Vöcklabruck
Encyclopedia
Vöcklabruck is the administrative center of the Vöcklabruck district, Austria
. It is located in the western part of Upper Austria
, close to the A1 Autobahn as well as the B1 highway, and has been ranked in the top 10 most-visited cities in Austria
.
Vöcklabruck's name derives from the River Vöckla
which runs through the town, whose name in turn originates from a person
's name ('Vechela') and 'Ache', meaning 'flowing water' or 'river
'.
Vöcklabruck has many shops as well as services and schools. It was chosen for Europäisches Schützentreffen (the European Meeting of Marksmen) in 2003, and has and will play host to other events such as the Internationale Musiktage (International Music Gathering), Landesgartenschau (provincial garden show) 2007, and an Erdbeerfest (strawberry
festival), among others.
, 16 km to the Traunsee
, 40 km to the Mondsee, 68 km to the Hallstättersee
and 72 km to the Wolfgangsee
) has led to the town's description as "the gateway to the Salzkammergut
". Near the town there are many recreational facilities where people can enjoy both indoor and outdoor activities. Alongside these, Vöcklabruck offers:
with:
Český Krumlov
, Czech Republic
Hauzenberg
, Germany
Slovenj Gradec
, Slovenia
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...
. It is located in the western part of Upper Austria
Upper Austria
Upper Austria is one of the nine states or Bundesländer of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders on Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as on the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg...
, close to the A1 Autobahn as well as the B1 highway, and has been ranked in the top 10 most-visited cities in 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...
.
Vöcklabruck's name derives from the River Vöckla
Vöckla
The Vöckla is a River in Upper Austria. It originates northeast of the Mondsee and joins the Ager River after 51 km at Vöcklabruck. The river basin is about 450 km², the medium flux 8.7 m³/sec....
which runs through the town, whose name in turn originates from a person
Person
A person is a human being, or an entity that has certain capacities or attributes strongly associated with being human , for example in a particular moral or legal context...
's name ('Vechela') and 'Ache', meaning 'flowing water' or 'river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
'.
Vöcklabruck has many shops as well as services and schools. It was chosen for Europäisches Schützentreffen (the European Meeting of Marksmen) in 2003, and has and will play host to other events such as the Internationale Musiktage (International Music Gathering), Landesgartenschau (provincial garden show) 2007, and an Erdbeerfest (strawberry
Strawberry
Fragaria is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, commonly known as strawberries for their edible fruits. Although it is commonly thought that strawberries get their name from straw being used as a mulch in cultivating the plants, the etymology of the word is uncertain. There...
festival), among others.
Main sights
The distance to Salzkammergut's lakes from Vöcklabruck (11 km to the AtterseeAttersee (lake)
Attersee is the largest lake of the Salzkammergut area of Austria. It extends for about 20 km from north to south and 4 km from east to west. Its water comes from the Seeache, which flows out of another lake, the Mondsee...
, 16 km to the Traunsee
Traunsee
Traunsee is a lake in the Salzkammergut, Austria, located at . Its surface is approximately 24.5 km² and its maximum depth is 191 metres. It is a popular tourist destination, and its attractions include Schloss Ort, a medieval castle....
, 40 km to the Mondsee, 68 km to the Hallstättersee
Hallstatt
Hallstatt, Upper Austria is a village in the Salzkammergut, a region in Austria. It is located near the Hallstätter See . At the 2001 census it had 946 inhabitants...
and 72 km to the Wolfgangsee
Wolfgangsee
Wolfgangsee is a lake in Austria that lies mostly within the state of Salzburg and is one of the best known lakes in the Salzkammergut resort region. The municipalities on its shore are Strobl, St. Gilgen with the villages of Abersee and Ried as well as the market town of St. Wolfgang in the state...
) has led to the town's description as "the gateway to the Salzkammergut
Salzkammergut
The Salzkammergut is a resort area located in Austria. It stretches from City of Salzburg to the Dachstein mountain range, spanning the federal states of Upper Austria , Salzburg , and Styria . The main river of the region is the Traun, a tributary of the Danube...
". Near the town there are many recreational facilities where people can enjoy both indoor and outdoor activities. Alongside these, Vöcklabruck offers:
- In the town square's tower, frescos discovered in the 1960s. They date from 1502 and were painted by Tyrolean Jörg Kölderer.
- Dörflkirche/Ägidiuskirche (St. Giles' Church), Baroque church constructed between 1688-1691.
- Schöndorfer Kirche, an early medieval fortified church, built before 824.
- Museum Heimathaus with Wolfsegg IronWolfsegg IronThe Wolfsegg Iron, also known as The Salzburg Cube, is a small cuboid mass of iron that was found buried in Tertiary lignite in Wolfsegg, Austria, in 1885. It weighs 785 grams and measures 67 x 67 x 47mm. Four of its sides are roughly flat, while the two remaining sides are convex...
Famous residents
- Leonhard SchiemerLeonhard SchiemerLeonhard Schiemer was an early pacifist Anabaptist writer and martyr whose work survives in the Ausbund.-Background:...
, an important figure in the AnabaptistAnabaptistAnabaptists are Protestant Christians of the Radical Reformation of 16th-century Europe, and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites....
movement was born in Vöcklabruck around 1500 - Princess Alexandra of Hanover, the daughter of Ernst August V, Prince of HanoverErnst August V, Prince of HanoverErnst August, Prince of Hanover , is the third husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco, heiress presumptive to the throne of Monaco...
and Caroline, Princess of HanoverCaroline, Princess of HanoverCaroline, Princess of Hanover, Hereditary Princess of Monaco , formally styled Her Royal Highness The Princess of Hanover , has been heiress presumptive to the throne of Monaco since 2005, a position which she previously held from 1957 to 1958.She is the wife of...
was born in Vöcklabruck on July 20, 1999 - Jim SilyeJim SilyeJim Silye is a Canadian politician, businessman, and former professional football player for the Canadian Football League....
, Canadian politician and sportsman - Wolfgang HolzmairWolfgang HolzmairWolfgang Holzmair is an Austrian baritone.Holzmair studied at the Vienna Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He won 2nd prize in the baritone class of the 's-Hertogenbosch International Vocal Competition in 1981, and a year later 1st prize in the Musikverein International Lieder Competition,...
, renowned baritone recitalist and opera singer, born in Vöcklabruck in 1952 - Gerhard NarholzGerhard NarholzGerhard Narholz is a classically trained composer, arranger and conductor, dedicated to easy listening and film score music. 1958-1965 he wrote pop songs for artists such as Petula Clark, Heidi Brühl, Bill Ramsey and film scores for various German feature films and TV series...
, production music composer/conductor born in Vöcklabruck in 1937 - Oskar Czerwenka
Twin towns — Sister cities
Vöcklabruck 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:
Český Krumlov
Český Krumlov
Český Krumlov is a small city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, best known for the fine architecture and art of the historic old town and Český Krumlov Castle...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
Hauzenberg
Hauzenberg
Hauzenberg is a municipality in the district of Passau, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 15 km northeast of Passau....
, 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...
Slovenj Gradec
Slovenj Gradec
Slovenj Gradec is a town and a municipality in northern Slovenia. It is part of the historic Lower Styria region, since 2005 it belongs to the NUTS-3 statistical region of Carinthia...
, 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...