Waidhofen an der Thaya#

Waidhofen an der Thaya, Lower Austria, town in the district of Waidhofen an der Thaya, alt. 510 m, pop. 5,553, area 46.03 km2, located on a terrace along the upper part of the River Thaya (also called "Deutsche Thaya"), in the northern Waldviertel region. - District commission, district court, employment services, tax and surveying office, chamber of labour, economic chamber, district chamber of farmers, local health and social insurance office, Caritas day-care centre, marriage, family and personal guidance services, main operating office of the EVN Lower Austrian power services, sports hall, municipal hall, 3 museums, sports and leisure centre, Volksheim educational association, adult education centre, Bundesgymnasium and Bundesrealgymnasium secondary schools, commercial academy, waterworks; 3,727 employed persons (1991), about half of them work in the services sector (mainly personal, social and public services) and half in the manufacturing sector: electrical industry, plastics-processing industry, concrete factory, manufacture of doors, building trade. - Regularly laid-out fortified town founded in the 12th century, first documented mention in 1171 as "Waidehouen", granted town status in 1337 and again in 1375; town fortification and 2 towers largely preserved, impressive high altar with altar painting by M. Moelk, frescoes by J. L. Daysinger, in the Baroque parish church (1716-1723); Baroque citizens´ hospital church (17th century) with Gothic choir; castle (rebuilt in 1770); farmers´ town residences from the late Renaissance and the Baroque periods; Trinity column (1705-1709); hammer mill (19th century).

Literature#