Schwaz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Schwaz
Schwaz seen from the northeast
Flag Coat of arms
. Location in Tyrol
Schwaz Location in Tyrol, Austria Show map of Tyrol, Austria Schwaz Location in Austria Show map of Austria
Country	Austria
State	Tyrol
District	Schwaz
Area
• Total	20.21 km2 (7.80 sq mi)
Elevation	545 m (1,788 ft)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	6130
Area code	05242
Vehicle registration	SZ
Website	www.schwaz.at

Schwaz is a city in Austria, located in the beautiful state of Tyrol. It's the main town for the Schwaz district. You can find Schwaz in the lower Inn valley.

Where is Schwaz Located?

Schwaz is nestled in the middle of the Lower Inn Valley. It sits at the base of the Kellerjoch and Eiblschrofen mountains. The city is about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) east of Innsbruck.

Schwaz covers an area of about 20.17 square kilometers (7.79 square miles). Its neighbors include towns like Buch bei Jenbach, Fügenberg, Gallzein, Pill, Stans, and Vomp.

A Look at Schwaz's History

Schwaz was first mentioned way back in 930–931, called "Sûates" at that time. The Counts of Tyrol protected Schwaz from their nearby castle, Burg Freundsberg.

Schwaz's Golden Age

Schwaz was very important in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was a major center for silver mining. This silver brought great wealth to the Fugger banking family. They, in turn, helped the Austrian emperors. During this time, Schwaz had about 20,000 people. This made it the second-largest city in the Austrian Empire, right after Vienna.

Becoming a City

Schwaz officially became a city in 1898. Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria granted it city rights.

How Many People Live in Schwaz?

Schwaz's Economy and Businesses

Schwaz is home to several important companies. These businesses help the local economy grow.

Major Companies in Schwaz

• Tyrolit: This company makes special tools for grinding and cutting. They sell their products all over the world.
• Adler Lacke: This is a family-owned business that produces different kinds of paints and coatings.
• DAKA: This company handles waste management for the region. They help keep the area clean.

Famous People from Schwaz

Many interesting people have come from Schwaz.

Notable Individuals

• Georg Scherer (1540 – 1605): He was a Roman Catholic speaker and debater.
• Albert Jäger (1801–1891): An Austrian priest and historian. He was an expert in the history of Tyrol.
• Maximilian Joseph von Tarnóczy (1806–1876): An Austrian Cardinal and Archbishop of Salzburg.
• Cordula Wöhler (1845–1916): A German writer of Christian poems and songs. She lived in Schwaz from 1881.
• Joseph Messner (1893–1969): An Austrian musician, composer, and priest.
• Hans Köchler (born 1948): A retired philosophy professor from the University of Innsbruck.

Sports Stars from Schwaz

Martin Hoellwarth, a ski jumper from Schwaz

• Traudl Hecher (1943–2023): An Austrian alpine ski racer and Olympic medalist.
• Martin Höllwarth (born 1974): A former ski jumper. He won three silver medals at the 1992 Winter Olympics.
• Hannes Aigner (born 1981): An Austrian former football player who played over 400 games.
• Michael Steinlechner (born 1987): An Austrian football player who played 266 games.
• Stephanie Brunner (born 1994): An alpine ski racer. She won a team silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Schwaz's International Friends

Schwaz has special connections with other towns around the world. These are called twin towns or sister cities.

Twin Towns and Sister Cities

Images for kids

• 

  Aerial view of Schwaz

• 

  Eiblschrofen mountain near Schwaz

• 

  Schwaz seen from the northeast, closer view

• 

  Schwaz Parish Church, built in 1502

• 

  The Friedhofsturm tower and a bust of Ludwig Penz

• 

  A street view in Schwaz

See also

In Spanish: Schwaz para niños