Lavant, Tyrol

Lavant
Lavant
Location within Lienz district
Country	Austria
State	Tyrol
District	Lienz
Mayor	Oswald Kuenz
Area	22.55 km2 (9 sq mi)
Elevation	675 m  (2215 ft)
Population	288 (1 January 2011)
- Density	13 /km2 (33 /sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate	LZ
Postal code	9972
Area codes	0 48 52
Website	www.gemeindelavant.at

Lavant is a municipality in the district of Lienz, East Tyrol, in the upper Drautal valley in Austria. Located southeast of the city of Lienz at an altitude of 675 meters, Lavant has a population of 249.

History

After the fifth century, Lavant replaced the ancient Roman settlement of Aguntum. In 1948, archaeological ruins from the late Roman and early Christian period were discovered on the Kirchbichl mountain. These discoveries included the remains of a castle with episcopal residence, a Roman temple with tombs and votive altars dating from the second and third centuries, a fortification gate flanked by two towers, and an early Christian church built in four phases, dating from the fourth century. The church was destroyed in the seventh century, and replaced at a later period. The parish church was first mentioned in 1090.

Main sights

The Gothic church of Saints Peter and Paul was built in 1485 on top of a fortification building from the Middle Ages. The church contains a Romanesque vault, remains of Gothic winged altars, and a flat Gothic wooden ceiling from 1516.

The Saint Ulrich Pilgrimage Church at Lavant dates from the seventeenth century, and includes a tower, west gate, and choir preserved from Gothic period. The church was renovated in 1770, and frescoes, rocaille paintings, and interiors were added at a later period.

References

• Alzinger, W. Führer durch die römerzeitlichen Ruinen von Aguntum, 1958.
• Alzinger, W. Die Ausgrabungen in Aguntum und Lavant, 1959.
• Moser, H. Chronik von Lavant, 1976.
• Philpot, Don, et al. Austria Off the Beaten Track. The Globe Pequot Press, 1989.