Kapfenberg#

Kapfenberg, Styria, town in the district of Bruck an der Mur, alt. 502 m, pop. 23,380 (in 1981: pop. 25,716), area 61.24 km2, industrial centre in the Muerztal valley which draws many commuters. Kapfenberg has a hospital, town library, cultural centres, youth centres, local museum, district office of the Alpine rescue service. Social centre for families and couples (diocese of Graz-Seckau), day centre of the "Lebenshilfe" welfare institution, Fachhochschule*, Bundesgymnasium and Bundesrealgymnasium secondary schools, advanced technical school (HTL), agriculture and forestry school (Fachschule Hafendorf), vocational guidance centre, vocational training (BFI), Austrian training centre for guide dogs, sport facilities (Alpenstadium, ice stadium, etc.), airfield; some private power stations on the River Muerz. Work force: 10,560 (1991), around 55 % in manufacturing; steel production, materials for high-tech products, e.g. aerospace and automobile manufacturing industries, energy and medical technology, successor companies to the Boehler Werke, including several subsidiaries of Boehler-Uddeholm AG, aluminium technology, chain fabrication, coating technology, cable factory, broad range of small and medium sized enterprises; service sector: personal, social and public services. First documented mention as "Chaffenberch" in 1190, first facility built up around 1190 (systematic extension from 1240), hammer mills since the 15th century, Boehler metal works from 1894. Town charter in 1924, badly damaged from 1943 to 1945; Late Gothic parish church (Baroque additions from 1752 to 1755), interior after 1770, gravestones from the 16th /17th century); St. Martin church (14th /15th century); Protestant church (1958-1961); church at Schirmitzbuehel (1956/1957) and Walfersam (1960-1962); palaces: Wieden (various building phases from the17th to the 20th century) and Krottendorf (17th century) with courtyard, Ober-Kapfenberg Castle; Boehler works housing estates; town hall (original building from the 16th -17th century). Close to Kapfenberg is the Rettenwandhoehle stalactite cave.

Literature#