Bad Ischl

Infobox Ort in Österreich
image_photo = Ischl_from_the_Katrin.jpg
Art = Gemeinde
Name = Bad Ischl
Wappen =
lat_deg = 47 | lat_min = 43 | lat_sec = 13
lon_deg = 13 | lon_min = 38 | lon_sec = 0
Lageplan =
Bundesland = Oberösterreich
Bezirk = Gmunden
Höhe = 468
Fläche = 162.8
Einwohner = 14106
Stand = 01.01.2006
PLZ = 4820
Vorwahl = 06132
Kfz = GM
Gemeindekennziffer = 40 703
NUTS =
LOCODE =
Straße = Pfarrgasse 11
Website = [http://www.bad-ischl.ooe.gv.at/ www.bad-ischl.ooe.gv.at]
Bürgermeister = Hannes Heide
Partei = parteifrei
Gemeinderatanzahl = 37
Wahljahr = 2003
Gemeinderat = 13 ÖVP, 17 SPÖ, 3 FPÖ, 3 Grüne, 1 ISCHL

Bad Ischl is a spa town in Austria. It lies in the southern part of Upper Austria, at the Traun River in the centre of the Salzkammergut region. The town consists of the Katastralgemeinden "Ahorn", "Bad Ischl", "Haiden", "Jainzen", "Kaltenbach", "Lauffen", "Lindau", "Pfandl", "Perneck", "Reiterndorf" and "Rettenbach".

History

A settlement area since the Hallstatt culture Bad Ischl was first mentioned in a 1262 deed as "Iselen". In 1419 Archduke Albert V of Austria established the local seat of the Salt Chamber ("Salzkammer") at "Wildenstein" Castle and Ischl received the privileges of a market town in 1466 by Emperor Frederick III. A first salt mine was opened in 1563, a salt evaporation pond ("Saline") followed in 1571.

When in the early 19th century the brine came into use for medical purposes, Ischl soon became a fashionable spa resort with notable guests like Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich and Archduke Franz Karl of Austria. The "Hotel Post" opened in 1828 was the first one in the whole Salzkammergut area. In 1849 Franz Karl's son, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria chose the town for his summer residence.

On August 19, 1853 the engagement between Franz Joseph and Elisabeth of Bavaria ("Sisi") took place at the "Seeauerhaus", Esplanade No. 10, which since 1989 has been the location of the "Museum der Stadt Bad Ischl".In 1854, the Emperor's mother, Archduchess Sophie, gave him the "Kaiservilla" (Imperial Villa) as a wedding present. The villa became the imperial family's summer residence; Franz Joseph described it as "Heaven on Earth" [cite web|url=http://www.kaiservilla.at/ |title=Official Kaiservilla Homepage |accessdate=2006-06-03] . He also granted a nearby mansion to mistress Katharina Schratt, that could be easily reached via a hidden footpath. In the "Kaiservilla" Franz Joseph on 28 July 1914 signed the declaration of war against the Kingdom of Serbia, signalling the start of World War I. He left Bad Ischl on the next day and never returned. To this day, the villa is still an estate of the Habsburg-Lorraine family, although the grounds and parts of the residence are open to the public.

During World War II, a subcamp of the Dachau concentration camp was located in Bad Ischl.

ights

Besides the "Kaiservilla", the city offers several health spas and tourist attractions like the historic "Kongresshaus" opened in 1875, the new "Kurhaus" built by Clemens Holzmeister in 1932 as well as the former residence of Franz Lehár, that he acquired in 1912 and today serves as a museum. The Saint Nicholas parish church was first mentioned in a 1344 deed.

Bad Ischl is also known for the "Konditorei Zauner" pastry shop, former k.u.k. purveyor established in 1832, and the small "Lehártheater" built in 1827.

A gondola lift runs from the town up to the "Katrin" alpine pasture at 1415m (4643ft) which offers a panoramic view of the Salzkammergut mountains. The ruins of "Wildenstein" Castle, that burnt down in 1715, are nearby.

Notable people

*Helmut Berger, actor was born in Bad Ischl on May 29, 1944
*Leopold Engleitner, conscientious objector, born in Aigen, Strobl am Wolfgangsee on July 23, 1905 grew up in Bad Ischl
* Jörg Haider, politician, born in Bad Goisern on January 26, 1950 attended school in Bad Ischl
*Leopold Hasner von Artha, politician, born in Prague on March 15, 1818, died in Bad Ischl on June 5, 1891
*Franz Lehár, operetta composer, born in Komárom (now Slovakia) on April 30, 1870, died in Bad Ischl on October 28, 1948
*Leo Perutz, author, born in Prague on November 2, 1882, died in Bad Ischl on August 25, 1957
*Josef Plieseis Communist "Widerstand" fighter, born in Bad Ischl on December 20, 1913, died here on October 21, 1966
*Oscar Straus, composer, born in Vienna on March 6, 1870, died in Bad Ischl on January 11, 1954

References

External links

* [http://www.bad-ischl.ooe.gv.at/ Bad Ischl's government website]
* [http://www.badischl.at/ Bad Ischl's tourism website]