Schwaz
Schwaz
Location in Tyrol
Country	Austria
State	Tyrol
District	Schwaz
Mayor	Hans Lintner (ÖVP)
Area	20.17 km2 (8 sq mi)
Elevation	545 m  (1788 ft)
Population	12,657  (31 December 2005)
- Density	628 /km² (1,625 /sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate	SZ
Postal code	6130
Area code	05242
Website	www.schwaz.at Coordinates: 47°21′00″N 11°42′00″E / 47.35°N 11.7°E / 47.35; 11.7

Schwaz seen from NE

Schwaz seen from NE, closer

Schwaz, Parish Church, consecrated in 1502

Eiblschrofen near Schwaz, seen from N.

Schwaz is a city in Tyrol, Austria. It is the administrative center of the Schwaz district (Bezirk). Schwaz is located in the lower Inn valley, and has a population of about 13,000.

At its height during the Middle Ages, 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.

Twin cities

Schwaz is twinned with:

Bourg-de-Péage

Mindelheim

Tramin

Trento

Verbania

Satu Mare

Sant Feliu de Guíxols

East Grinstead