Leoben

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2009)

Leoben
Main square and old city hall
Coat of arms	Location
Administration
Country	Austria
State	Styria
District	Leoben
Mayor	Matthias Konrad - (SPÖ)
Basic statistics
Area	107.74 km2 (41.6 sq mi)
Elevation	541 m  (1775 ft)
Population	25,227  (31 December 2006)
- Density	234 /km² (606 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate	LE
Postal code	8700
Area code	03842
Website	www.leoben.at, www.leoben.cc Coordinates: 47°22′54″N 15°05′50″E / 47.38167°N 15.09722°E / 47.38167; 15.09722

Leoben is a city in Styria, in central Austria, located on the Mur river. With a population of about 25,000, Leoben is a local industrial center and hosts the University of Leoben which specialises in mining. The Peace of Leoben, an armistice preliminary to the Treaty of Campo Formio, was signed in Leoben in 1797.

The Justice Center Leoben is a prison designed by architect Josef Hohensinn, which was completed in 2005.

Past and present

The toll tower (1280) and the church of Saint Francis Xavier (1660-1665)

Leoben is known as the “Gateway to the Styrian Iron Road”. The 13th century Main Square features the Hackl House with its baroque façade in red and white. The City Parish Church, St. Xaver, built in 1660, comprises a 17th century interior and is considered one of the most significant Jesuit churches in Austria. Also of note is the Art Nouveau Lutheran church which is at the upper end of the Franz-Josef-Strasse.

The oldest convent for women in Styria is Göss Abbey. Founded in 1020 A.D., it was run by the Benedictine nuns until it was dissolved in 1782. The early Romanesque crypt is of note as is the 'Gösser Ornat,' which can be seen in Vienna (Museum for Applied Arts). Next to the convent is the Gösser Beer brewery, which includes a brewery museum.

Current cultural events include classical concerts in the Congress Leoben, productions of the Summer Philharmonic in July and performances of local and guest productions in the oldest operating theater in Austria. ^[1]

Tradition & Avantgarde

Leoben was shaped for centuries by the trade with iron and the research in raw materials carried out at the University of Leoben, which was founded in 1840. Mining traditions are still play an important part in citylife. Examples are the Miners Parade, the St. Barbara Celebration or the Ledersprung ("Leatherjump"). The Gösser Kirtag, a street fair, takes place on the Thursday after the first Sunday in October and attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Leoben.

Other components of the vigorous cultural life of the "Mining City" include classical concerts in the Congress Leoben, productions of the Summer Philharmonics in July and performances of locally created and guest productions in the oldest still-running theater in Austria.

Famous people

• Walter Schachner - (aka "Schoko") football trainer
• Martin Weinek - actor
• Roland Linz

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Leoben

• Official website
• University of Leoben
• Pictures of Leoben and information in English language

This Styria location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e