Bretstein

Bretstein is a municipality with 297 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2013 ) in the district Mur Valley in Styria. The municipality is located in the judicial district Jews castle.

• 6.1 City Council and Mayor
• 6.2 Coat of Arms

• 7.1 freeman

Geography

Geographical location

The municipality is located in the Lower Tauern and includes the valley of the Bretsteinbaches and the surrounding hillsides. The highest elevation is the brother Peak with 2299 m. The place Bretstein, around 25 kilometers north-west of Jews castle.

Community structure

In the community there is only one cadastral ( Bretstein ) and five localities: Authal, Bretstein, Bretstein lanes, Bretstein front of the church, Bretsteingraben.

Neighboring communities

• Oppenberg ( Liezen )
• Rottenmann ( Liezen )
• Sankt Johann am Tauern (district Mur )
• Sankt Oswald- Möderbrugg (district Mur )
• Pusterwald (district Mur )

History

The Bretsteingraben was called in the Middle Ages Finsterpöls (documented in 1245 ). The name Bretstein was first mentioned in 1310. The name is derived from the name of towering rocks, Brett Stone, from.

The present municipality was 860 to the Archbishop of Salzburg, but was cleared and settled in the 11th and 12th centuries. Significant landlords were the Liechtenstein and the Eppensteiner. The Church of St. Catherine and St. Ulrich is secured since 1343, since 1545 only as St. Catherine. Since the 12th century by the vicar of St Oswald looked at Zeiring, was only established in 1765 Bretstein a Subvikariat, so the place received its own pastor for the first time. 1849/50 the local church Bretstein was founded.

During the period of National Socialism, there were Bretsteinergraben the KZ subcamp Bretstein, a subcamp of the Mauthausen concentration camp. In April 2003, a memorial was opened on the camp premises, which is managed by the Association KZ subcamp Bretstein.

Culture and sights

Population

The municipality had 2001 347 inhabitants according to the census. 95.4 % of the population possess Austrian citizenship. For the Roman Catholic Church to 94.8 % of the population profess, 2.3% have no religious persuasion.

Economy and infrastructure

According to Census of 2001, there are 12 workplaces with 28 employees in the community as well as 109 commuters and 10 commuters. There are 33 agricultural and forestry holdings ( including 18 in the main acquisition ), which together manage 3,498 ha ( 1999).

Policy

City Council and Mayor

The council consists of nine members and is since the municipal elections 2010 mandatary of the following parties together:

• 7 ÖVP
• Two SPÖ

Mayor Hermann Beren.

Coat of arms

The award of the municipality coat of arms came into effect on 1 February 2006.

Coat Description: are Over green sign foot with a silver half a cartwheel, whose five visible spokes, the middle three together with the associated rim broken in silver a natural grouse.

Personalities

Freeman