Zentrale Orte

Zentrale Orte ("Central Places", i.e. central or main towns and/or villages), settlements of greater or lesser importance, whose central institutions provide the population of the surrounding area with goods and services. They are related to each other in a hierarchical way, each superior centre also fulfilling the duties of places of an inferior level. In Austria the following "central places" are distinguished: the capital city of Vienna (level 10), capitals of the federal provinces (levels 9 and 8), capitals of "Viertels" ("quarters") (level 7), central places of medium level (levels 6-4), central places of minor levels (levels 3, 2 and 1) and the lowest or village level (level 0). The settlements are classified according to the central institutions (semi-official, public and private-sector services) available.

Literature: H. Bobek and M. Fesl, Das System der Zentralen Orte Österr., 1978.