacher born 1940 in Villach Austrian civil engineer Peter Brabeck Letmathe born 1944 in Villach former CEO of the Nestle Group George Zebrowski born 1945 in Villach American science fiction author and editor Zoltan J Acs born 1947 in Villach American economist and Professor of Management at The London School of Economics Felix Tretter born 1949 in Villach Austrian psychologist psychiatrist and cybernetician Werner Kofler 1947 in Villach 2011 Austrian postmodernism novelist Gerald Kargl born 1953 in Villach Austrian film director most famous for directing the 1983 film Angst Wolfgang Ilgenfritz 1957 in Villach 2013 Austrian politician and notably a non attached Member of the European Parliament Gernot Rumpold born 1957 in Villach Austrian politician associate of Jorg Haider Peter Loscher born 1957 in Villach Austrian businessman with Merck amp Co now CEO of Siemens since 2007 Michael Martin Kofler born 1966 classical flautist Eva Glawischnig Piesczek born 1969 in Villach Austrian politician of the Austrian Green Party Alexander Kaimbacher born 1969 Austrian operatic tenor Thomas Smolej 1982 in Villach Austrian actor and director Florian Hufsky 1986 in Villach 2009 Austrian new media artist board member of the Pirate Party of AustriaSport Edit Ernst Melchior 1920 in Villach 1978 Austrian football player for Austria Wien FC Rouen and FC Nantes Hanns Brandstatter born 1949 in Villach Austrian fencer He competed in at the 72 76 and 1984 Summer Olympics Johann Hans Lindner born 1959 in Tragail hammer thrower 1984 Summer Olympics and bobsledder in 1984 Winter Olympics Alfred Groyer born 1959 Austrian former ski jumper who competed from 1978 to 1984 and in the 1980 Winter Olympics Alex Antonitsch born 1966 in Villach former tennis player from Austria turned professional in 1988 Barbel Jungmeier born 1975 in Villach road cyclist and mountain bike rider competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics Gerhard Unterluggauer born 1976 in Villach Austrian former professional ice hockey defenceman Roland Kollmann born 1976 in Villach retired Austrian football for Grazer AK Daniel Mesotitsch born 1976 in Villach Austrian biathlete Friedrich Pinter born 1978 in Villach Austrian former biathlete Martin Koch born 1982 in Villach Austrian former ski jumper Michael Grabner born 1987 in Villach Austrian professional ice hockey player for New York Rangers of National Hockey League Marc Sand born 1988 in Rosegg Austrian footballer who plays for SK Austria Klagenfurt Michael Raffl born 1988 in Villach Austrian professional ice hockey left winger for Dallas Stars of National Hockey League Guido Burgstaller born 1989 in Villach Austrian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Rapid Wien Anna Gasser born 1991 in Villach Austrian snowboarder two time Olympic gold medalist in Big Air 2018 and 2022 Marco Schwarz born 1995 in Villach Austrian World Cup alpine ski racer Christopher Hoher born 1997 in Villach Austrian racing driverReferences Edit Dauersiedlungsraum der Gemeinden Politischen Bezirke und Bundeslander 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 Einwohnerzahl und Komponenten der Bevolkerungsentwicklung Population and Components of Population Growth PDF in German Statistik Osterreich English Version 2007 11 29 Retrieved 2007 12 27 Klimadaten von Osterreich 1971 2000 Lisa Rettl Werner Koroschitz Ein korrekter Nazi Oskar Kraus ns oberburgermeister von Villach Drava 2006 ISBN 3 85435 501 7 ORF Karnten Oskar Kraus ein korrekter Nazi permanent dead link in German Luftkrieg aerial warfare Ostmark airpower at in German Martin Rosenkranz 2003 08 13 Retrieved 2007 12 18 Wahlstatistiken Stadt Villach Wahlergebnisse 2015 Archived 2017 02 02 at the Wayback Machine Statistisches Jahrbuch 2014 www villach at Stadt Villach Melde und Standesamt Statistik Retrieved 2015 09 03 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Villach Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Villach Municipal data for Villach Statistik Austria Villach Official website English version Kowatsch Villach Bus System official site Official website of the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences FH Karnten Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Villach amp oldid 1131328745, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
