Culture & History

The city of Radstadt is the principle town of the Ennspongau region in the province of Salzburg. At an elevation of 856 meters, it lies on a terrace which slopes off on three sides. The history of Radstadt begins with the Bavarian settlement in the 7th century and the subsequent Christianization. On July 27, 1289 archbishop von Hohenegg awarded the citizens of Radstatt (“Cives in Rastatt”) all the rights, privileges and freedoms of municipal law that where already in effect in the city of Salzburg and all other cities of the archbishopric. Additionally, he released them from all duties and taxes for ten years, except from what was required for fortifying and guarding the city. The document which records this also includes Radstadt’s municipal law and is the basis for the 700-year-anniversary celebrations in 1989. The postage stamp above shows a stylized view of Radstadt and its coat of arms. 

The region around Radstadt was settled by Kelts in the 4th century BC. Subsequently, the conquest by the Romans took place, after which an important Roman road led from Aquileia through the Radstatt Tauern mountains to Juvavum,  present day Salzburg. The history of the “old city in the mountains” begins with the Bavarian settlement in the 7th century AD. The naming of the city, whether slavic or germanic in origin, is not clear to this day - RASTAT (1074), RADESTAT (1092), RASTAT (1139).

During the 13th century the entire terrace was fortified. On July 27, 1289 Radstadt received the town charter from archbishop RODOLF VON HOHENEGG - the archbishopric of Salzburg’s only city in the mountains. The town was awarded many privileges and freedoms because of its strategic importance at the border to Austria. The city’s strength was first tested in 1306 when it was involved in a war with Duke Albrecht of Austria. The city’s coat of arms goes back to this time. Over the years the seat of the court, the market and the right to make traveling merchants offer their goods were transfered form the initial settlement of Altenmarkt to Radstadt. Due to several major fires (1365, 1417, 1616, 1781, 1855 and 1865) the city was bereft of many historical structures. Today only the SCHUSTERTURM, a late gothic guard post from 1513, attests to past grandeur. 

The most important era of Radstadt’s history was the peasant war in 1525/1526. 5.000 peasant farmers gathered under the leadership of MICHL GAISMAIR, yet the city would withstand the threat. For its loyalty, Radstadt was granted the letter of liberty and the title “ ALLZEIT GETREU – ALWAYS FAITHFUL" by archbishop MATTHÄUS LANG in 1527. This letter of liberty is the basis for the city’s present day privileged uniformed civil-guard.

A Benedictine school was established in the former PFLEGBURG in 1621. In 1628 the Capuchin order converted the castle into a monastery which was closed in 1978. Over 3.000 Protestants had the leave the Radstadt district because of the emigration edict of archbishop Firmian in 1731/32. Many found a new home in East Prussia. 

At the beginning of the 19th century, Austria, Bavaria and France took turns occupying Salzburg, which became part of the Austrian empire in 1805. The construction of the railway line Bischofshofen - Selzthal in 1875 helped revive the city’s economy. Finally, in 1938 the two boroughs of Radstadt proper and the surrounding countryside were merged. 

In order to protect its heritage, Radstadt was the first city in the country to pass an ordinance preserving the townscape. 

PAUL HOFHAYMER, Radstadt’s famous son

“An artist like Hofhaymer at the pipe organ or Dürer from Nuremberg in painting”, wrote Teophrastus Paracelsus. Whoever is mentioned in the same breath as Albrecht Dürer, and this by the world renowned physician Paracelsus, must truly be the best. 

Paul Hofhaymer, born February 25, 1459 was famous as an organist and lute player, as composer and conductor, inventor of the organ regal and as courtier of emperor Maximilian. He was born in the small city of Radstadt, where he attended a school for vocalists and organists. 

He received further training in Innsbruck at the court of “Sigismund the Wastrel”. In due course he came to be with emperor Max, with whom he had to travel about “like a gypsy” for thirty years. During this time his fame continued to grow. 

In 1515 he was knighted for the glorious performance of his piece TEDEUMS in Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Dürer portrayed him and etched his likeness in copper in the course of emperor Max’s triumphal procession. His organ playing was praised for its great momentum and harmony, yet he also found the right ‘musical language’ for simple folk songs. Paul Hofhaymer died in 1537.

GEOGRAPHY AND ACCESSIBILITY
Radstadt lies on a rock terrace in the upper Ennstal valley at 856 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by two mountain ranges, the Dachstein to the North and the Radstadt Tauern to the South. 

The 700-year-old city has a population of nearly 5000 and  is situated only 70 kilometers south of Salzburg. It can be reached conveniently by way of the ‘Tauernautobahn’ (A10) or with the express train. The closest airport is in Salzburg.

FLORA AND FAUNA

The elevation, the soil and the climate favor the spruce forests surrounding Radstadt. Alongside them grow beech, pine, larch and sycamore-maple trees in varying numbers. Scattered throughout the city one can find the Swiss stone pine, though a larger number grows at Labeneck. In front of the northern city wall stand some beautiful old trees (maple, chestnut, pine, larch, Swiss stone pine). Oak is found downstream of Schladming. Due to drainage, the regulation of the river and the clearing of the forests, the once expansive marshes and alder thickets have been pushed back. Today, meadows command the valley floor though tillage has become insignificant. Only two field names remind of former barley and flax cultivation. A good sized marsh is preserved near Mandling, though peat cutting has lessened the number of flowering plants. Here and there one still finds reeds. 

In the extensive marshes that preceded the regulation of the Enns river, several migratory birds would settle, such as cranes, storks and herons. The shape of a heron on a well at the local museum reminds thereof. With the pushing back of the swampy forest and the expansion of cultivated land came buzzard, rook and magpie. The muskrat is a recent immigrant that came into Salzburg through the Oichen valley as late as 1925. In 1963 a wild boar was shot in Altenmarkt. In the forests live stag and deer. Farther up, in the Zaimwald forest, one meets the chamois. At the edge of the forest the wood grouse and the black cock display their plumage. In spring you can here the cuckoo call and the woodpecker hammer on the trees. Vulgo names call to mind that there once were bears and wolves in the area.

CULTURAL RADSTADT

The maintenance of culture has a long tradition in Radstadt. These days the culture bearers are primarily artists and associations of people dedicated to cultural expression and preservation.

The civil-guard was founded more than 700 years ago to defend the city. Today they garnish religious and secular holidays with their smart uniforms. The Guard Festival is known far and wide and takes place on the first weekend in August. The city’s marching band cooperates closely with the guard and they accompany many a celebration and nearly every funeral with brass music. The local historical society “ Goasstoana" has committed itself to preserving ancient customs as well as the traditional garb. 
The old customs are still alive in Radstadt which include setting up the maypole on the First of May and the harvest festival in October at which the “harvest crown“ is carried through the city in ceremonial manner after holy mass. Other cultural attractions are the two museums of local history in Schloß Lerchen and the Kapuzinerturm. Also, every second September the “Almabtrieb” cow-train being driven back from the alp is celebrated, and at the beginning of December the Krampus Run takes place. The culture-group “Das Zentrum” underlines Radstadt’s position as the cultural center of the Salzburg Sportwelt Amadé with many cultural events of the highest standard. 

The citizens of Radstadt are proud of the new armory at the tower which was inaugurated in 1998. The tower is open to the public year round and can be used for cultural events.