Steinfeld, Austria

Steinfeld is a market town with 2039 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2020) in the Spittal an der Drau district in Carinthia. The parish church in Radlach and the name of today's main town were first mentioned in the ducal deed in 1267/68. This register of properties also shows the relatively low agricultural usability of today's municipal area. Steinfeld was also at a disadvantage compared to the neighboring traffic hubs Greifenburg and Sachsenburg in terms of traffic and thus trade.

From the 15th century onwards, the mining industry - initially the mining of washed gold and precious metals, and later also iron processing - was decisive for the economic development of Steinfeld. From the late Middle Ages onwards, mining led to the settlement of trades whose buildings still determine the appearance of the market today (Singerhof, Neustein Castle, the Porcia family's caretaker's house on Hauptstrasse). However, mining activity suffered setbacks as early as 1600. As a result, the place lost its market infrastructure over the centuries and sank again into a village. At the time of the First World War, mining finally stopped completely.

In 1924 the Steinfeld am Grabach power plant was built by a cooperative from Steinfeld and four other communities. This was destroyed by a landslide in 1935, but the successor building built in 1936 is still in operation today.

The construction of the railway (Drautalbahn) from the late 19th century and the associated settlement of woodworking companies brought the community back to life, which culminated in the AVE furniture factory, which existed from 1932 to 1986 and employed up to 270 people. In the course of the 20th century, summer tourism and gastronomy also developed into important economic sectors in the municipality.

The present parish was formed in 1850. Apart from the assignment of smaller parts of the area to Greifenburg in 1973, its expansion has not changed since then. Steinfeld was granted fair privileges as early as 1680, and an official survey as a market town took place in 1930.

 

History

The parish church in Radlach and the name of today's main town of the community were first mentioned in documents in 1267/68 in the ducal Urbar. This inventory also shows the relatively low agricultural usability of today's municipal area. Steinfeld was also at a disadvantage for traffic and thus trade compared to the neighboring traffic junctions of Greifenburg and Sachsenburg.

From the 15th century onwards, the mining industry – initially the mining of white gold and precious metals, and later also iron processing – was decisive for the economic development of Steinfeld. From the late Middle Ages, mining led to the settlement of trades whose buildings still determine the appearance of the market today (Singerhof, Neustein Castle, the Porcia family administration house on the main street). However, mining activity suffered setbacks as early as 1600. As a result, the place lost its market infrastructure over the centuries and sank back into a village. By the time of the First World War, mining finally ceased completely.

In 1924, the Steinfeld am Grabach power plant was built by a cooperative from Steinfeld and four other communities. This was destroyed by a landslide in 1935, and a successor building was erected in 1936.

The railway construction (Drautalbahn) from the late 19th century and the associated settlement of wood processing companies brought the community an upswing, which culminated with the furniture factory AVE, which existed from 1932 to 1986 and employed up to 270 people. In the course of the 20th century, summer tourism and gastronomy also developed into important economic sectors in the community.

Today's parish was formed in 1850. Apart from the cession of smaller parts of the territory to Greifenburg in 1973, it has not changed since then. Steinfeld was granted annual fair privileges as early as 1680, and an official elevation to the status of a market town took place in 1930.

 

Culture and sights

Gerlamoos church with frescoes by Thomas von Villach
Parish Church of Saint John the Baptist in Steinfeld
Filial church of Saint Martin in Radlach
Gerlamooser gorge with waterfall
Renaissance Neustein Castle
Rottenstein castle ruins

 

Raggnitz Castle

Raggnitz Castle is a building first mentioned in documents in 1254 in the municipality of Steinfeld in Carinthia. The castle complex with the associated farm buildings is located about 500 meters southwest of the village of Lind on the valley floor of the upper Drautal. Politically, it belongs to the Steinfeld community.

 

History

Raggnitz was first mentioned in documents in 1254, when the archbishop of Salzburg, Philipp von Spanheim, assigned his archer Heinrich, known as Swaeroubte, a court with the associated land in Racknitz. These lands were part of the possessions that Count Albert III had acquired two years earlier. of Tyrol had to be ceded to Duke Bernhard of Carinthia and his son, Elekt Philipp. But as early as 1304, Raggnitz and Lind were added to the County of Gorizia. In 1429 Siegmund von Lind was enfeoffed with the rule of Lind (and with it the lands of Raggnitz). After the castles of Ober- and Unterlind had fallen into disrepair, the Lords of Lind chose the more conveniently located Hof von Raggnitz as their new seat, which they had expanded like a castle. Around 1789 the castle was sold to Paul Matthias von Tschabuschnigg, who made major changes to the complex. The chapel, for example, was built by him. After several changes of ownership, the building finally came into the possession of the current owners, the Wernisch family, in 1872.

Architecture
Raggnitz Castle is a two-storey building with an attic storey in the middle. Part of the complex is a wall that encompasses the area and is reinforced by a tower in the north-western part. The building got its current appearance towards the end of the 18th century when it was rebuilt using older parts from the 15th century.

The building, which was erected on an almost square floor plan, has two protruding corner projections on the northeast side, each covered by a tent roof and a small lantern sitting on it. The eight-axis facade is horizontally banded on the ground floor, but on the upper floor it is structured by delicate pilasters with Ionic plaited capitals. The stucco framing of the windows with their early Classicist roofs are pulled up to the cornice. The stone-framed round arch portal on the front side dates from the end of the 18th century.

The central ground floor corridor is barrel vaulted, in the second, north-facing corridor there is a lancet barrel vault with a stucco burr network - both date from the 16th century. The hall on the upper floor has a flat ceiling and a rococo oven. At the south-western end of the hall is a chapel with an inscription plaque with the year 1795 above the entrance door. Another plaque was put up on the occasion of the permission given in 1797 to celebrate masses here. The chapel is decorated with illusionistic wall paintings, which depict scenes from the Old Testament in rich classical architecture. The early classical altar shows a representation of Mary in the altarpiece.

 

Geography

Steinfeld is located at an average of 617 m above sea level in the Upper Drau Valley at the foot of the Kreuzeck Group.

The community is divided into the five cadastral communities of Fellbach, Gerlamoos, Radlach, Rottenstein and Steinfeld.

 

Population

According to the 2001 census, Steinfeld has 2,291 inhabitants, of whom 95.6% have Austrian and 2.6% Turkish citizenship. 88.3% of the population profess to be Roman Catholic, 4.5% to the Evangelical Church and 3.9% are of the Islamic faith. 2.4% have no religious affiliation.

 

Economy and Infrastructure

Economic sectors
Of the 120 farms in 2010, 31 were run as a main occupation and 73 as a sideline, two by partnerships and 14 by legal entities. These 14 farmed over thirty percent of the land, the main commercial farmers over forty percent. Although the number of establishments in the manufacturing sector increased from 2001 to 2011, the number of workers decreased. This mainly affected the manufacturing segment. The largest employers in the service sector were social and public services and trade.

Commuter
Of the approximately 860 employed people who lived in Steinfeld in 2011, one third worked in the community and two thirds commuted out. 160 people from the bypass came to work in Steinfeld.

Traffic
The Drautal Straße (B 100) and the Drautalbahn (train station "Steinfeld im Drautal") run through the municipal area.

 

Politics

Council and mayor

The municipal council of Steinfeld has 19 members and has been composed as follows since the 2015 municipal council election:
10 SPÖ
4 team upwind
2 FPÖ
3 ÖVP
The directly elected mayor is Ewald Tschabitscher (SPÖ).

 

Coat of arms

The coat of arms shows "a shield split by an ascending red tip of gold and silver. The miners' emblems cross each other at the top: a silver mallet over a silver iron with golden handles. Coat of arms and flag, the latter showing the colors white and red with an integrated coat of arms, were awarded to Steinfeld on the occasion of the market survey on December 14, 1931.

 

Miscellaneous

Alois Brandstetter describes the church in Gerlamoos with its frescoes in his novel "Here the landlord cooks".

 

Personalities

Josef Mayer (1806–1891), land and factory owner and politician
Franz Feldner (1818–1879), Austrian notary and lawyer and politician
Friedrich Marx (1830–1905, born in Steinfeld), writer and k.u.k. Officer, there's a street named after him here
Bernhard Egger (1866–1950, born in Radlach), politician
Fritz Strobl (* 1972), former ski racer and Olympic champion, grew up in Gerlamoos