Perchtoldsdorf
Encyclopedia
Perchtoldsdorf is a town in the district of Mödling
in the Austria
n state of Lower Austria
, located about 16 km southwest of the viennese
inner city.
, to defend newly conquered territories from the recently displaced Magyars on behalf of the Ottonian and Salian
emperors.
The Babenberg vassals continued to rule from the castle after the end of that dynasty until the death of Otto von Perchtoldsdorf in 1286, when the House of Habsburg inherited control.
During the medieval period, the settlement was granted the rights of a Market town
and the castle was used as a residence for the widowed Duchesses of the Habsburg dynasty, including Beatrix von Zollern (widow of Albert III). The Duchess Beatrix established a hospital in 1407, now demolished, and an attached church which still survives.
The conflict between Frederick III
and Albert VI
started an unstable period in the region. In 1446, many homes in the town were burned during the invasion of John Hunyadi
, the regent of Hungary. During this time, the castle was occupied by various rival forces, including mercenaries of the King of Hungary
from 1477 until 1490 when Maximilian I
reestablished Habsburg control over the area. This turbulent period interrupted the construction of the Peel tower
which started in 1450 and was finished about 1521.
This tower and other fortifications permitted a successful defense of the city against the Turkish troops during the Siege of Vienna
in 1529. But, a later Turkish assault on 16 July 1683 before the Battle of Vienna
effectively destroyed the town, and many residents were killed or enslaved.
In modern times, the town is a tourist destination for vacations and visits to the nearby region of the Vienna Woods
. It also continues a long history of viticulture
and wine cultivation as the primary agricultural product.
Austrian songwriter Hugo Wolf
lived and composed in Perchtoldsdorf in his later years.
with: Donauwörth
, Germany
Mödling (district)
Bezirk Mödling is a district of the state of Lower Austria in Austria.-Municipalities:Suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Achau* Biedermannsdorf* Breitenfurt bei Wien* Brunn am Gebirge...
in the Austria
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 of Lower Austria
Lower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
, located about 16 km southwest of the viennese
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...
inner city.
History
It is the site of a castle in a chain of fortifications constructed during the Babenberg rule, while the region was part of the March of AustriaMarch of Austria
The March of Austria was created in 976 out of the territory that probably formed the earlier March of Pannonia. It is also called the Margraviate of Austria or the Bavarian Eastern March. In contemporary Latin, it was the marchia Austriae, Austrie marchionibus, or the marcha Orientalis...
, to defend newly conquered territories from the recently displaced Magyars on behalf of the Ottonian and Salian
Salian dynasty
The Salian dynasty was a dynasty in the High Middle Ages of four German Kings , also known as the Frankish dynasty after the family's origin and role as dukes of Franconia...
emperors.
The Babenberg vassals continued to rule from the castle after the end of that dynasty until the death of Otto von Perchtoldsdorf in 1286, when the House of Habsburg inherited control.
During the medieval period, the settlement was granted the rights of a Market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
and the castle was used as a residence for the widowed Duchesses of the Habsburg dynasty, including Beatrix von Zollern (widow of Albert III). The Duchess Beatrix established a hospital in 1407, now demolished, and an attached church which still survives.
The conflict between Frederick III
Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick the Peaceful KG was Duke of Austria as Frederick V from 1424, the successor of Albert II as German King as Frederick IV from 1440, and Holy Roman Emperor as Frederick III from 1452...
and Albert VI
Albert VI, Archduke of Austria
Albert VI , also known as the Prodigal, from the House of Habsburg was, with his elder brother Emperor Frederick III, an Archduke of Inner Austria from 1424 and of Austria from 1457 until his death...
started an unstable period in the region. In 1446, many homes in the town were burned during the invasion of John Hunyadi
John Hunyadi
John Hunyadi John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: Ioannes Corvinus or Ioannes de Hunyad, Romanian: Iancu (Ioan) de Hunedoara, Croatian: Janko Hunjadi, Serbian: Сибињанин Јанко / Sibinjanin Janko, Slovak: Ján Huňady) John Hunyadi (Hungarian: Hunyadi János , Medieval Latin: ...
, the regent of Hungary. During this time, the castle was occupied by various rival forces, including mercenaries of the King of Hungary
Matthias Corvinus of Hungary
Matthias Corvinus , also called the Just in folk tales, was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458, at the age of 14 until his death...
from 1477 until 1490 when Maximilian I
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian I , the son of Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleanor of Portugal, was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 until his death, though he was never in fact crowned by the Pope, the journey to Rome always being too risky...
reestablished Habsburg control over the area. This turbulent period interrupted the construction of the Peel tower
Peel tower
Peel towers are small fortified keeps or tower houses, built along the English and Scottish borders in the Scottish Marches and North of England, intended as watch towers where signal fires could be lit by the garrison to warn of approaching danger...
which started in 1450 and was finished about 1521.
This tower and other fortifications permitted a successful defense of the city against the Turkish troops during the Siege of Vienna
Siege of Vienna
The Siege of Vienna in 1529 was the first attempt by the Ottoman Empire, led by Suleiman the Magnificent, to capture the city of Vienna, Austria. The siege signalled the pinnacle of the Ottoman Empire's power, the maximum extent of Ottoman expansion in central Europe, and was the result of a...
in 1529. But, a later Turkish assault on 16 July 1683 before the Battle of Vienna
Battle of Vienna
The Battle of Vienna took place on 11 and 12 September 1683 after Vienna had been besieged by the Ottoman Empire for two months...
effectively destroyed the town, and many residents were killed or enslaved.
In modern times, the town is a tourist destination for vacations and visits to the nearby region of the Vienna Woods
Wienerwald
The Vienna Woods are forested highlands that form the northeastern foothills of the Northern Limestone Alps in the states of Lower Austria and Vienna. The long and wide hill range is heavily wooded and a popular recreation area with the Viennese....
. It also continues a long history of viticulture
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
and wine cultivation as the primary agricultural product.
Austrian songwriter Hugo Wolf
Hugo Wolf
Hugo Wolf was an Austrian composer of Slovene origin, particularly noted for his art songs, or lieder. He brought to this form a concentrated expressive intensity which was unique in late Romantic music, somewhat related to that of the Second Viennese School in concision but utterly unrelated in...
lived and composed in Perchtoldsdorf in his later years.
Twin towns — sister cities
Perchtoldsdorf 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: Donauwörth
Donauwörth
Donauwörth is a city in the German State of Bavaria , in the region of Swabia . It is said to have been founded by two fisherman where the Danube and Wörnitz rivers meet...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...