Zwettl Explained

See also: Zwettl (disambiguation).

Zwettl
Native Name:Zwedl
Pushpin Map:Austria
Pushpin Mapsize:270
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Austria
Coordinates:48.6033°N 15.1689°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Austria
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Lower Austria
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Zwettl
Parts Style:para
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Franz Mold
Elevation M:520
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:CET
Timezone Dst:CEST
Utc Offset:+1
Utc Offset Dst:+2
Registration Plate:ZT
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:3910
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:02822
Website:www.zwettl.gv.at

Zwettl (pronounced as /de/; Central Bavarian: Zwedl; Czech: Světlá) is a town and district capital of the Austrian state of Lower Austria. It is chiefly known as the location of Zwettl Abbey, first mentioned in October 1139.

History

The name originates from Slavic "svetla" meaning "glade". Although the etymology suggests an early population of Slavic people no archeological evidence has been found yet.[1] Zwettl was founded by the knights of Kuenring and was first mentioned in a monastery record in 1139. It was granted town privileges on December 28, 1200. Today, the Cistercian convent in Zwettl houses the only remaining manuscript of the life of the beguine mystic Agnes Blannbekin.

Geography

Zwettl has a total area of 98.9 square miles (256.7 km2). The town is found in the middle of Waldviertel at the confluence of the Kamp and Zwettl rivers at the upper part of Kamptal. After Vienna and Wolfsberg in Carinthia, it is the third largest municipality in Austria by area.

Population

People

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Der Name Zwettl. 2009-02-18. Municipal council of Zwettl. de .