Stadt

Town (German: Stadt), historically, a privileged major settlement (oppidum); the oldest town in Austria was a Celtic hill settlement on Magdalensberg. In Roman times there were eleven towns (municipia) on the territory of contemporary Austria; all of them were destroyed during the migration of the Germanic Peoples. Mediaeval cities and towns have existed since the 12th century; they were originally characterised by fortifications and had the right to hold markets; later they were endowed with a measure of autonomy and their citizens were entitled to participate in decision-making. Charters were granted by the Princes (Bishop Konrad of Passau chartered St. Pölten in 1159, Duke Leopold VI granted Enns its charter in 1212 and Vienna in 1221), later on also by liege-lords, after 1848 by the Emperor, from 1918 the State (Federal) Government, since 1925 by the Provincial Diets.

Since the Provisional Municipalities Act (Provisorisches Gemeindegesetz) of 1849 the title of Stadt has carried no legal significance; the title "Stadt mit eigenem Statut" (chartered city or town), introduced at the same time, indicates that the city or town in question is directly subordinated to the Province.

Literature: E. Lichtenberger, Stadtgeographie - Begriffe, Konzepte, Modelle, Prozesse, 1991.