Murau
| Murau | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| ||
  Murau Location within Austria | ||
| Coordinates: 47°06′43″N 14°10′23″E / 47.11194°N 14.17306°ECoordinates: 47°06′43″N 14°10′23″E / 47.11194°N 14.17306°E | ||
| Country | Austria | |
| State | Styria | |
| District | Murau | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Thomas Kalcher (ÖVP) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 10.75 km2 (4.15 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 829 m (2,720 ft) | |
| Population (1 January 2014)[1] | ||
| • Total | 2,131 | |
| • Density | 200/km2 (510/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| Postal code | 8850 | |
| Area code | 03532 | |
| Vehicle registration | MU | |
| Website | murau.steiermark.at | |
Murau is the capital of the district of the same name in Styria, located along the Mur river. It has a population of 2,124.
History
The area was already settled in the Bronze Age through the Roman Era. It was mentioned for the first time in a document which used the name Murau in the year 1250.
Based on the Tabula Peutingeriana Noreia, the capital of the Celtic kingdom Noricum was thought to be near Murau in the late 18th and the 19th century.
During the Second World War a camp for the German armed forces was located here, in which captured British prisoners of war had been kept. In May 1945 groups of resistance fighters freed those prisoners.
The Murtalbahn steam train is a historic part of the town, as well as one of its tourist attractions. Since 2002, the annual festival Shakespeare in Styria presents productions of Shakespeare plays in the town's Festival Hall, in the Courtyard of the Murau Castle as well as at the Domenig Pavillon in the park of the town. Young actors from all over Europe are directed by experienced British directors.
Population
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1869 | 1,293 | — |
| 1880 | 1,409 | +9.0% |
| 1890 | 1,377 | −2.3% |
| 1900 | 1,679 | +21.9% |
| 1910 | 1,807 | +7.6% |
| 1923 | 1,990 | +10.1% |
| 1934 | 2,117 | +6.4% |
| 1939 | 2,279 | +7.7% |
| 1951 | 2,838 | +24.5% |
| 1961 | 2,794 | −1.6% |
| 1971 | 2,711 | −3.0% |
| 1981 | 2,622 | −3.3% |
| 1991 | 2,443 | −6.8% |
| 2001 | 2,331 | −4.6% |
| 2011 | 2,096 | −10.1% |
Events
Shakespeare in Styria is an annual open-air Shakespeare festival in Murau. The festival was founded in 2002 by British born theatre manager Nicholas Allen and Austrian writer Rudolph J. Wojta. Each year it presents another play performed by young actors and actresses from all over Europe. In the early years of the festivals performances were in English. Since 2013 productions are performed in German and directed by Nicholas Allen and US-American sword-master Roberta Brown.
Personalities
- Ulrich von Liechtenstein (1200-1278), ministerialis, knight and minnesanger
- Fritz Haas (1890-1968), architect
- Brunner & Brunner, music duo
- Klaus Ofner (1968-present), skier
References
External links
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