Krems an der Donau

Krems an der Donau is a city in Lower Austria, Austria. It has a population of about 24,821 people, making it the 20th-largest city in Austria and the fifth-largest in Lower Austria. The city is located about 70 kilometres, or 43 miles, west of Vienna. Krems is special because it has its own statute, which means it is both a municipality and a district on its own.

Geography

Krems is found where the Krems and Danube Rivers meet, at the far end of the Wachau valley, in the southern part of Waldviertel.

The city borders several places, including Stratzing, Langenlois, Rohrendorf bei Krems, Gedersdorf, Traismauer, Nußdorf ob der Traisen, Paudorf, Furth bei Göttweig, Mautern an der Donau, Dürnstein, and Senftenberg.

History

Krems was first mentioned in the year 995 in a document from Otto III. But people lived there even earlier—scientists found a grave that is over 27,000 years old, making it the oldest grave ever found in Austria.

During the 11th and 12th centuries, Krems was almost as big as Vienna. Later, during a big war called the Thirty Years' War, soldiers from Sweden took over Krems in 1645. But it was taken back the next year by troops led by Hans Christoph von Puchheim and Johann Wilhelm von Hunolstein.

Krems is well known for making Marillenschnaps, a special kind of apricot brandy. It is also where a famous artist named Martin Johann Schmidt, known as "Kremserschmidt", was born. He was a leading painter, draughtsman, and etcher from the late Baroque time.

City division

• Innenstadt (Inner City)
• Weinzierl
• Mitterau
• Stein
• Egelsee
• Rehberg
• Am Steindl
• Gneixendorf
• Lerchenfeld
• Krems-Süd (South Krems)

Population development

The city of Krems an der Donau had around 50,000 people living there as their main home by the end of 2010.

Climate

The city of Krems an der Donau has a climate that is typical for Central Europe. It experiences four distinct seasons, with warm summers and cold winters. The nearby Danube River helps influence the local weather patterns, making the area generally mild compared to other regions further inland.

Main sights

Old town

Some important places in the old town of Krems include Bürgerspitalkirche, Dominikanerkirche, Dreifaltigkeitssäule, Göglhaus, Gozzoburg, Großes Sgraffitohaus, Pfarrkirche St. Veit, Piaristenkirche, Pulverturm, Rathaus, Simandlbrunnen, and Steiner Tor. The Steiner Tor is a special gate built in 1480 and is one of the two remaining medieval gates.

Outside the Old Town

Outside the old town, you can find more interesting spots like Frauenbergkirche, Göttweigerhofkapelle, Großer Passauerhof, Karikaturmuseum Krems, Kloster Und, Kremser Tor, Kunsthalle Krems, Forum Frohner, Landesgalerie Niederösterreich, Linzer Tor, Mauthaus, Minoritenkirche, Pfarrkirche Hl. Nikolaus, Salzstadl, and University Krems.

Transport

Krems an der Donau has an important railway station where several train lines meet. These include the Franz-Josefs Railway to Vienna, the Kremser Railway to St. Pölten, the Donauufer Railway to Spitz, and regional trains to Horn. The city is also a crossroads for major roads, including the Stockerauer Speedway S5 and the Kremser Speedway S33. Bus services called Wieselbus connect Krems to other parts of Lower Austria.

The city has several main roads, such as the Stockerauer Schnellstraße (S5) to Vienna and the Kremser Schnellstraße (S33) to St. Pölten. Other roads lead to places like Linz, Melk, Retz, Rastenfeld, Traismauer, and Langenlois. Train lines from Krems go to Vienna, St. Pölten, Spitz, and Sigmundsherberg. There is a small airfield at Gneixendorf for general aviation, and the nearest large airport is Vienna Airport, about 80 kilometres away.

Inside the city, four bus lines run regularly. During the summer, a special tourist train takes visitors through the old parts of Krems to museums, the main railway station, and the passenger ship terminal.

Politics

Municipal council

The municipal council in Krems has 40 members. After the elections in 2017, the council includes members from different parties: 19 from the Social Democratic Party of Austria, 8 from the Austrian People's Party, 5 from the Freedom Party of Austria, 2 from KLS, 1 from the Austrian Green Party, and 1 from PROKS. Elections were also held in 2022 alongside the Austrian legislative election, 2022.

City's senate

The city's senate has 10 members. It includes 5 members from SPÖ, 3 from ÖVP, and 2 from FPÖ.

Public facilities

Educational facilities

Krems has many schools and learning places. Some of these include BHAK/BHAS Krems, Bundesgymnasium Piaristen, Bundesgymnasium Rechte Kremszeile, and Danube Private University. There are also special schools for adults and continuing education.

Prison

There is a prison in Krems called Justizanstalt Stein.

Leisure and sports sites

Krems has many places to play and have fun. You can swim at Kremser Strandbad, which has both indoor and outdoor pools. You can also play football with Kremser SC, ice hockey with KEV Eagles, miniature golf, rugby, and visit a skatepark. There are also places to play team handball and badminton.

Notable people

Krems an der Donau has been home to many interesting people throughout history. Some of the most famous include Ava, a poet who was the first known woman to write in the German language, and Margaret of Austria, who became a queen in Germany and Bohemia. The city also was home to famous painters like Johann Georg Schmidt and Martin Johann Schmidt, as well as other artists, writers, and leaders.

Sport

Krems has also produced notable athletes. Gregor Hradetzky was an organ builder and canoeist who won two gold medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Today, football players like Marko Stankovic and Lukas Thürauer have also made their mark in sports history.

Twin towns

Krems has friendly connections with several cities around the world. These include Ribe in Denmark since 1971, Böblingen in Baden-Württemberg, Germany since 1971, Beaune in Côte-d'Or, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France since 1973, Passau in Bavaria, Germany since 1974, Kroměříž in the Czech Republic since 1994, and Grapevine in Texas, United States since 1999. These partnerships help cities learn from each other and become friends.