Leutasch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leutasch
Coat of arms
Leutasch Location in Austria
Country	Austria
State	Tyrol
District	Innsbruck Land
Area
• Total	103.24 km2 (39.86 sq mi)
Elevation	1,136 m (3,727 ft)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	6105
Area code	05214
Vehicle registration	IL
Website	www.leutasch.at

Leutasch is a lovely town (called a municipality) in the northern part of Tyrol, a state in Austria. It's located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) northwest of the city of Innsbruck. Leutasch is known for its beautiful natural surroundings and traditional feel.

Exploring Leutasch's Geography

Leutasch is nestled in a long, high valley called the Leutaschtal. This valley stretches for over 16 kilometers (10 miles). It is surrounded by tall mountains like the Wetterstein Mountains. At one end, the valley meets the Leutasch Gorge, which forms the border with Germany.

Other big mountains like the Hochwanner and the Dreitorspitze also frame the valley. The valley itself is a large basin. It was formed by huge glaciers during the Ice Age. Now, it's filled with gravel and sediments from ancient lakes. The Leutascher Ache river flows through this scenic valley. To the west, the Gaistal valley leads towards the Ehrwald Alm, running between the Wetterstein and Mieming Chain mountains.

Leutasch's Special Climate

Leutasch has a unique climate because of its location. The Wetterstein mountains protect it from strong winds. From the west, snow clouds can easily enter the valley through the Gaistal. This means Leutasch usually gets a lot of snow in winter. At the same time, it enjoys a mild summer climate.

How Leutasch is Spread Out

The town of Leutasch is not one big village. Instead, it's made up of many smaller villages and hamlets (tiny settlements) spread out along the main road. For a long time, farming was very important here. This helped Leutasch keep its beautiful landscape of meadows, pastures, and wetlands.

Understanding Leutasch's Subdivisions

The municipality of Leutasch includes the main area called Leutasch and 24 other smaller places. These are grouped into three main parts:

• Oberleutasch ("Upper Leutasch"): This part includes many small villages like Ahrn, Aue, Emmat, Gasse, Kirchplatzl, Klamm, Kreith, Lehner, Moos, Obern, Ostbach, Plaik, Platzl, Seewald, Weidach (which has Unter- and Oberweidach), and Föhrenwald.
• Unterleutasch ("Lower Leutasch"): This area has villages such as Burggraben, Lochlehn, Puitbach, Reindlau, Schanz, and Unterkirchen.
• Neuleutasch ("New Leutasch"): This part includes Lehenwald and Boden-Niederlög, which is close to Scharnitz.

There isn't one single "main" village in Leutasch. However, the local council (like a town hall) is in Kirchplatzl. This area is sometimes just called 'Leutasch' or 'Oberleutasch'. Kirchplatzl also has the main church for Oberleutasch. Another important church for Unterleutasch is in Unterkirchen. The village of Weidach is the most popular spot for tourists.

A Look at Leutasch's History

People didn't start settling in the Leutasch area until the middle of the 12th century. The first time the Leutasch river area was mentioned in writing was in 1278. This was when a nobleman from Bavaria, Bernard of Hausen, gave land to a monastery called Polling Abbey. Around the same time, another monastery, Wilten Abbey, also received land and rights in this area. Back then, the valleys were probably still covered in thick forests. Soon, the first farms started to appear as people cleared parts of the forest.

Changes in Ownership

In 1294, a count named Berchtold III of Eschenlohe sold his lands, including parts of the Leutasch valley, to the Bishop of Freising. This made the bishopric (the area ruled by a bishop) even more powerful. In 1312, Duke Henry of Carinthia and Count of Tyrol also gained land in Leutasch.

To protect their new lands, Tyrol built a castle in 1338. It was located at the head of the valley, near the Leutasch Gorge. This castle had strong walls and a moat. By 1500, the entire Leutasch Valley officially became part of Tyrol.

Growing Population and New Rulers

Over time, more and more people moved to the Leutasch Valley. It was a slow but steady growth. By 1775, about 800 people lived there. An official count in 1826 showed 945 residents. More rulers also gained control over parts of the valley, including the Tyrolean government and Stams Abbey. However, these old systems of rule were ended during the revolutions of 1848/49.

Leutasch During Conflicts

Even though the Leutasch valley was not on a main travel route, it was affected by several wars:

• Thirty Years' War (1618-1648): During this long war, Leutasch and its neighbor Seefeld suffered a lot from looting. Most of Tyrol was spared, but these areas were not so lucky.
• War of the Spanish Succession (1703): In 1703, Bavarian troops invaded Tyrol. They found a mountain path called the Franzosensteig ("French Path"). This path allowed them to go around the strong Tyrolean defenses at the Scharnitz Pass and the Leutascher Schanz. So, the Bavarians entered Tyrol through Leutasch and Seefeld. More fighting happened in the area that year.
• Napoleonic Wars (1805): Later, in 1805, during Napoleon's campaigns, French troops also used the Franzosensteig. They came from the north and were able to capture the Scharnitz Pass by going through Leutasch and Seefeld, just like the Bavarians had done a century earlier.

Leutasch's Population Growth

The population of Leutasch has steadily grown over the years. In 1869, there were just under 1,000 people living here. By 2011, the population had more than doubled to over 2,200 residents. This growth shows how Leutasch has become a more popular place to live and visit.

Culture and Sights in Leutasch

Leutasch is rich in culture and has many interesting places to see.

• Ganghofer Museum: This museum is dedicated to the writer Ludwig Ganghofer, who loved the Leutasch area.
• St. Magdalena Church: Located in Oberleutasch, this Roman Catholic church was built in 1820/21. However, there have been churches on this spot since as far back as 1190!
• St. John the Baptist Church: In Unterleutasch, you can find the Roman Catholic church of St. John the Baptist, which dates back to 1828/29.
• Many Chapels: Besides the main churches, Leutasch is home to about 20 smaller chapels, adding to its charm.
• Way of St. James: A famous pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James, passes through the Leutaschtal.
• Lüftlmalerei: Many houses in Leutasch are decorated with beautiful baroque Lüftlmalerei. This is a special type of painting that makes flat surfaces look like they have three-dimensional details.
• Leutasch Gorge: Since 2005, a special footpath has made the stunning Leutasch Gorge accessible to visitors. It's a great place to explore nature.

Images for kids

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  Church in Oberleutasch

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  Church in Unterleutasch

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  Ganghofer Museum

See also

In Spanish: Leutasch para niños