Laas, South Tyrol
Laas ( Lasa Italian ) is a municipality with 3967 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) in South Tyrol's Vinschgau (Italy). Capital is the village of the same name, which is known mainly for the Laas marble.
- 3.1 Historical Aqueduct
- 3.2 parish church of St. John the Baptist
- 3.3 St. Sisinus - church
Geography
Geographical Location
The municipality consists of the main town of Laas and the fractions Allitz, Eyrs, Parnetz, Tschengls, Tanas and Tarnell. The main village is situated on the Adige at the entrance of Laasertales between the northern Sonnenberg and the Nördersberg called the southern slope of the Vinschgau at the state road SS 38, and is a stop on the 2005 re-opened Vinschgerbahn. Eyrs located to the west of it. Allitz and Tannas lying on the Sonnenberg, while Parnetz, Tarnell and Tschengls are based on so-called clearings on upland terraces of Nörderberg. The dominated alluvial landscape was caused by floods and landslides.
Climate
The climate is characterized by low rainfall and consequent drought.
Place name
Laas was first documented in 1209 mentioned as Laz. The origin of the name is not clear. A possible explanation lies in the return to a pre-Roman term for rock, gravel or boulder scree, another interpretation refers to a supposed former, formed by the Adige River Lake (Latin lacus ).
Attractions
Historical aqueduct
The as " Kandlwaal " designated wooden trough was once part of the existing irrigation system from Waalen. The 600 m long wooden aqueduct crossed the Adige at 32 to 15 m high stone pillars. 1907 Kandlwaal was destroyed by a fire. Parts of it are still visible today.
Parish Church of St. John the Baptist
The Dating from the 12th century Romanesque apse was reconstructed in 1973 discovered the original parts. It is divided by half-columns and windows that are decorated with eagle and foliated capitals. Figural reliefs of lions and saints adorn the arched frieze. The, also from the 12th century Romanesque tower has coupled and about three-piece arched windows. Inside is an early medieval altar table is with a relief of the martyrs Sisinus, Alexander and Martyrius. The baptismal font dates from the late 15th century, the Hochkruzifik was built around 1500., The nave of the parish church is a building from the year 1849.
St. Sisinus - church
The Nonsberger the martyrs Sisinus small church dedicated is on a low hill in the west of the main town. The building is surrounded by a provided with a pointed Gothic arch door stone wall. First documented in 1290, the church was mentioned, but it's probably older than that. The nave has two round-arched Romanesque Schlitzfensterchen, one on the east wall. The massive choir tower has coupled arched windows with sound rude little columns and fighters, the low, brick-built square - spire dates from the 11th or the 12th century.
Economy
The marble deposits in Laasertal may have already been mined in Roman times, the systematic recovery did not start until the mid-19th century. After the annexation of South Tyrol to Italy Lasa Marmo SPA opened in 1929, the Laas marble track with which the marble is still taken from 1550 meters to the valley. By means of a cable car to overcome the blocks first a ravine. Then they are led by the mountain railway transport along a funicular railway, the Laas funicular railway with which they are then placed in the valley to the marble factory.
There are today in the capital, two marble processing plants and two sculptors. Another marble processing company is in the fraction Eyrs. In 1982, the vocational school was re-established for stone processing in Laas. Since 2000, the Laas marble is also through the issuance of marble small works of art as part of the annual cultural festival of Lasa marble & apricot moved into the public eye. In the valley there is a vast fruit-growing area. Two large fruit cooperatives provide for the storage and sale of apricots, apples, cauliflower and other vegetables.
In Laas are parts of the hydroelectric plant Kastel Bell. Here the Adige river is dammed by a weir. 294 m lower in Kastel Bell, obtained mean electric power with three Francis turbines 60 MWatt.