Bischofshofen

Bischofshofen(German pronunciation:[bɪʃɔfsˈhoːfn̩]) is atownin the district ofSt. Johann im Pongauin theAustrianfederal state ofSalzburg.It is an important traffic junction located both on theSalzburg-Tyrol Railwayline and at theTauern Autobahn,a major highway route crossing themain chain of the Alps.

Bischofshofen
Municipality
View over Bischofshofen
Flag Coat of arms
Bischofshofen Location within Austria
Coordinates:47°25′2″N13°13′10″E
Country	Austria
State	Salzburg
District	St. Johann im Pongau
Government
•Mayor	Hansjörg Obinger (SPÖ)
Area
• Total	49.61 km2(19.15 sq mi)
Elevation	544 m (1,785 ft)
Population (2018-01-01)
• Total	10,540
• Density	210/km2(550/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2(CEST)
Postal code	5500
Area code	06462
Vehicle registration	JO
Website	bischofshofen.at

Geography

Bischofshofen is situated within theNorthern Limestone Alps,in the valley of theSalzachriver, about 50 km (31 mi) south of the state capitalSalzburg.It is surrounded by theHochkönigmassif in the west, part of theBerchtesgaden Alps,theTennen Mountainsin the northeast, and theSalzburg Slate Alpsin the southeast.

The municipal area comprises thecadastral communitiesof Bischofshofen proper, Buchberg, Haidberg, and Winkl.

Villages in Bischofshofen and population

• Alpfahrt - 149
• Bischofshofen - 7.134
• Buchberg - 440
• Gainfeld - 109
• Haidberg - 98
• Kreuzberg - 263
• Laideregg - 488
• Mitterberghütten - 1.323
• Winkl - 83
• Asten - 50

History

St Maximilian's Church

In Neolithic times localCeltictribes mined copper and salt in the nearby hills. Later, the Celts were conquered by or assimilated into the expandingRoman Empire,when the area was incorporated into theNoricumprovince. In the 3rd/4th century, aRoman roadled from the Salzach valley toRadstadton theEnnsriver.

In the 8th century,Bavariantribes settled the region, promoted by theAgilolfingdukes and BishopRupert of Salzburg.The Pongau (pongowe) area was first mentioned in a 711 deed, when a monastery (Cella Maximiliana) was founded through the graces of theSalzburg archbishopsand a noble family from Oberalm.Slavictribes later destroyed this monastery. The village ofHovenitself first appeared in 1151. In the 12th century, the Archbishop of Salzburg gifted the present-day St. Maxmillian's church with the gold- and gem-encrusted relic St. Rubert's crucifix.

Located south of the SalzburgWerfenvalley, Bischofshofen was vested withmarket rightsin the 14th century and rose to become an administrative center and residence for theBishops of Chiemsee.It declined through the turbulent 16th century with its natural disasters, economic decline and religious warfare, culminating in theGerman Peasants' Warof 1525–26. More than two thirds of the local population were expelled during theCounter-Reformationmeasures instigated by Prince-archbishopCount Leopold Anton von Firmianfrom 1731 onwards. Many of theSalzburg Protestantsfound a new home inEast Prussia.

Finally Bischofshofen re-emerged as a railway hub with the building of the Salzburg-Tyrol Railway line in the late 19th century.It was elevated to the status of amarket townin 1900 and receivedtown privilegeson 24 September 2000.

Education

In Bischofshofen there are:

• Elementary Schools
  • VS Markt
  • VS Neue Heimat
  • VS Pöham
• High Schools:
  • Hermann-Wielandner-HS
  • Franz-Moßhammer-HS
• Professional Education
  • Polytechnische Schule
  • Privatgymnasium Sankt Rupert
  • TS Bischofshofen der Salzburger Tourismusschulen[1]
  • die BAKIP, Bundesbildungsanstalt für Kindergartenpädagogik
  • Zweigstelle des Musikum

Sports

The final competition of the traditionalFour Hills Tournamentin ski jumping is held annually at thePaul-Ausserleitner-Schanzein Bischofshofen around 6 January. The large hill ski jumping events at theFIS Nordic World Ski Championships 1999took place in Bischofshofen.

Mayor

Hansjörg Obinger (SPÖ) is the mayor of Bischofshofen since April 2014. His predecessor was Jakob Rohrmoser (ÖVP).

Politics

Town hall

City Council

As of 2014 local elections, the political parties represented in the Bischofshofen City Council are:

• SPÖ(15 seats)
• ÖVP(8 seats)
• FPÖ(2 seats)

Twin towns — sister cities

See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in Austria

Bischofshofen istwinnedwith:

• Unterhaching,Bavaria,Germany, since 1979
• Adeje,Santa Cruz de Tenerife,Canary Islands,Spain

Notable people

• Heinz Oberhummer(1941–2015), physicist, researchednucleosynthesis.

Sport

• Hannes Schroll(1909–1985), Austrian Alpine ski racer and founded theSugar Bowl Ski Resortin Norden, California.
• Paul Ausserleitner(1925–1952), ski jumper
• Lisi Pall(born 1951), alpine skier
• Patrick Reiter(born 1972), judoka.

External links

• Municipal site(in German)
• Bischofshofen tourism boardArchived2017-12-05 at theWayback Machine