Alpbach (vernacular Åibåch) is a municipality in the Kufstein
district in Tyrol in Austria with 2533 inhabitants (as of January 1,
2020) and is located at the end of the Alpbach valley. The community
is part of the judicial district of Rattenberg.
Alpbach is
located in the Kitzbühel Alps in the inner Alpbachtal at the foot of
the 1898 meter high Gratlspitz. The district Inneralpbach (dialect
Innătåi) forms the valley head.
The Great Galtenberg with its
2424 m above sea level. A. is located at the southern end of the
Alpbach valley and can be reached from the Inneralpbach district.
Between Alpbach and Reith im Alpbachtal lies the Wiedersberger Horn
in the southwest with a height of 2127 m above sea level. A., which
is used for tourism both in winter as a ski area and in summer. The
Schatzberg in the east separates with its 1898 m above sea level. A.
Alpbach from Wildschönau.
First mentioned in a document in
1240, the village had no road connection to the Inn Valley until the
1920s and thus retained long traditions and customs. However, the
discovery of a bronze ax, which was dated to the Middle Bronze Age
(1600–1250 BC), testifies to an earlier stay of people in Alpbach.
Names of localities such as Greit and Mareit also suggest settlement
in the first centuries after the birth of Christ, as finds in the
neighboring village of Reith im Alpbachtal also indicate Roman
settlement. Alpine farming and mining, which reached its peak in the
15th century, played a role. Copper in particular, but also silver,
were mainly mined in tunnels around the Gratlspitze, with the oldest
surviving information about mining in Alpbach being contained in the
Salbuch from 1416.
The Fugger family from Augsburg took over
mining in Kitzbühel and Schwaz as well as mining in Alpbach. The
seat of the mountain court and the Fugger administration was the
Böglerhof. However, towards the end of the 19th century, mining was
stopped again due to low yields.
In the 1930s, the place was
discovered by tourism. A building code passed in 1953 stipulated
traditional building in wood style, which prevented the creation of
large hotel buildings that would change the appearance of the town,
as can be found elsewhere in tourist regions. The community received
the awards “Most beautiful village in Austria” and “Most beautiful
flower village in Europe” for their efforts.
In Alpbach around 22 farms are run as hereditary farms, which means that each of these farms has been owned by the same family for at least 200 years. Mainly only inheritance in the male line was considered, with a state law of 1957, however, female inheritance was also tacitly recognized.
St. Oswald Church
The first mention of the church in the Austrian Alpbach dates
back to 1369, but at that time there was only a small village
church, which in 1420 was completely rebuilt and consecrated in the
name of the Scottish king - St. Oswald. In 1720, another baroque
reconstruction followed, leaving only the central tower from the
previous structure.
Alpbach belonged to the Reith parish for
quite a long time, but in 1556 its own vicariate arose here, and in
1891 an independent parish.
The main altar of the church was
erected by local craftsmen from the Bletzacher von Hansler family
and is decorated with a painting by Thomas Gwerher of Brixlegg
depicting St. Oswald himself, as well as Martin and Katarina. The
statues around the altar were carved by Franz Stoeckl of Hall.
The altar of the Virgin Mary, although it is inferior to the
main thing in importance, is decorated much more interesting and
richer. It is to him that numerous pilgrims strive to bow to Mary
the Victorious, laying a pink wreath on the head of St. Dominic.
The organ of the Church of St. Oswald was built in 1777, but in
1954 it was almost completely redesigned and significantly expanded,
while maintaining the facade decoration in the Rococo style. The
ceiling of the church was restored in 1959 and completely repainted.
Currently, it is decorated with two scenes - "The Assumption of
Mary" and "St. Oswald", created by the hand of Christoph Mayr of
Schwaz.
The walls of the Church of St. Oswald are decorated
with works of the Rococo era. Behind the church there is a cemetery,
on the walls of the chapel of which "4 last things" are depicted -
death, judgment, heaven and hell.
First mentioned in a document in 1240, the village had no road
connection to the Inn Valley until the 1920s and thus retained long
traditions and customs. However, the discovery of a bronze ax, which
was dated to the Middle Bronze Age (1600–1250 BC), testifies to an
earlier stay of people in Alpbach. Names of localities such as Greit
and Mareit also suggest settlement in the first centuries after the
birth of Christ, as finds in the neighboring village of Reith im
Alpbachtal also indicate Roman settlement. Alpine farming and
mining, which reached its peak in the 15th century, played a role.
Copper in particular, but also silver, were mainly mined in tunnels
around the Gratlspitze, with the oldest surviving information about
mining in Alpbach being contained in the Salbuch from 1416.
The Fugger family from Augsburg took over mining in Kitzbühel and
Schwaz as well as mining in Alpbach. The seat of the mountain court
and the Fugger administration was the Böglerhof. However, towards
the end of the 19th century, mining was stopped again due to low
income.
In the 1930s, the place was discovered by tourism. A
building code passed in 1953 stipulated traditional building in wood
style, which prevented the creation of large hotel buildings that
would change the appearance of the town, as can be found elsewhere
in tourist regions. The community received the awards "Most
beautiful village in Austria" and "Most beautiful flower village in
Europe" for their efforts.
In Alpbach around 22 farms are run as
hereditary farms, which means that each of these farms has been
owned by the same family for at least 200 years. Mainly only
heredities in the male line were considered, with a state law of
1957, however, female inheritance was also tacitly recognized.
Alpbach [ˈalpax] is called Åibåch
(Bavarian spelling) [ˈɔɪ̯b̥ɔx] and its inhabitants as Åibékchărinnă
[ˈɔɪ̯b̥ɪkxɐrɪnɐ] and Åibékchă [ˈɔɪ̯b̥ɪkxɐ].
The name Alpbach
is derived from the Alp, but not from Bach. Rather, -ach is a
collective suffix here, so that Alpbach can be understood as a
“collection of alpine pastures”. The place was first mentioned
around 1150 (questionable) and 1231-1234, where it was also written
Alpach. However, the word "Bach" was already crossed in the High
Middle Ages (first in 1300 as Alppach, later also Altpach). Today
the brook is also represented in the municipal coat of arms. It is
held in silver to symbolize the former mining in the region, while
the green represents the fertile alpine pastures.
until 1902 Johann Larch
1902–1908 Johann Moser
1908–1914 Simon Kostenzer
1914–1919 Ignaz Moser
1919–1925
Peter Moser
1925–1938 Simon Kostenzer
1938-1945 Alois Haaser
1945–1979 Alfons Moser (1901–1979)
1979–1992 Oswald Moser
1992-2004 Aegidius Bletzacher
since 2004 Markus Bischofer