Wernberg

Wernberg (Slovene: Vernberk) is a municipality in the district of Villach-Land in the Austrian state of Carinthia.

Wernberg
Wernberg Castle
Coat of arms
Wernberg
Location within Austria
Coordinates: 46°37′N 13°56′E
CountryAustria
StateCarinthia
DistrictVillach-Land
Government
 • MayorFranz Zwölbar (SPÖ)
Area
 • Total26.42 km2 (10.20 sq mi)
Elevation
590 m (1,940 ft)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[2]
 • Total5,547
 • Density210/km2 (540/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
9241
Area code04252
Websitewww.wernberg.gv.at

Geography

Wernberg lies on the Drava River at the foot of the Ossiach Tauern range, east of Villach, and between Lake Ossiach on the north, Wörthersee on the east, and Lake Faak in the southern part of the municipality. It is located at the northwestern rim of the traditional settlement area of Carinthian Slovenes.

The municipal area comprises the cadastral communities of Neudorf (Nova vas), Sand (Pešče), Trabenig (Trabenče), Umberg (Umbar), and Wernberg (Vernberk).

Neighboring municipalities
Ossiach
Villach Velden
Villach

History
Wernberg Castle, relief of George Khevenhüller and his wives, 1575

Archaeological findings indicate an early settlement of the area already in Roman times. A castle near the village of Sternberg, today a ruin, was first mentioned in a deed issued at Saint Paul's Abbey about 1170/80. Wernberg itself first appeared in a document dated 17 November 1227 determining the demolition of a Drava bridge and the transfer of Werdenberch Castle to the Carinthian estates of the Bishopric of Bamberg.

The castle, situated on arock above the Drava river, was built under the rule of Duke Bernhard of Carinthia, it later passed to the Austrian Habsburgs. Held by the Khevenhüller noble family from 1519 onwards, the present-day Renaissance building was erected at the behest of the Carinthian governor George Khevenhüller (1533–1587). Part of the Ossiach Abbey estates from 1672, it is since 1935 a possession of the Catholic Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood.

The municipality of Wernberg was established in 1850.

Politics
Town hall

Seats in the municipal council (Gemeinderat) as of 2015 local elections:

References
  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.



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