Krems an der Donau

Infobox Town AT
name=Krems
name_local=
image_coa = Krems Coa.jpg


image_photo=Krems 2004.jpg
imagesize=300px
image_caption=
state = Lower Austria
regbzk =
district = Statutory City
population =23932
population_as_of = 2006-06-01
population_ref =
pop_dens = 463.7
area = 51.61
elevation = 203
lat_deg=48
lat_min=24
lat_sec=39
lat_hem=N
lon_deg=15
lon_min=36
lon_sec=37
lon_hem=E
postal_code = 3500
area_code =02732
license=KS
mayor = Inge Rinke (ÖVP)
website = [http://www.krems.at www.krems.at]

Krems an der Donau is a city of 23,932 inhabitants in Austria, in the federal state of Lower Austria. It is the fifth-largest city of Lower Austria and is approximately 70 km west of Vienna.

Geography

Location

Krems is located at the confluence of the Krems and Danube Rivers at the eastern end of Wachau valley, in the Waldviertel.

Municipal arrangement

Krems is divided into the following districts: Angern, Egelsee, Gneixendorf, Hollenburg, Krems, Rehberg, Landersdorf, Scheibenhof, Stein, Thallern, Weinzierl. Stein was originally a separate municipality, but was absorbed by Krems in 1938.

Neighbour Municipalities

Krems borders the following municipalities: Stratzing, Langenlois, Rohrendorf bei Krems, Gedersdorf, Traismauer, Nußdorf ob der Traisen, Paudorf, Furth bei Göttweig, Mautern an der Donau, Dürnstein, and Senftenberg.

History

Krems was first mentioned in 995, but settlement was apparent even before then. For example a child's grave, over 27,000 years old, was found here. This is the oldest grave found in Austria.

During the 11th and 12th centuries, Chremis, as it was then called, was almost as large as Vienna.

Krems is the hometown of Martin Johann Schmidt, called "Kremserschmidt", the leading painter, draughtsman and etcher of the Austrian late Baroque.

Main sights

Remains of the town wall are popular, but the biggest attraction in Krems is the town's late-Gothic Piarist church. The Steiner Tor, erected in 1480, is the only remaining medieval gate.

Town Twinnings

Krems is twinned with the following cities:

*flagicon|Denmark Ribe, Denmark, since 1971
*flagicon|Germany Böblingen, Germany, since 1971
*flagicon|France Beaune, France, since 1973
*flagicon|Germany Passau, Germany, since 1974
*flagicon|Czech Republic Kroměříž, Czech Republic, since 1994
*flagicon|USA Grapevine, USA, since 1999

External links

*Commons|Krems an der Donau|Krems an der Donau
* [http://www.travel2austria.com/?p=190 Pictures of Krems and informations in English language]