Arnoldstein

Infobox Town AT
name=Arnoldstein
name_local=
image_coa = Wappen at arnoldstein.png

state = Carinthia
regbzk =
district = Villach-Land
population =6832
population_as_of = 01.01.2001
population_ref =
pop_dens =
area = 67.4
elevation = 578
lat_deg=46
lat_min=33
lat_hem=N
lon_deg=13
lon_min=42
lon_hem=E
postal_code = 9501
area_code =04255
mayor = Erich Kessler
website = [http://www.arnoldstein.co.at/ www.arnoldstein.co.at]

Arnoldstein ( _sl. Podklošter, _it. Oristagno) is a market town in the district of Villach-Land in the Austrian state of Carinthia.

Geography

Location

Arnoldstein is located at Austria's southern border between the Carnic Alps and the Karawanken mountain range, near the confluence of the "Gailitz" ( _it. Slizza) and the Gail River. The tripoint of Austria with Italy and Slovenia is near Arnoldstein at the top of the "Ofen" mountain (1,509m/4,951ft), the neighbouring municipalites to the south are Tarvisio and Kranjska Gora. Today there is a marker at this location.

ubdivision

Arnoldstein is divided into six Katastralgemeinden: Arnoldstein ("Podklošter"), Hart ("Ločilo"), Maglern ("Megvarje"), Pöckau ("Peče"), Riegersdorf ("Rikarja vas") und Seltschach ("Sovče"). It can be further divided into 21 "Ortschaften" (with population totals 2001):

History

The area around Arnoldstein was already settled in ancient times, when a Roman Road connected Aquileia with Virunum (near Klagenfurt). Arnoldstein's name derives from the alleged founder of castle, Knight Arnold. First under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Aquileia, Emperor Henry II granted the the castle to the Bishopric of Bamberg in 1014. Here Bishop Otto of Bamberg established a Benedictine abbey in 1106, which was not abolished until 1783 by Emperor Joseph II. The building burnt down in 1883, so only ruins remain.

Politics

The town council is made up of 27 members of the following parties:
*19 SPÖ
*4 ÖVP
*3 FPÖ
*1 ALA (Alternative List)