Tamsweg#

Tamsweg, province of Salzburg, market town in the district of Tamsweg, alt. 1024 m, pop. 5,585, area 117.42 km<SUP>2.htm>/<SUP>, bi-seasonal tourist resort (77.381 overnight stays) and main settlement of the Lungau region at the confluence of the River Mur and the Taurach and Leissnitzbach streams. Tamsweg is particularly cold in winter ("cold pole of Austria"). - District Commission, district court, district headquarters of the rural police, employment services, health, internal revenue and surveying offices, regional offices for torrent and avalanche control, forestry enterprise of the Oesterreichische Bundesforste AG (Austrian Federal Forests), Strucker barracks, provincial health and social insurance office with dental clinic, hospital, chamber of labour, economic chamber, district chamber of agriculture, family and educational counselling centre, "Hatheyerhaus" social counselling centre, Lungau adult education centre, Lebenshilfe counselling agency, relief organisation, Caritas refugee relief centre, Bundesgymnasium and Bundesrealgymnasium secondary schools, commercial academy, vocational school, agricultural vocational school, adult education centre (Kuenburg palace), sports centre; "Lungauer Nachrichten" newspaper; 2,224 persons employed (1991), services sector predominant (personal, social and public services, commerce); also wood processing and construction industry. - Roman name "Statio Tamasicis", first documented mention around 1160. Deanery church (first mentioned in 1231, reconstructed 1738-1741) with 5 Rococo-style altars and works by G. Lederwasch; St. Barbara hospital (until 1961, today Lungau local heritage museum) and hospital church (18th century, late Gothic sculptures); deanery (1762). South of Tamsweg, on a slope of the Leonhardsberg hill, late Gothic pilgrimage church of St. Leonhard (1430-1433) with fortified walls, precious stained-glass windows (1433-1450, including the "Goldfenster" and "Hansteinfenster") and late Gothic frescoes (1433); panels of the late Gothic winged altar, panel paintings and Madonna with statues from around 1460; early Baroque high altar supported by columns (1661), altarpieces by G. and J. C. Lederwasch; late Gothic sexton´s house. Saukapelle chapel (around 1430) on Leonhardsberg hill with Gothic pietà fresco; town hall (1570); historical town houses (mainly 18th century); Kuenburg palace (1742-1749). Einhof and Paarhof farmsteads (17th -18th centuries) in the surrounding area; Frauenhoehle cave and Lake Prebersee nearby. - Local customs: Preberschiessen (last weekend in August) and Samson Procession (on several occasions between June and August).

Literature#