Völkermarkt

Völkermarkt (German pronunciation: [ˈfœlkɐmaʁkt] ⓘ; Slovene: Velikovec) is a town of about 11,000 inhabitants in the Austrian state of Carinthia, the administrative capital of Völkermarkt District. It is located within the Drava valley east of the Carinthian capital Klagenfurt, north of the Karawanken mountain range.

Völkermarkt
Velikovec
Main square with the Old Town Hall
Main square with the Old Town Hall
Coat of arms of Völkermarkt
Coat of arms
Völkermarkt is located in Austria
Völkermarkt
Völkermarkt
Location within Austria
Coordinates: 46°40′N 14°38′E
CountryAustria
StateCarinthia
DistrictVölkermarkt
Government
 • MayorMarkus Lakounigg (SPÖ)
Area
[1]
 • Total137.33 km2 (53.02 sq mi)
Elevation
462 m (1,516 ft)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[2]
 • Total10,946
 • Density80/km2 (210/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
9100
Area code04232
Vehicle registrationVK
Websitehttps://voelkermarkt.gv.at/

Subdivisions

The municipality of Völkermarkt comprises 26 Katastralgemeinden (Slovene names in brackets):

History

The area, once part of the ancient Noricum province, in the 7th century was resettled by Slavic tribes, who lived within the Principality of Carantania. The migration concentrated around the former Roman settlement of Juenna (near present-day Globasnitz in an area later called Podjuna in Slovene or Jauntal in German. Up to today, significant parts of the population refer to themselves as Carinthian Slovenes.

Völkermarkt, painting by Markus Pernhart (1824–1871)

The descendants of Count Siegfried I of Sponheim, who about 1035 had come to the Duchy of Carinthia as a follower of Emperor Conrad II, had a trading post erected at the site about 1090, where a church was built soon afterwards at the behest of the archbishop of Salzburg. In 1217 Duke Bernhard von Spanheim gave orders to build a bridge across the Drava River and had the settlement rebuilt in 1231. Völkermarkt was granted town privileges in the 13th century already and developed quickly as an important centre for trade in iron from the surrounding ore mines.

In the Carinthian Plebiscite of 1920, a majority of the population voted for adhesion to the Republic of Austria. On 18 September 1979, the Yugoslav Department of State Security firebombed the Völkermarkt town hall, severely injuring three men, including two of the agents, and causing heavy damages.

Population

According to the 2001 census 2.6% of the population were Carinthian Slovenes.

Völkermarkt
Mary Magdalene parish church
Town hall
Village Number of people 1991 Percent of Slovenes 1991 Percent of Slovenes 1951
Arlsdorf/Orlača vas 53 7.5% /
Bach/Potok 62 12.9% 75.4%
Gattersdorf/Štriholče 202 12.4% 31.6%
Krenobitsch/Hrenovče 74 9.5% 31.6%
Penk/Klopče 31 19.4% 57.7%
Rammersdorf/Ramovča vas 60 10.0% 49.3%
St.Peter a.W./Šentpeter n.V 297 10.1% 49.4%
Wandelitzen/Vodenica 54 7.4% 22.4%
Attendorf/Vata vas 34 2.9% 16.4%
Berg ob Attendorf/Rute n.V. 48 0% 27.5%
Ladratschen/Tračje 26 7.7% 2.2%
Obersielach/Gornje Sele 136 1.5% 11.1%
RatschitschachRačiče 90 4.4% 77.4%
Reifnitz/Ribnica 93 3.2% 71.2%
Unterlinden/Podlipa 32 9.4% 10.9%
Wernzach/Brnce 34 0% 97.6%
Gurtschitschach/Gurčiče 47 0% 91.6%
Bösenort/Hudi Kraj 17 0% 38.5%
Rakollach/Rakole 18 0% 29.5%

Transport

The town has access to the Austrian Süd Autobahn (A2) with two junctions. The projected Koralm Railway is expected to improve the area's transport facilities.

Personalities

International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Austria

Twin towns – Sister cities

Völkermarkt is twinned with:

References
  1. "Dauersiedlungsraum der Gemeinden Politischen Bezirke und Bundesländer - Gebietsstand 1.1.2018". Statistics Austria. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  2. "Einwohnerzahl 1.1.2018 nach Gemeinden mit Status, Gebietsstand 1.1.2018". Statistics Austria. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
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