Lungau#

Lungau, province of Salzburg, Alpine region along the upper Mur/Mura river, comprises the south-east of Salzburg province and, in administrative terms, the political district of Tamsweg (1,019 km2, pop. 20,622); headwater region of the River Mur, between the Niedere Tauern mountains in the north and west and the Hafnergruppe of the Hohe Tauern mountains and the Gurktal Alps in the south; towards the east the Lungau opens up towards Upper Styria. Old pass roads lead in the north-west across the Radstaedter Tauern pass (from Mauterndorf to Radstadt), in the south across the Katschberg mountain (alt. 1,641 m), Another important route is the Tauernautobahn (motorway) with Tauern (6,401 m) and Katschberg tunnels (5,439 m) near St. Michael. The 8 Lungau valleys are bordered by Alpine mountain chains. All settlements (with the exception of the municipality of Ramingstein) lie above an altitude of 1,000 m; most of them were established when the virgin forests were cleared after 1000. The Mitterberg mountain, which runs in a west-east direction, divides the Lungau into a northern and a southern part. In the north the valleys (Taurachtal, Weisspriachtal, Lignitztal, Goeriachtal and Lessachtal valleys) radiate from the principal town, Tamsweg and divide the area between the Niedere Tauern and the Murtal valley into valley communities. The southern part of the area (main town, St. Michael im Lungau) comprises the Zederhaus and the Rotgueldental valleys with Murwinkel are and Bundschuh valley. The climate is more or less continental, with severe winters ("Austrian Siberia"); the summer is characterised by considerable differences in day and night temperatures. Settlement of the Lungau dates back to the Bronze Age, significant continuous settlement has not been proved before the Roman period; in the 7th century settled by Slavs, it formed part of Carantania, from 1213 possession of the archbishopric of Salzburg, but administered from Friesach for a long time. - Economically, the Lungau is still a problem area fraught with structural weaknesses. Considerable decline of Alpine farming and forestry since the 1960s, important sectors: tourism, processing industries (wood processing) and service sector. Biggest settlements: Tamsweg, St. Michael im Lungau, Mariapfarr, Ramingstein and Mauterndorf. Due to its isolated location, many traditions and customs have been preserved (Samsonumzug, Preberschiessen, Perchtenlauf, Prangstangen, Kasmandlfahrten).

Literature#