Leukental
Encyclopedia
The Leukental is a valley in North Tyrol
in the district of Kitzbühel in Austria. The Leukental runs north to south from the Thurn Pass to the Bavarian border, but is not just defined as the main valley but includes several smaller side valleys. The river flowing through the Leukental is known as the Jochberger Ache from its source at the Thurn Pass to Kitzbühel, then as the Kitzbühler Ache
from Kitzbühel to St. Johann in Tirol and, from its confluence with the Fieberbrunner Ache near St. Johann in Tirol, as the Großache. After leaving the Leukentals and Tyrol the river is known in Bavaria as the Tiroler Ache until it discharges into the Chiemsee
lake, and its valley is known as the Achental. The parishes in the Leukental are: Jochberg
, Aurach bei Kitzbühel
, Kitzbühel
, Oberndorf in Tirol
, St. Johann in Tirol
, Kirchdorf
and Kössen
.
The name "Leukental" might almost have been forgotten by the 20th century because, from the middle of the 19th century the name "Großachental" had become common. This was mainly because it was a time when the imperial and royal monarchy wanted to survey all crown lands precisely and the state surveyors, who were mostly from Bohemia, did not often quite understand Alpine dialects and many names were entered on the maps without being researched.
For example the erroneous change of the name of the valley to the name of the river could be explained because the state surveyor may have asked the name of the river and would have been told "that is the große Ache." As a result even today the name "Großachental" appears in most of the maps.
During the 20th century the incorrect belief also arose that the Leukental ran from the Inn valley near Wörgl via Söll and Ellmau to St. Johann, so that the station near Bruckhäusl (in the town of Wörgl
) was called "Söll-Leukental" until a few years ago. In 1875, when the station was built, it was thought that you could get off at this station and continue your journey to Söll and then via Ellmau and Going enter the Leukental. Over the decades the error was perpetuated that the Leukental ran from Wörgl via Söll, Scheffau, Ellmau and Going to St. Johann.
The local Kitzühel historian, Peter Brandstätter, who died in November 2008, gave the Leukental its name back by raising the awareness of the issue with the public authorities through letters and publications. He even managed to persuade the Austrian Federal Railways to change the name of the station from "Söll-Leukental" to "Bruckhäusl".
North Tyrol
North Tyrol, or North Tirol is the main part of the Austrian state of Tyrol, located in the western part of the country. The other part of the state is East Tyrol, which also belongs to Austria, but does not share a border with North Tyrol....
in the district of Kitzbühel in Austria. The Leukental runs north to south from the Thurn Pass to the Bavarian border, but is not just defined as the main valley but includes several smaller side valleys. The river flowing through the Leukental is known as the Jochberger Ache from its source at the Thurn Pass to Kitzbühel, then as the Kitzbühler Ache
Kitzbühler Ache
The Kitzbühler Ache is a river in the Kitzbühel district, Tyrol, Austria. As Jochberger Ache it sources near Pass Thurn.Jochberg, Aurach bei Kitzbühel, Kitzbühel and Oberndorf in Tirol are situated along the river. At the southern town limits of St...
from Kitzbühel to St. Johann in Tirol and, from its confluence with the Fieberbrunner Ache near St. Johann in Tirol, as the Großache. After leaving the Leukentals and Tyrol the river is known in Bavaria as the Tiroler Ache until it discharges into the Chiemsee
Chiemsee
Chiemsee is a freshwater lake in Bavaria, Germany, between Rosenheim, Germany, and Salzburg, Austria. It is often called the Bavarian Sea. The rivers Tiroler Achen and Prien flow into the lake; the river Alz, out of it...
lake, and its valley is known as the Achental. The parishes in the Leukental are: Jochberg
Jochberg, Tyrol
Jochberg is a municipality in Tyrol, Austria, in the Kitzbühel district. It is located at which is 8 km south of Kitzbühel, at an elevation of 923 m above sea level. Population is 1,540 , on an area of 87.8 km²....
, Aurach bei Kitzbühel
Aurach bei Kitzbühel
Aurach bei Kitzbühel is a municipality in Kitzbühel District in the Kitzbühel Alps in the Austrian state of Tyrol.Aurauch is located 5 km south of district town of Kitzbühel on the river known as the Kitzbühler Ache and the road to Thurn Pass...
, Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel
-Demographic evolution:-Personalities:*Karl Wilhelm von Dalla Torre , entomologist and botanist*Alfons Walde , expressionist painter and architect*Peter Aufschnaiter , mountaineer and geographer...
, Oberndorf in Tirol
Oberndorf in Tirol
Oberndorf is a municipality in Kitzbühel District, Tyrol, Austria. It is located in the Leukental valley, on the Kitzbühler Ache stream, halfway between St. Johann in Tirol and Kitzbühel, at an altitude of 687 m above sea level....
, St. Johann in Tirol
St. Johann in Tirol
-History:St. Johann is situated in the Leukental, which extends from Jochberg to the Streichen close to the Bavarian border. This region was already settled in the 4th century BC by a Celtic tribe, the Ambisontiers, who pursued copper mining in the surrounding mountains.In 15 B.C...
, Kirchdorf
Kirchdorf in Tirol
Kirchdorf in Tirol is a municipality in the Kitzbühel district and is located 12.20 km north of Kitzbühel as well as 3 km north of Sankt Johann in Tirol at the Kitzbühler Ache. The area is the 2nd largest one in size in the district. The village has got its name from an old church which was...
and Kössen
Kössen
Kössen is a municipality in the Kitzbühel district and is located 24 km north of Kitzbühel as well as 15.50 km north of Sankt Johann in Tirol at the Kitzbühler Ache near the border to Germany.-Geography:...
.
The name "Leukental" might almost have been forgotten by the 20th century because, from the middle of the 19th century the name "Großachental" had become common. This was mainly because it was a time when the imperial and royal monarchy wanted to survey all crown lands precisely and the state surveyors, who were mostly from Bohemia, did not often quite understand Alpine dialects and many names were entered on the maps without being researched.
For example the erroneous change of the name of the valley to the name of the river could be explained because the state surveyor may have asked the name of the river and would have been told "that is the große Ache." As a result even today the name "Großachental" appears in most of the maps.
During the 20th century the incorrect belief also arose that the Leukental ran from the Inn valley near Wörgl via Söll and Ellmau to St. Johann, so that the station near Bruckhäusl (in the town of Wörgl
Wörgl
Wörgl is a town in Tyrol, Austria, in the Kufstein district. It is 20 km from the state border with Bavaria.-Transport:Wörgl is an important railway junction between the line from Innsbruck to Munich, and the inner-Austrian line to Salzburg...
) was called "Söll-Leukental" until a few years ago. In 1875, when the station was built, it was thought that you could get off at this station and continue your journey to Söll and then via Ellmau and Going enter the Leukental. Over the decades the error was perpetuated that the Leukental ran from Wörgl via Söll, Scheffau, Ellmau and Going to St. Johann.
The local Kitzühel historian, Peter Brandstätter, who died in November 2008, gave the Leukental its name back by raising the awareness of the issue with the public authorities through letters and publications. He even managed to persuade the Austrian Federal Railways to change the name of the station from "Söll-Leukental" to "Bruckhäusl".