Leibnitz
Encyclopedia
Leibnitz is a city in the Austria
n state
of Styria
and at the 2001 census had a population of approximately 7.577 (2008).
It is located to the south of the city of Graz
, between the Mur
and Sulm rivers.
The town is capital of the Leibnitz political district
, which extends to about 681 km², within which more than 75,000 people live. Leibnitz acts as a cultural, educational, judicial and economic focus for the surrounding district.
, Leibnitz cannot claim direct successorship to this Roman municipium
founded in the 1st century, and finally destroyed in the early 5th century. When Bavarian
settlers moved into the area during the 9th century, superseding and gradually absorbing the Slavic
population that had established itself during the previous half-millennium, all recollection of the Roman city had long since faded.
The first documented version of the name Leibnitz reads Lipnizza and can be found in a scroll issued by emperor Otto the Great
dated March 7, 970. However, a different settlement - the civitas Zuib (or Sulb; both names recall the Roman Solva) - was actually closer to the site of the present town than the civitas Lipnizza which was located on the nearby Frauenberg hill, where human occupation had persisted since the Neolithic age. Later, when the civilian settlement moved back and down to the Mur valley while the dwelling on the hill remained a fortified place, the name was transformed to Libniz and Libenizze (12th century), Leibentz and Leybencz (13th and 14th century), and finally Leybnitz (14th and 15th century).
During the 12th century the settlement and its surrounding area, including the Sulm valley to the west, became territories of the church-state of Salzburg
and remained so for more than 400 years. The relocation of the civilian settlement was initiated (or at least heavily supported) by Archbishop Konradin of Salzburg, probably by 1130. In March 1170, Emperor Barbarossa
discussed matters associated with Salzburg’s authority in Leibnitz, and an imperial document dated June 14, 1178 granted full jurisdiction to Salzburg.
The transition decades from the Middle Ages
proved extremely turbulent and destructive to the area around Leibnitz, as it was to all the south-east parts of modern Austria. The fact that Leibnitz was not fortified certainly contributed to the decision of Archbishop Bernhard von Rorer in 1479 to hand the township over to the invading Hungarians
; their occupation collapsed in 1490 and Austria quickly reclaimed Leibnitz, severely punishing those leading citizens who had collaborated with the Hungarians.
In the 18th and early 19th century, when Leibnitz had about 1,000 occupants, the town burned to the ground twice, on May 29, 1709 and again on September 8–9, 1829. By 1883 the population had risen to 2,471 and on April 27, 1913 Austro-Hungarian
emperor Franz Josef I of Austria formally elevated Leibnitz to city rank.
By January 1, 1968 the population of Leibnitz had reached 6,641 but its relative importance and vitality had severely declined since Lower Styria
had fallen to Yugoslavia
in 1919 as a consequence of World War I
, severing the city’s vital connections to the south and effectively making it all but a "dead-border township." From the 1970s onward, when it became easier for Yugoslav citizens to travel to Austria, Leibnitz started to experience a marked economic reinvigoration which gained momentum with the establishment of Slovenia
as an independent state in 1991, and its entry into the European Union
in 2004.
, an ice rink
located in the center, and an open-air swimming pool
with campsite
and tennis
courts. These facilities are enjoyed both by locals and passing tourist traffic on its way to the Adriatic.
Interesting annual events include a fall festival with harvest thanksgiving procession, Leibnitz "wine week" and a "Perchtenlauf".
The vineyard
-rich hilly countryside is home to many traditional wine-drinking establishments known as "Buschenschenke", where the local produce can be readily tasted.
The area is also crisscrossed by cycle trails, which are particularly popular in summer and fall. Leibnitz is situated on a branch of the cycle track which runs alongside the Mur river from Graz to the Slovenian border. Another cycle track alongside the river Sulm lead to Gleinstätten
.
and pumpkin
. The latter is used in the production of the black-green colored pumpkin seed oil
, a Styrian speciality. Several small to medium-sized industrial companies and also some smaller hotel
s and boarding houses are located within the town.
The areas of hilly countryside around the town support many vineyards, which itself is a renowned center of wine
production.
, connecting Vienna
to Slovenia
and the Balkans
via Graz. The journey from Graz main station to Leibnitz takes approximately 30 minutes using trains travelling to Spielfeld
-Straß, Maribor
or even Ljubljana
or Zagreb
. There are also several taxi firms based in Leibnitz.
Leibnitz is also served by the A9 motorway, the main route to Slovenia, via Spielfeld.
with: - Pedra Badejo
, Cape Verde
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n state
States of Austria
Austria is a federal republic made up of nine states, known in German as Länder . Since Land is also the German word for a country, the term Bundesländer is often used instead to avoid ambiguity. The Constitution of Austria uses both terms...
of Styria
Styria (state)
Styria is a state or Bundesland, located in the southeast of Austria. In area it is the second largest of the nine Austrian federated states, covering 16,401 km². It borders Slovenia as well as the other Austrian states of Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Burgenland, and Carinthia. ...
and at the 2001 census had a population of approximately 7.577 (2008).
It is located to the south of the city of Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
, between the Mur
Mur
Mur may refer to:* Mur River , a river in Central Europe* Mur, Switzerland, a commune in Vaud and Avenches* Mur, a large village south of Novi Pazar, Serbia* Mur, part of the village of Murzasichle, Poland...
and Sulm rivers.
The town is capital of the Leibnitz political district
Leibnitz (district)
Bezirk Leibnitz is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.-Municipalities:Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Allerheiligen bei Wildon**Großfeiting, Kleinfeiting, Pesendorf,...
, which extends to about 681 km², within which more than 75,000 people live. Leibnitz acts as a cultural, educational, judicial and economic focus for the surrounding district.
History
Although the center of the current town is only about 3 km away from the archaeological site of Flavia SolvaFlavia Solva
Flavia Solva was a municipium in the ancient Roman province of Noricum. It was situated on the western banks of the Mur river, close to the modern cities of Wagna and Leibnitz in the southern parts of the Austrian province of Styria...
, Leibnitz cannot claim direct successorship to this Roman municipium
Municipium
Municipium , the prototype of English municipality, was the Latin term for a town or city. Etymologically the municipium was a social contract between municipes, the "duty holders," or citizens of the town. The duties, or munera, were a communal obligation assumed by the municipes in exchange for...
founded in the 1st century, and finally destroyed in the early 5th century. When Bavarian
History of Bavaria
The history of Bavaria stretches from its earliest settlement and its formation as a stem duchy in the 6th century through its inclusion in the Holy Roman Empires to its status as an independent kingdom and, finally, as a large and significant Bundesland of the modern Federal Republic of...
settlers moved into the area during the 9th century, superseding and gradually absorbing the Slavic
Slavic peoples
The Slavic people are an Indo-European panethnicity living in Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, North Asia and Central Asia. The term Slavic represents a broad ethno-linguistic group of people, who speak languages belonging to the Slavic language family and share, to varying degrees, certain...
population that had established itself during the previous half-millennium, all recollection of the Roman city had long since faded.
The first documented version of the name Leibnitz reads Lipnizza and can be found in a scroll issued by emperor Otto the Great
Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto I the Great , son of Henry I the Fowler and Matilda of Ringelheim, was Duke of Saxony, King of Germany, King of Italy, and "the first of the Germans to be called the emperor of Italy" according to Arnulf of Milan...
dated March 7, 970. However, a different settlement - the civitas Zuib (or Sulb; both names recall the Roman Solva) - was actually closer to the site of the present town than the civitas Lipnizza which was located on the nearby Frauenberg hill, where human occupation had persisted since the Neolithic age. Later, when the civilian settlement moved back and down to the Mur valley while the dwelling on the hill remained a fortified place, the name was transformed to Libniz and Libenizze (12th century), Leibentz and Leybencz (13th and 14th century), and finally Leybnitz (14th and 15th century).
During the 12th century the settlement and its surrounding area, including the Sulm valley to the west, became territories of the church-state of Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
and remained so for more than 400 years. The relocation of the civilian settlement was initiated (or at least heavily supported) by Archbishop Konradin of Salzburg, probably by 1130. In March 1170, Emperor Barbarossa
Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick I Barbarossa was a German Holy Roman Emperor. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March, crowned King of Italy in Pavia in 1155, and finally crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV, on 18 June 1155, and two years later in 1157 the term...
discussed matters associated with Salzburg’s authority in Leibnitz, and an imperial document dated June 14, 1178 granted full jurisdiction to Salzburg.
The transition decades from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
proved extremely turbulent and destructive to the area around Leibnitz, as it was to all the south-east parts of modern Austria. The fact that Leibnitz was not fortified certainly contributed to the decision of Archbishop Bernhard von Rorer in 1479 to hand the township over to the invading Hungarians
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
; their occupation collapsed in 1490 and Austria quickly reclaimed Leibnitz, severely punishing those leading citizens who had collaborated with the Hungarians.
In the 18th and early 19th century, when Leibnitz had about 1,000 occupants, the town burned to the ground twice, on May 29, 1709 and again on September 8–9, 1829. By 1883 the population had risen to 2,471 and on April 27, 1913 Austro-Hungarian
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
emperor Franz Josef I of Austria formally elevated Leibnitz to city rank.
By January 1, 1968 the population of Leibnitz had reached 6,641 but its relative importance and vitality had severely declined since Lower Styria
Lower Styria
Lower Styria or Slovenian Styria is a traditional region in northeastern Slovenia, comprising the southern third of the former Duchy of Styria. The population of Lower Styria in its historical boundaries amounts to around 705,000 inhabitants, or 34.5% of the population of Slovenia...
had fallen to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
in 1919 as a consequence of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, severing the city’s vital connections to the south and effectively making it all but a "dead-border township." From the 1970s onward, when it became easier for Yugoslav citizens to travel to Austria, Leibnitz started to experience a marked economic reinvigoration which gained momentum with the establishment of Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
as an independent state in 1991, and its entry into the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
in 2004.
Main sights
- The ruins of the Roman settlement of Flavia SolvaFlavia SolvaFlavia Solva was a municipium in the ancient Roman province of Noricum. It was situated on the western banks of the Mur river, close to the modern cities of Wagna and Leibnitz in the southern parts of the Austrian province of Styria...
near the village WagnaWagnaWagna is a municipality in the district of Leibnitz in Styria, Austria. The ancient Roman town of Flavia Solva lies near what is today Wagna.-References:... - Seggau Castle (Schloss Seggau), situated above the town on the Seggauberg. Founded in the 12th century by Archbishop Konrad I of SalzburgSalzburg-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, now harbors a conference center - The church on the Frauenberg on the hill (381 m) of the same name
- The Leibnitz abbey
Culture and recreation
Leibnitz has a cinemaMovie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
, an ice rink
Ice rink
An ice rink is a frozen body of water and/or hardened chemicals where people can skate or play winter sports. Besides recreational ice skating, some of its uses include ice hockey, figure skating and curling as well as exhibitions, contests and ice shows...
located in the center, and an open-air swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
with campsite
Campsite
A campsite or camping pitch is a place used for overnight stay in the outdoors. In British English a campsite is an area, usually divided into a number of pitches, where people can camp overnight using tents or camper vans or caravans; this British English use of the word is synonymous with the...
and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
courts. These facilities are enjoyed both by locals and passing tourist traffic on its way to the Adriatic.
Interesting annual events include a fall festival with harvest thanksgiving procession, Leibnitz "wine week" and a "Perchtenlauf".
The vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
-rich hilly countryside is home to many traditional wine-drinking establishments known as "Buschenschenke", where the local produce can be readily tasted.
The area is also crisscrossed by cycle trails, which are particularly popular in summer and fall. Leibnitz is situated on a branch of the cycle track which runs alongside the Mur river from Graz to the Slovenian border. Another cycle track alongside the river Sulm lead to Gleinstätten
Gleinstätten
Gleinstätten is a market community in southern Austria which had 1,526 inhabitants according to the most recent census in 2001.- Geography :...
.
Economy
The area surrounding Leibnitz (known as the "Leibnitzer Feld") is extensively cultivated, the main crops being maizeMaize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and pumpkin
Pumpkin
A pumpkin is a gourd-like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae . It commonly refers to cultivars of any one of the species Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita mixta, Cucurbita maxima, and Cucurbita moschata, and is native to North America...
. The latter is used in the production of the black-green colored pumpkin seed oil
Pumpkin seed oil
Pumpkin seed oil , a culinary specialty of south eastern Austria , eastern Slovenia , north western Croatia Pumpkin seed oil (Kernöl or Kürbiskernöl in German, bučno olje in Slovenian, bučino ulje or bundevino ulje in Croatian, and tökmag-olaj in Hungarian), a culinary specialty of south eastern...
, a Styrian speciality. Several small to medium-sized industrial companies and also some smaller hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s and boarding houses are located within the town.
The areas of hilly countryside around the town support many vineyards, which itself is a renowned center of wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
production.
Transportation
Leibnitz lies on the main southern railway lineAustrian Southern Railway
The Austrian Southern Railway was an Austrian railway company established in 1841...
, connecting Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
to Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
via Graz. The journey from Graz main station to Leibnitz takes approximately 30 minutes using trains travelling to Spielfeld
Spielfeld
Spielfeld is a municipality in the district of Leibnitz in Styria, Austria. It was an Austria-Slovenia border crossing checkpoint until December 21 2007 when all immigration and customs checks ended after Slovenia joined the Schengen Area. The Slovene town opposite Spielfeld is Šentilj....
-Straß, Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
or even Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
or Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
. There are also several taxi firms based in Leibnitz.
Leibnitz is also served by the A9 motorway, the main route to Slovenia, via Spielfeld.
Famous people
- Leibnitz is the birthplace of champion tennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player Thomas MusterThomas MusterThomas Muster is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Austria. One of the world's leading clay court players in the 1990s, Muster won the 1995 French Open and at his peak was known as "The King of Clay." In addition, he won eight Masters 1000 series titles, placing him sixth on the all-time list...
. - Anton ElschnigAnton Elschnig–Anton Elschnig was an Austrian ophthalmologist born in Leibnitz.In 1886 he earned his medical doctorate, and later worked as an assistant at ophthalmology clinics in Graz and Vienna...
(1863–1939), a pioneer of eye surgeryEye surgeryEye surgery, also known as orogolomistician surgery or ocular surgery, is surgery performed on the eye or its adnexa, typically by an ophthalmologist.-Preparation and precautions:...
in the early 1900s, was born in Leibnitz.
Twin towns — sister cities
Leibnitz is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: - Pedra Badejo
Pedra Badejo
Pedra Badejo is a city located on the eastern coast of Santiago in Cape Verde. It is the seat of Santa Cruz municipality....
, Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...