When “Austria’s largest village” became a city

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Traun being elevated to the status of a town. On May 21, 1973, the state government passed the necessary decision unanimously. Because the application for town status was submitted late by local politicians in Traun, remembers former governor Josef Pühringer. At the time, at the age of 23, he was a youth representative on the 20-strong festival committee.

“For a long time we flirted with our image as the largest village in Upper Austria and asked ourselves whether we really wanted one city among many,” says Pühringer, who has been active in local politics again since autumn 2021 and works for the ÖVP in the Traun municipal council .

Meanwhile more than 27,000 inhabitants

The rise of Traun began shortly after the end of World War II. At that time, the 6,000-inhabitant village experienced a strong increase in population, and many industrial companies also settled there. This is followed by the change from commuting to commuting.

In the early 1970s, Traun finally broke the 20,000-resident mark, and the fifth-largest city in Upper Austria now has around 27,100 residents. The increasing number of inhabitants and the efforts of smaller market towns from the immediate surroundings to want to become towns finally persuaded those responsible in Traun to rethink, and Traun should also rise to the ranks of towns. Incidentally, Traun was never a market town, it made the leap from village to town.

The time had come in 1973, but the city was not celebrated until spring 1974. After the “tough” state parliament and municipal council elections in 1973, it was important to “put together in the foreground”, says Pühringer.

The current mayor of Traun, Karl-Heinz Koll (also VP), wants to do the same at this year’s anniversary celebrations. These are a great opportunity “to strengthen Traun’s identity and to bring people together again after the pandemic.” Because it is clear that Traun should never become “a concrete suburb of Linz”.

“Boldly Look Forward”

The celebrations will last for several months, and the exact program will be presented on March 20th. The highlight of the celebrations will be the festival weekend from May 19th to 21st, that much is already certain. Fixed points will be the opening of the new city hiking trail (this is still being planned), a big family festival with rides, a colorful festival program by the Trauner clubs as well as a festival church service and parade.

Koll wants to give the Trauner and above all the Trauner clubs a stage with the anniversary celebrations, whose important achievements and offers should be appreciated. The anniversary is not only the time “to look back with gratitude, but also to look forward with courage.” As reported, which actions follow the look ahead will depend heavily on the large-scale citizen survey. The results will be presented at the beginning of March, Koll announced today.