Judenburg#

Judenburg, Styria, town in the district of Judenburg, alt. 737 m, pop. 10,581 (1981: 11,188), area 13.21 km2, traffic junction and traditional commercial centre between the Seetaler Alps and Aichfeld plain in the Mur valley in northern Styria. - District Commission, District Court, district building authority, Employment Services, tax office, Office of Weights, Measures, and Surveying, Chamber of Labour, Economic Chamber, District and Provincial Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry, district health and social insurance agency, branch of the district prison of Leoben, hospital, Lebenshilfe day-care centre and residence for disabled people, school psychology counselling centre, sports stadium, sports hall, municipal library, secondary schools: Bundesgymnasium, Bundesrealgymnasium, Handelsakademie (commercial academy), Bundesanstalt fuer Kindergartenpaedagogik (kindergarten teacher training institute), Vocational Training Institute, provincial residence hall for school-children. High degree of commuting (4,597 employed persons in 1991), well-developed service sector (approximately 69 % of gainfully employed persons), manufacturing: high-grade steel-processing and metal-processing industry (manufacture of leaf springs, slit coils, profiles, rock-drilling machinery), plastics processing (gaskets), manufacture of cardboard articles, soap factory. - Prehistoric and Roman finds from the surrounding area are exhibited in the town museum; the famous Strettweger Kultwagen (around 600 B.C.) and a cache of Roman coins (2,800 Antoniniane) were discovered in Strettweg near Judenburg (now in the Provincial Museum of Styria in Graz). First documented mention as "Judinburch" in 1074. In 1240 the town was erected around the market place; the fortified towers and parts of the outer walls are still standing; first preserved town charter 1277; in the Middle Ages the most important commercial centre in Styria (iron and salt trading with Venice); castle with knight´s quarters. In the late Middle Ages centre for an important school of painters and sculptors (e.g. Hans von Judenburg, Woelfl der Maler). Tradition of iron processing since the 16th century, in the 19th century numerous hammer works and scythe forges, from 1906 Steirische Gussstahlwerke (Styrian Cast Steel Works). Parish church (built after 1413, enlarged after 1478, rebuilt 1504-1537, from 1670 renovated in baroque style, 1899-1902 renovation of the exterior) with10 baroque statues of the apostles (circa 1750) and limestone Madonna (circa 1420-1425) by Hans von Judenburg, since 1970 a collection of religious artworks in the north galleries; free-standing Stadtturm (75-m-high watchtower, built in 1449-1509, made higher in 1841/1842); former Jesuit church and college (from 1620, originally built as Augustinian eremitic monastery in 1357, now festival hall and town museum); Magdalenenkirche (church of Mary Magdalene,14th century) with Gothic stained-glass windows by the "Judenburg Werkstatt" ("Judenburg Workshop") and frescoes (14th century); Calvary Church (1720-1722); former Franciscan monastery (established around 1257); former Franciscan Poor Clares convent (14th century); former castle (now courthouse) built in 1596-1600, renovated by F. P. Carlone in 1677-1679; Weyer Castle in Feeberg valley (16th century); patrician residences: Torhof (1616/1617) and Grubhof (16th century, enlarged 1652); Neu-Liechtenstein Palace (around 1650); Liechtenstein castle ruins (documented mention in 1140), parts of the main living quarters preserved. "Judenburger Sommer" (summer festival since 1990, August-September, concerts and exhibitions).

Literature#