| Prutz | |
| Pushpin Map: | Austria |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 270 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within Austria |
| Coordinates: | 47.0764°N 10.6636°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Austria |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Tyrol |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Landeck |
| Parts Style: | para |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Heinz Kofler |
| Elevation M: | 864 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | CET |
| Timezone Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset: | +1 |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +2 |
| Registration Plate: | LA |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 6522 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 05472 |
| Website: | www.prutz.tirol.gv.at |
Prutz is a municipality in the Landeck district in the Austrian state of Tyrol. Located at the mouth of the Kauner valley on the upper Inn, it is 10 km south of the city of Landeck and 36 km north of Reschen Pass, that forms the border to Italy. The border to Switzerland is located 23 km away towards the south-west.
Prutz, situated on the former Via Claudia Augusta, was a resting place and later post station from Carolingian times, with favourable opportunities for the development of a settlement. The place is first recorded in 1027–1034 as locus qui dicitur Bruttes ("the place called Bruttes") in relation to a dispute over tithes between the bishops' churches of Brixen and Regensburg. The Late Gothic parish church was refurbished in the Baroque style in the 17th century.
In 1903 a disastrous fire destroyed the greater part of the village, although the typical West Tyrolean layout of close housing still remains in the centre.
Prutz was originally administratively part of Ried im Oberinntal, which was dissolved as an administrative unit in 1978, when Prutz became part of Landeck.
Prutz is situated at the intersection of the rivers Inn and Faggenbach. The recreation area and nature park Kaunergrat is located at the east of the village. The skiing resort Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is located to the west of the village.
Prutz is located on the cycling route Via Claudia Augusta.
The population of Prutz was declining in the second half of the 19th century inter alia because of the emigration to the Americas at this period but started to grow steadily from 1910 onwards.[1] As of 2013, 12% of the total population were of foreign nationality. The foreign population was divided as such: 43% of the foreigners were EU citizens, 28% were Turkish citizens, 20% were from countries of former Yugoslavia and some 9% were of other nationalities.[2] Evolution of the population can be seen in the table below.
One of the biggest hydroelectric power plants of Austria is located in Prutz and operated by Tiroler Wasserkraft. The hydro-power plant is linked by a 14.8 km long pipe to the Gepatschspeicher (Gepatsch Reservoir), which was constructed in 1964. Average electricity production per year is 661 GWh. Many of the neighbouring communities are major tourist resorts, whereas Prutz is home to a number of small businesses that serve the surrounding area.
The village is home to one of Austrias biggest sledge production plants. Several agricultural fields are located in the village including an apricot plantation that serves a distillery. The village also claims the highest located winery of Austria.
The local football club, SV Prutz, hosts an annual musical festival on the pentecost weekend where often nationally recognized artists are performing. Other clubs that are active in the village include an orchestra group, the voluntary firebrigade, a shooting club, the distiller association and a carnival group.
In 1212 a special fountain was discovered that is called Saurbrunn Quelle today. The water from the fountain contains iron, calcium, magnesium and sulfur and is of carbonic nature. It is known for its special healing character. The village has built a resting place around the fountain where the water is made available to the public free of charge.
Other main sights in the village include:
Innsbruck Airport is the closest available airport and is located 80 km away from Prutz. The next train station is Landeck-Zams railway station that is located 20 km away and is connected with a bus. A regular bus service is further maintained to Kaunertal, Scuol and Serfaus.