Franzensfeste
Encyclopedia
Franzensfeste is a village in Northern Italy
, in South Tyrol
(Region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol). The village is famous for its large fort and the historic railway-station.
where the valley is only a few hundred meters wide. The village is situated on the western side along with the Brenner Railway
and the state road SS12 while the Brenner Highway A22, running elevated on the same side, pass through the lake in its northern part entering into a tunnel on the opposite side; the state road cross than the Eisack
river nearby the railway station due north.
Franzensfeste forms part of the Sachsenklemme; itself an area of the Eisack
tal valley. Archeological findings have shown the area to be settled by 2500 B.C. as indicated by the finding of home pottery. The site has always played an important role in the transit of goods on the north-south bound, first as the Amber Road between Greece, Sicily and Northern Europe later in the Roman period, between Aquileia and the regions beyond the Alps; also a 140m long stretch of the Roman
Via Claudia Augusta
has been unearthed.
In the XVII century were present, where the station is now placed, a few farms, one of which, over time, turned into an inn with the name "Post-Reifer” and still in operation. The military importance of the place was evident during the Tyrolean Rebellion in 1809 when General Lefebvre, under the command of 2500 Saxon troops, was defeated in an ambush by Andreas Hofer
’s Tyroleses near Sachsenklemme then called the "gorge of the Saxons”.
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
wanted to build a defensive system, for fear of an invasion from the south; the village was settled for strategic purposes; it is well protected by the surrounding mountainous and can block the entrance to the Eisack valley.
Work began on June 17, 1833 and the Franzensfeste Fortress
was inaugurated by Ferdinand I of Austria
on August 18, 1838. The construction of the fortress and later of the Brenner railway, helped thousands of workers who found accommodation in Franzensfeste contributing to the development and growth of the village.
In 1867 with the opening of the Brenner railway
Franzensfeste consolidated its role not only on the north-south direction, but also to Pustertal until to Maribor, involving in the construction of the Pustertal railway, the southern part of the fortification. With the signing of the military agreement Triple Alliance
in 1882, by the Emperors of Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Kingdom of Italy, the Franzensfeste Fortress lost its strategic importance and was transformed into a military ammunition depot, which kept even when was transferred to Italy in 1918.
In 1939 began the construction of the hydroelectric basin for the power plant in Brixen
made necessary for the electrification of the railway; the work was completed the following year and the village of Unterau was flooded. Franzensfeste in 1940 was elevated to municipality, became an important railway junction and the infrastructure for the maintenance of the locomotives and housing the staff were built.
Until the nineties was an important customs goods-station for cattle, but with the entry of Austria in the European Community has lost importance.
In the summer of 2008 the fortress of Franzenfeste was opened to the public for the first time as one of the locations of Manifesta
7, the European Biennial of Contemporary art. In 2009 the location hosted the so called "Landesausstellung", an event remembering the Bicentenaire of the Tyrolean riots
in 1809.
inverted upsilon
symbolizing the roads to the village. The gules
area, on top left, symbolizes the rock; the azure
, top right, the lake and the vert
the meadows. The emblem was adopted in 1968.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in South Tyrol
South Tyrol
South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...
(Region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol). The village is famous for its large fort and the historic railway-station.
Geography
Franzensfeste is located 19 km south of Sterzing and 11 km north of Brixen in the EisacktalEisacktal
Eisack Valley is a district in South Tyrol, Italy. It comprises the middle part of the valley of the Eisack, from Franzensfeste in the north to Waidbruck in the south....
where the valley is only a few hundred meters wide. The village is situated on the western side along with the Brenner Railway
Brenner railway
The Brenner Railway is a major line connecting the Austrian and Italian railways from Innsbruck and Verona climbing the Wipptal , passing over the Brenner Pass and descending down the Eisack Valley to Bolzano and then down the Adige Valley from Bolzano to Rovereto and from there along the...
and the state road SS12 while the Brenner Highway A22, running elevated on the same side, pass through the lake in its northern part entering into a tunnel on the opposite side; the state road cross than the Eisack
Eisack
The Eisack is a river in Northern Italy, the second largest river in South Tyrol. Its source is near the Brenner Pass, at an altitude of about 1990 m above sea level. The river draws water from an area of about 4,200 km². After about 96 km, it joins the Adige river south of Bolzano. At first the...
river nearby the railway station due north.
Origin
Franzensfeste has founded recently, the village dates from the nineteenth century when began the construction of the fortifications, to which the site is also closely linked in name (into Italian language), and the railway. The municipality was originally Mittenwald, still the common land, with the two villages of Oberau and Unterau.Franzensfeste forms part of the Sachsenklemme; itself an area of the Eisack
Eisack
The Eisack is a river in Northern Italy, the second largest river in South Tyrol. Its source is near the Brenner Pass, at an altitude of about 1990 m above sea level. The river draws water from an area of about 4,200 km². After about 96 km, it joins the Adige river south of Bolzano. At first the...
tal valley. Archeological findings have shown the area to be settled by 2500 B.C. as indicated by the finding of home pottery. The site has always played an important role in the transit of goods on the north-south bound, first as the Amber Road between Greece, Sicily and Northern Europe later in the Roman period, between Aquileia and the regions beyond the Alps; also a 140m long stretch of the Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
Via Claudia Augusta
Via Claudia Augusta
The Via Claudia Augusta is an ancient Roman road, which linked the valley of the Po River with Rhaetia across the Alps. Since 2007, the Giontech Archeological Site, in Mezzocorona/Kronmetz serves as the Via Claudia Augusta International Research Center, directed by Prof...
has been unearthed.
In the XVII century were present, where the station is now placed, a few farms, one of which, over time, turned into an inn with the name "Post-Reifer” and still in operation. The military importance of the place was evident during the Tyrolean Rebellion in 1809 when General Lefebvre, under the command of 2500 Saxon troops, was defeated in an ambush by Andreas Hofer
Andreas Hofer
Andreas Hofer was a Tirolean innkeeper and patriot. He was the leader of a rebellion against Napoleon's forces....
’s Tyroleses near Sachsenklemme then called the "gorge of the Saxons”.
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis II was the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until 6 August 1806, when he dissolved the Empire after the disastrous defeat of the Third Coalition by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz...
wanted to build a defensive system, for fear of an invasion from the south; the village was settled for strategic purposes; it is well protected by the surrounding mountainous and can block the entrance to the Eisack valley.
Work began on June 17, 1833 and the Franzensfeste Fortress
Franzensfeste Fortress
Franzensfeste Fortress is a fortress situated in a a village Franzensfeste, in South Tyrol, Italy.Emperor Francis I began constructing the fortress in 1833...
was inaugurated by Ferdinand I of Austria
Ferdinand I of Austria
Ferdinand I was Emperor of Austria, President of the German Confederation, King of Hungary and Bohemia , as well as associated dominions from the death of his father, Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, until his abdication after the Revolutions of 1848.He married Maria Anna of Savoy, the sixth child...
on August 18, 1838. The construction of the fortress and later of the Brenner railway, helped thousands of workers who found accommodation in Franzensfeste contributing to the development and growth of the village.
In 1867 with the opening of the Brenner railway
Brenner railway
The Brenner Railway is a major line connecting the Austrian and Italian railways from Innsbruck and Verona climbing the Wipptal , passing over the Brenner Pass and descending down the Eisack Valley to Bolzano and then down the Adige Valley from Bolzano to Rovereto and from there along the...
Franzensfeste consolidated its role not only on the north-south direction, but also to Pustertal until to Maribor, involving in the construction of the Pustertal railway, the southern part of the fortification. With the signing of the military agreement Triple Alliance
Triple Alliance
Triple Alliance may refer to:* Aztec Triple Alliance - Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan; better known as the Aztec Empire* Triple Alliance - England, France and the Dutch Republic...
in 1882, by the Emperors of Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Kingdom of Italy, the Franzensfeste Fortress lost its strategic importance and was transformed into a military ammunition depot, which kept even when was transferred to Italy in 1918.
In 1939 began the construction of the hydroelectric basin for the power plant in Brixen
Brixen
Brixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
made necessary for the electrification of the railway; the work was completed the following year and the village of Unterau was flooded. Franzensfeste in 1940 was elevated to municipality, became an important railway junction and the infrastructure for the maintenance of the locomotives and housing the staff were built.
Until the nineties was an important customs goods-station for cattle, but with the entry of Austria in the European Community has lost importance.
In the summer of 2008 the fortress of Franzenfeste was opened to the public for the first time as one of the locations of Manifesta
Manifesta
Manifesta, the , is a European pan-regional contemporary cultural biennale, described in 2010 by the as "stunning in its scope and uncompromisingly experimental in its approach".-Manifesta History:...
7, the European Biennial of Contemporary art. In 2009 the location hosted the so called "Landesausstellung", an event remembering the Bicentenaire of the Tyrolean riots
Andreas Hofer
Andreas Hofer was a Tirolean innkeeper and patriot. He was the leader of a rebellion against Napoleon's forces....
in 1809.
Coat-of-arms
The emblem of Fortress consists of an argentArgent
In heraldry, argent is the tincture of silver, and belongs to the class of light tinctures, called "metals". It is very frequently depicted as white and usually considered interchangeable with it...
inverted upsilon
Upsilon
Upsilon is the 20th letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 400. It is derived from the Phoenician waw. The name of the letter is pronounced in Modern Greek, and in English , , or...
symbolizing the roads to the village. The gules
Gules
In heraldry, gules is the tincture with the colour red, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of vertical lines or else marked with gu. as an abbreviation....
area, on top left, symbolizes the rock; the azure
Azure
In heraldry, azure is the tincture with the colour blue, and belongs to the class of tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of horizontal lines or else marked with either az. or b. as an abbreviation....
, top right, the lake and the vert
Vert
The colour green is commonly found in modern flags and coat of arms, and to a lesser extent also in the classical heraldry of the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period....
the meadows. The emblem was adopted in 1968.
Linguistic distribution
According to the 2001 census, 57.82% of the population speak German, 40.69% Italian and 1.49% Ladin as first language.