Schwaz

Schwaz (ˈʃvaːts) is a city in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is the administrative center of the Schwaz district. Schwaz is located in the lower Inn valley. Schwaz lies in the middle of the Lower Inn Valley at the foot of the Kellerjoch and Eiblschrofen mountains. It is located approximately east of Innsbruck. The city covers an area of . Neighbouring communities include: Buch bei Jenbach, Fügenberg, Gallzein, Pill, Stans, and Vomp. The Counts of Tyrol guarded Schwaz from nearby Burg Freundsberg. At the town's height during the 15th and 16th centuries, it was an important silver mining center, providing mineral wealth for both the Fugger banking family and, through them, for the Austrian emperors. During this period, its population of about 20,000 inhabitants made it the second largest city in the Austrian Empire, after Vienna. Schwaz received its city rights in 1898 by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. Schwaz is the birthplace of 16th-century pulpit orator Georg Scherer and 20th-century philosopher Hans Köchler. It is also the birthplace of the 20th c. Austrian economist and a Roman Catholic priest, Johannes Messner. Three large industrial companies have their headquarters in Schwaz: Tyrolit – a globally active producer of bonded abrasives Adler Lacke – a family-run producer of coating systems DAKA – a regional waste management company List of twin towns and sister cities in Austria Schwaz is twinned with: File:Schwaz, Tyrol, Austria.jpg|Aerial view File:Eiblschrofen near Schwaz b 2007.jpg|Eiblschrofen near Schwaz, seen from N. File:Schwaz (Tyrol) from NE closer.jpg|Schwaz seen from NE, closer File:Schwaz-Parish Church.jpg|Schwaz, Parish Church, consecrated in 1502 File:Schwaz, der Friedhofsturm Dm10410 met buste Ludwig Penz foto5 2012-08-09 14.02.jpg|Tower (der Friedhofsturm) and bust from Ludwig Penz File:Schwaz, straatzicht foto1 2012-08-09 13.44.