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Zell am See | |
|---|---|
 View over Lake Zell | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Zell am See Location within Austria | |
| Coordinates:47°19′N12°48′E / 47.317°N 12.800°E /47.317; 12.800 | |
| Country | Austria |
| State | Salzburg |
| District | Zell am See |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Andreas Wimmreuter (SPÖ) |
| Area | |
• Total | 55.17 km2 (21.30 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 750 m (2,460 ft) |
| Population (2018-01-01)[2] | |
• Total | 9,852 |
| • Density | 178.6/km2 (462.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 5700, 5702, 5705 |
| Area code | 06542 |
| Vehicle registration | ZE |
| Website | www.zellamsee.salzburg.at |
Zell am See is the administrative capital of theZell am See District in theAustrian state ofSalzburg. Located in theKitzbühel Alps, the town is an important tourist destination due to itsski resorts and shoreline onLake Zell.[3][4] While Zell am See has been a favored winter and summer resort for the European aristocracy since the 19th century, it is known as a hub of the internationaljet set today.[5][6][7] Today, Zell am See is an internationally renowned holiday destination and one of the most important summer and winter sports resorts in Austria and an important transport hub in the region.
The Zell Valley is a corridor in theKitzbühel Alps, connecting theSaalfelden Basin of theSaalach River in the north and theSalzach in the south. Zell am See is located about 80 km (49 mi) south ofSalzburg, 100 km (60 mi) east ofInnsbruck and 30 km (20 mi) north Austria's highest mountain, theGrossglockner. The historic centre of Zell am See is located on the western shore of the 68 m-deep (223 ft)Lake Zell, with the villages of Thumersbach to the east, Erlberg to the southeast, and Schüttdorf directly to the south.
The village of Zell am See comprises fivecadastral communities:
The original Lake Zell reached somewhat further to the north and extended south to the Salzach River. The dimensions of the lake, however, have changed over time into marsh areas. The lake has the shape of a peanut, with an area of 4.7 km2 (1.8 sq mi).
The mountains of the area form a horseshoe shape; the slopes are mainly forested or covered withAlpine pastures. TheHausberg ("home mountain") of Zell am See is theSchmittenhöhe, 1,965 m (6,447 ft), which together with the adjacentSalzburg Slate Alps range in the west is part of theGreywacke zone betweenNorthern Limestone andCentral Eastern Alps. Mt. Schmittenhöhe is a popular centre forskiing and winter sports. The nearby Mt. Hundstein ("Dog Stone") at 2,117 m (6,946 ft) is the highest peak of the Salzburg Greywacke Zone.
Places adjacent to Zell am See | |
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Zell am See provides winter skiing on the above Schmittenhöhe mountain. The skiable area is around 138 km, including the pistes on the Kitzsteinhorn and Kaprun Maiskogel. The ski pass covers the whole area including transport to and from the glacier, which is open most of the year, dependent on snowfall. Zell am See is a low-altitude ski area and snow cover can suffer from higher temperatures, but the glacier has snow cover most of the year.
In 2017, Zell am See announced a potential merger with Saalbach-Hinterglemm ski resort. In the 2019-20 ski season, the Zell am See Express 1 gondola was opened, which allows access to the Zell am See Express 2 gondola at the base of piste 21 fromViehhofen.
Notable ski pistes in the resort include: The Trassabfahrt (14), which is the steepest piste in the region reaching an incline gradient up to 75%, the Standardabfahrt (13), which is another valley run reaching an incline gradient of 60%, and the recently reopened Tannwaldabfahrt (21), a ski-racing piste in the 1930s, and is well known for being consistently icy, and having a high steepness-width ratio in some sections of the piste.[8]
In the 19th century, Zell am See became known as a summer and winter resort for the Austrian and European aristocracy, such as theEmpress Elisabeth "Sissi" of Austria,Emperor Franz Joseph, or thevon Trapp family.
Zell am See is the seat of the Porsche family, which has significantly contributed to the town's international standing. Since 2001, the family operates the local airport, and in 2007, the Ferry Porsche Congress Center for conventions was completed. In cooperation with the municipality, the Porsche family annually hosts the International Porsche Days in summer and the Greger Porsche Ice Race (since 1952) in winter.[9][10] The family also owns theSchloss Prielau hotel, situated in a historic castle formerly owned byHugo von Hoffmansthal on the shore of Lake Zell. The family's private estate is located in the district ofZell am See-Süd.[11]
In the 21st century, Zell am See became a popular summer vacation spot for wealthyRussians andArabs, many of whom spend their whole summer in one of the luxury lakefront hotels.[12][13] From November 2022 to October 2023, it recorded 2,792,393 overnight stays, almost as many in summer as in winter.[14] In the 2022/23 winter season, 318,000 visitors stayed in the region (just over 1.4 million overnight stays).
The area of Zell am See was continuously populated at least sinceRoman times. About 740 AD, by order of Bishop Johannes (John) I ofSalzburg, monks founded the village within thestem duchy ofBavaria, which was mentioned asCella in Bisonzio in a 743 deed. The denotationCella or German:Zelle refers to a monk's cell in the sense of amonastery,Bisonzio is the name of thePinzgau region. Zell received the rights of amarket town in 1357. During theGerman Peasants' War in 1526, the area was a site of heavy fighting against the troops ofSwabian League. The Zell am See citizens had not participated in the uprising, nevertheless 200 years later, numerousProtestant inhabitants were expelled from Salzburg by order of Prince-ArchbishopCount Leopold Anton von Firmian.
From 1800, the town was occupied byFrench troops during theNapoleonic Wars.[15] After thesecularisation of the Salzburg Archbishopric, "Zell am See" finally passed to theAustrian Empire by resolution of theVienna Congress in 1816. When in 1850 neighbouring Saalfelden became the capital of the Pinzgau district, the town's mayor successfully strived for relocating the administrative seat to Zell.[16] The town's development was decisively promoted by the opening of theSalzburg-Tyrol Railway line (Giselabahn) on 30 July 1875, starting the annual summer tourism season. In 1885,Empress Elisabeth ‘Sissi’ visited theSchmittenhöhe, later in 1893Emperor Franz Joseph I visited Zell am See. Zell am See receivedcity rights on 24 January 24, 1928.[17]
TheFirst World War brought an abrupt halt to the economic upturn in Zell am See. 270 men were drafted, 62 died. War memorials commemorate this time. Everyday life was characterised by food rationing and the accommodation of the wounded.[18][19] The double-track extension of theWestern Railway led to conflicts and interventions in the townscape. Mayor Josef Wisgrill saved Elisabethpark from being built on. After the war, Anton Gassner took over the office.
The election victory of theSocial Democrats in 1919 was followed by eventful years. In 1928 Zell am See became a town, supported by the construction of the Schmittenhöhebahn railway, a tourist attraction.[20] Political tensions led to unstable conditions from 1931 onwards. During theNazi era, Zell was the scene of deportations, forced labour and Aryanisation.[21][22] Towards the end of the war, the population rose sharply due to refugees. In April 1945, evacuation measures were carried out for theNazi government, the Reich ministries and the security apparatus in Berlin during theBattle of Berlin. OnlyHermann Göring went to southern Germany with his staff after Hitler had decided to remain in Berlin on 22 April. The majority of the staff to be evacuated were to head north. At the beginning of May 1945, thelast Nazi government was formed inFlensburg. Although theAlpine Fortress propagated by leadingNational Socialists was a mirage, towards the end of the war a few evacuatedWehrmacht headquarters were located inMittersill,Niedernsill,Maria Alm and Zell am See, while theOberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKW) moved to Hotel Bellevue in Thumersbach, a district of Zell am See.[23][24]
In 1945,American troops marched in and the town was administered and democratised. The post-war period was characterised by reconstruction and economic recovery. New schools, lifts and infrastructure projects contributed to the development.[25][26] Shipping was expanded and Zell am See established itself as a leading tourist destination. A catastrophic storm in 1966 claimed lives and great efforts were made to rebuild the town.[27]
In the 1960s and 1970s, important projects such as the renovation of Rosenberg Castle and the creation of a pedestrian zone were realised. Zell hostedAlpine World Cup races, and access to the Schmittenhöhe was improved with the construction of the Zell mountain railway.[28] The long-awaitedSchmitten Tunnel was opened in 1996, solving the town's traffic problem.
Today, Zell am See is a tourist stronghold with over two million overnight stays every year. Together with the municipality of Kaprun, Zell am See forms the Zell am See-Kaprun region, which is considered one of the most important tourist centres in Austria. AlongsideVienna, Zell am See is one of the most popular destinations forArab guests in Austria. Families, especially fromKuwait and theUnited Arab Emirates, stay for up to six weeks to escape the very hot summer in their home country.[29][30]
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St Hippolyte's Church - WithinSt Hippolyte's Church are the oldest known building remnants of thePinzgau region. The church is built in a mostlyRomanesque style and consists of threenaves. Before 1794, the central nave was crowned with aGothicvault, but in that year it was replaced with another vault, which in turn was replaced by a flat wooden roof in 1898. Four steps lead up to the mainaltar, but thecrypt has been filled in. Thenarthex andaisles are still Gothic, but some of the other Gothic objects (like theneogothic altars byJosef Bachlehner) were added during the renovation in 1898, when also the baroque furnishings of preceding centuries were removed.
The highpoint of the church is its elevated walkway with its ornateparapet, built in 1514. The walkway rests on four carved columns of preciousmarble, in between which an intricate net-vault is spun. The three pointed arches are crowned withcrockets, and end in pointed towers. Between the arches are Gothicbaldachins with cut-out figures of St Hippolyte andSt Florian, originating from 1520.
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The tower is the main focus of the Zell am See skyline. It has a height of 36 metres (118 ft). The strong walls have alimestone exterior.
From 1660 until 1670, the main altar was replaced by aBaroque one, which was removed again in 1760. Almost none of the Baroque furnishings of the church remain apart from some adornments. Two Baroque statues ended up in the church ofPrielau. Next to the main altar are two statues dating from 1480:St Rupert andSt Vigilius. The side altar contains an image of theVirgin Mary from the now non-existent Church of Maria Wald, which dates from 1540. The left nave has a small altar dedicated toSt Sebastian in its apsis.
TheGrand Hotel Zell am See is a 4-star hotel and a landmark for the town of Zell am See. Built between 1894 and 1896 in theBelle Époque style, the hotel building is located in the town centre on the easternmost tip of the Zell peninsula directly on the lakeshore and can be seen from almost anywhere on the lake. The striking, elongated building stands out above all with its snow-white façade and mansard roof.
TheRosenberg Castle is a castle in the centre of the city. It has been the seat of the mayor and the town council since 1970. The southern Bavarian influence can be seen in the square ground plan with the four corner towers and the round centre tower.
ThePrielau Castle is a formerprince-bishop's hunting lodge on the northern shore of Lake Zell. Since 1987, the castle has been owned by the Porsche family, who converted it into a hotel.
TheVogtturm is the oldest building in the city alongside St Hippolyte's Church. Today, the tower houses the city museum with special exhibitions on five floors.
TheSchüttgut, the family estate of thePorsche–Piëch family, is located in Zell am See, having been obtained in 1939 by the seniorFerdinand Porsche in anticipation of the war. During the war, he transferred some of his business operations here and toGmünd, away from Stuttgart where, notwithstanding the heavy bombing, his sonFerry Porsche remained to oversee plant operations.
The currentmayor of Zell am See, since 2019, is Andreas Wimmreuter (SPÖ).
The district council is composed as follows (as of 2024[update]):
The following festivals and events have taken place or are taking place in Zell am See:
In Zell am See there are three elementary schools, one high school, one special school, one vocational school, one grammar school, one commercial academy and a commercial school:
Media related toZell am See at Wikimedia Commons
Zell am See travel guide from Wikivoyage| International | |
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