!!!Matrei in Osttirol

Matrei in Osttirol, Tirol, market town in the district of Lienz, alt. 
977 m, pop. 4,521, area 277.77 km%%sup 2/%, centre of Isel 
Valley, situated at a point where the Tauernbach stream empties into 
the River Isel; north-west of the town of Lienz. - District court, 
forestry office, District Office of Public Works, administration 
office of the nearby national park, Goldried weather-station, 
transmitter of the Austrian Broadcasting Company situated at the top 
of Klaunzer Hill, day-centre operated by the "Lebenshilfe" charity, 
youth centre, Tauerncenter multipurpose hall, transformer station of 
Gruben, Matrei power station, Felbertauernstrasse AG (company which 
built the tunnel through the Felbertauern Mountains, also operates a 
toll-gate at the entry to the tunnel); summer tourism (290,258 
overnight stays), bodice production, metal cabinet production, timber 
processing. - During the 7%%sup th/%  and 8%%sup th/%  centuries the 
region around Matrie in Osttirol was settled by Slavic tribes; later, 
Bavarian settlements; in 1200 Matrei in Osttirol was integrated into 
the province of Salzburg; first documented mention as "forum de 
Matrei" in 1280; during the Middle Ages Matrei in Osttirol was 
situated on an important trade route connecting the north with the 
south; largely devastated by a fire in 1897. - Early Classicist parish 
church (1777-1783) designed by T. Mayr, stuccowork, ceiling paintings 
by F. A. Zeiller, high altar (1805), two tombstones (dating from 
the 16%%sup th/%  and 17%%sup th/%  centuries) set into the graveyard 
walls, funeral chapel (1978), filial church at Ganz (built towards the 
end of the 12%%sup th/%  century), nave redesigned in Gothic style 
around 1470, porch ornamented with frescoes (1340); has one of the 
most magnificent interiors of the Tirol, choir tower with an upper 
choir and a lower choir decorated with murals (1265-1270); church at 
Huben (Kaplaneikirche,1925-1928), numerous chapels; Weissenstein 
Palace (built in the 12%%sup th/%  century; alterations added in the 
19%%sup th/%  century); ruins of Kienburg Castle; court buildings 
(erected between 1530 and 1539); old farmsteads (Paarhof, Einhof) in 
the vicinity, some of which are exclusively built in timber; Prosegg 
Ravine. Custom: Klaubaufgehen (according to long-standing traditions, 
persons with hideous masks (Klaubauf masks) move around the market 
town in the first days of December. They are joined by St. Nicholas, 
who distributes small gifts to the children).

!Literature
M. Forcher (ed.), Matrei in Osttirol Ein 
Gemeinde-Buch zum 700-Jahr-Jubilaeum der ersten Erwaehnung als Markt 
1280-1980, 1980.


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