 | This article'stone or style may not reflect theencyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. See Wikipedia'sguide to writing better articles for suggestions.(May 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 | You can helpexpand this article with text translated fromthe corresponding article in Bavarian. (December 2009)Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Sankt Johann im Pongau | |
|---|---|
 Exterior View of the Cathedral of St. Johann | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Sankt Johann im Pongau Location within Austria | |
| Coordinates:47°21′N13°12′E / 47.350°N 13.200°E /47.350; 13.200 | |
| Country | Austria |
| State | Salzburg |
| District | Pongau |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Günther Mitterer (ÖVP) |
| Area | |
• Total | 78.14 km2 (30.17 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 565−618 m (−1,463 ft) |
| Population (2018-01-01)[2] | |
• Total | 10,944 |
| • Density | 140/km2 (360/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 5600 |
| Area code | 06412 |
| Vehicle registration | JO |
| Website | stjohannimpongau.at |
St. Johann im Pongau (Saiga Håns orSainig Håns in the local Pongau dialect, abbreviated St.Johann/Pg.) is acity in thestate ofSalzburg,Austria. It is the administrative centre of theSt. Johann im Pongau District.
The city is located in theSalzach Valley of theEastern Alps, between theSalzburg Slate Alps in the north, theRadstadt Tauern (part of theNiedere Tauern range) in the southeast, and theAnkogel Group (Hohe Tauern) in the southwest.
The city lies in the centre of the Salzburg Pongau region. The municipal area consists ofcadastral communities of Ginau, Hallmoos, Maschl, Einöden, Plankenau, Reinbach, Rettenstein, St. Johann, and Urreiting.
The setting of the city allows the area to be largely dependent on tourism,Alpine skiing in winter andhiking in the summer months. A gorge calledLiechtensteinklamm lies south of the city. This gorge is about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) long and can be explored via walkways, first built by PrinceJohann II of Liechtenstein in 1875.
The Salzach Valley, an ancientcopper mining area, has been settled at least since theBronze Age. The settlement was first mentioned asSanctum Johannem in Villa in a 1074 deed, named afterJohn the Baptist. For centuries, it was a possession held by thePrince-Archbishops ofSalzburg.
In the course of theGerman Peasants' War of 1525/26, large parts of the population becameProtestant. Under the rule of Prince-ArchbishopCount Leopold Anton von Firmian in 1731, numerous inhabitants (calledExulanten) were forced to leave the country. Many of them found refuge in theKingdom of Prussia, choosing to settle inGumbinnen (nowGusev).
In 1939, following the AustrianAnschluss toNazi Germany, St. Johann was renamedMarkt Pongau and from 1941 was the site of theWorld War IIStalag XVIII-C (317)German prisoner-of-war camp run by theWehrmacht.[3] MainlyFrench, Serbian andRed ArmyPOWs, but also Polish, Belgian, Dutch, British, American, Hungarian and Italian POWs, were interred here.[3] About 4,000 Soviet inmates were killed or succumbed to the conditions of their detention. A Russian Cemetery and a monument to this camp are located on the north end of the city. The camp was liberated by American troops on May 8, 1945.[4]
On 24 June 2000 St. Johann completed theStadtserhebung process and received officialcity privileges from the Austrian government.
TSV St. Johann im Pongau are an association football team, who play at the Sportplatz St. Johann stadium.[5] Around the football pitch is amotorcycle speedway track that has been used for important events, including the Austrian qualifying rounds of theSpeedway World Championship (starting in 1990).[6][7]
Media related toSt. Johann im Pongau at Wikimedia Commons
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
