Baden bei Wien

Baden (German for "Baths"; Central Bavarian: Bodn),[3] unofficially distinguished from other Badens as Baden bei Wien (Baden near Vienna),[4] is a spa town in Austria. It serves as the capital of Baden District in the state of Lower Austria. Located about 26 km (16 mi) south of Vienna, the municipality consists of cadastral areas Baden, Braiten, Gamingerhof, Leesdorf, Mitterberg, Rauhenstein, and Weikersdorf.

Baden
Panorama of Baden with the aqueduct in the foreground
Coat of arms
Baden
Location within Austria
Coordinates: 48°00′27″N 16°14′04″E
CountryAustria
StateLower Austria
DistrictBaden
Government
 • MayorStefan Szirucsek (ÖVP)
Area
 • Total26.89 km2 (10.38 sq mi)
Elevation
230 m (750 ft)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[2]
 • Total26,286
 • Density980/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
2500
Area code0 22 52
Vehicle registrationBN
Websitewww.baden-bei-wien.at
Contemporary illustration of Baden from 1482

Geography
The "Cure Park" (Kurpark) entrance

Baden is located at the mouth of the Schwechat River's St Helena Valley (Helenental)[5] in the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) range. It takes its name from the area's 13 hot springs, which vary in temperature from 72 to 97 °F (22 to 36 °C)[5] and contain lime sulphate.[6] They lie for the most part at the foot of Mt Calvary (Calvarienberg; 1,070 ft or 326 m).[6]

The highest point in the area is the Iron Gate (Eisernes Tor or Hoher Lindkogel), whose 2,825 ft (861 m) can be ascended in about three hours.[6]

History

The celebrity of Baden dates back to the days of the Romans, who knew it by the name of Aquae Cetiae[5] or Thermae Pannonicae.[7] Some ruins are still visible.[7] The settlement was mentioned as Padun in a deed from AD 869. The nearby abbey of Heiligenkreuz's Romanesque church was constructed in the 11th century; it subsequently served as the burial place for members of the Babenberg family.[6] The castle Rauheneck was constructed on the right bank of the river at the entrance to the valley in the 12th century; the castle Rauhenstein was built on the opposite bank at the same time.[6] The town received its legal privileges in 1480.[6] Although repeatedly sacked by Hungarians and Turks, it soon flourished again each time.[7]

A map of Baden in 1901

The town was largely destroyed by a fire in 1812 but was excellently rebuilt[5] in a Biedermeier style according to plans by architect Joseph Kornhäusel, it is therefore sometimes referred to as the "Biedermeierstadt". Archduke Charles, the victor of Aspern, constructed the Château Weilburg at the foot of Rauheneck between 1820 and 1825.[6] In the 19th century, it was connected to the railway running between Vienna and Graz, which led to thousands of Viennese visiting each year to take the waters, including members of the imperial family, who constructed extensive villas nearby.[5] The town boasted a theater, military hospital, and casino.[5] The composer Ludwig van Beethoven stayed a number of times in Baden and his residences still form local tourist spots. The location at Rathausgasse 10 now forms a museum open to the public.[n 1] Mayerling, a hunting lodge about 4 mi (6.4 km) up the valley, was the site of Crown Prince Rudolf's murder-suicide in 1889.[6] Its primary export in the 19th century were steel razors, which were reckoned of excellent quality.[5]

The City Theater (Stadttheater)
The 1934 casino

The City Theater (Stadttheater) was built in 1909 by Ferdinand Fellner. By the time of the First World War, Baden was Vienna's principal resort: 20 000 came each year, double the town's local population.[6] In addition to a modern "Curehouse" (Kurhaus), there were 15 separate bathing establishments and several parks.[6] During the war, Baden served as a temporary seat of the Austro-Hungarian high command. A new casino in 1934 made the town the premier resort throughout Austria. The Château Weilburg was destroyed during World War II. After World War II, Baden served as the headquarters of Soviet forces within occupied Austria until 1955.

Transport

Baden can be reached by the Süd Autobahn (A2). It has two rail stations: the Baden railway station for S-Bahn and regional trains, and the local Badner Bahn tram-train.

Government

Kurt Staska (ÖVP) was Baden's Bürgermeister as a result of elections of 2015, but he resigned at the end of 2016 and Stefan Szirucsek became the new Bürgermeister (Mayor). His deputy is Helga Krismer from the Greens.

City council (German: Gemeinderat) consists of 41 seats:

Baden bei Wien
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
35
 
 
3
−3
 
 
34
 
 
6
−2
 
 
49
 
 
10
2
 
 
55
 
 
15
5
 
 
62
 
 
21
10
 
 
70
 
 
23
13
 
 
67
 
 
26
15
 
 
60
 
 
25
15
 
 
57
 
 
21
11
 
 
42
 
 
15
6
 
 
52
 
 
8
2
 
 
41
 
 
4
−1
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: ZAMG

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±%
197122,727—    
198123,140+1.8%
199123,488+1.5%
200124,518+4.4%
200625,212+2.8%
201025,136−0.3%
201425,229+0.4%

Notable people

Natives
Nicola Perscheid: portrait of Max Reinhardt in 1911
Arnulf Rainer Museum

Residents
  • Karel Komzák II (1850, Prague — 1905, Baden), Czech-Austrian composer
  • Michael Korobkov-De'Lagardie-Voeikov (born 1956, Moscow), Russian-British noble and businessman. CEO of IMM Birest International
  • Sigi Maron (1944, Vienna — 2016, Baden), singer-songwriter (de)
  • Mirabehn (1892, England – 1982, Baden), Indian freedom fighter
  • Hans-Joachim Roedelius (born 1934, Berlin), German experimental, ambient and electronic musician

Notes
  1. Other street addresses include Antonsgasse 4, Braitnerstrasse 26, Frauengasse 10, Johannesgasse 12, Kaiser Franz Ring 9, and Weilburgstrasse 13.

References

Citations
  1. "Dauersiedlungsraum der Gemeinden Politischen Bezirke und Bundesländer - Gebietsstand 1.1.2018". Statistics Austria. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  2. "Einwohnerzahl 1.1.2018 nach Gemeinden mit Status, Gebietsstand 1.1.2018". Statistics Austria. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  3. Charnock (1859), "Baden", Local Etymology, p. 23
  4. "Baden near Vienna". Google search. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  5. EB (1878).
  6. EB (1911), p. 183.
  7. EB (1911), p. 184.
  8. Lokal-Nachrichten. Taufe in der Weilburg. Badener Zeitung, 2 August 1911, p.3
  9. Christie, Ian (2004). "Hoellering, George Michael (1897–1980), male film-maker and exhibitor". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/61485. Retrieved 23 February 2019. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  10. Leuchtmann, Horst (2001). "Umlauf, Carl Ignaz Franz (1824–1902), zither player, composer, teacher : Grove Music Online – oi". oxfordindex.oup.com. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.28745. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  11. Erik Werba oxfordreference.com

Bibliography
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