Krems | ||
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Statutory city (Austria) | ||
View of Krems from the Kreuzberg mountain
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Location of Krems in Austria | ||
Coordinates: 48°25′N 15°37′E / 48.417°N 15.617°E | ||
Country | Austria | |
State | Lower Austria | |
District | Statutory city (Austria) | |
Town rights | 1305 | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Reinhard Resch (SPÖ) | |
• Vice-Mayor | Wolfgang Derler (ÖVP) | |
Area | ||
• Statutory city (Austria) | 51.61 km2 (19.93 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 203 m (666 ft) | |
Population (2015) | ||
• Statutory city (Austria) | 23,992 | |
• Density | 465/km2 (1,200/sq mi) | |
• Urban | c. 50,000 | |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
Postal code | 3500, 3506 (Krems-Süd) | |
Area code | 02732, 02739 (Krems-Süd) | |
License plate | KS | |
Website | www.krems.at |
Krems an der Donau [kʀɛms an dɐ ˈdoːnaʊ̯] is a town of 23,992 inhabitants in Austria, in the federal state of Lower Austria. It is the fifth-largest city of Lower Austria and is approximately 70 kilometres (43 miles) west of Vienna. Krems is a city with its own statute (or Statutarstadt), and therefore it is both a municipality and a district.
Krems is located at the confluence of the Krems and Danube Rivers at the eastern end of Wachau valley, in the southern Waldviertel.
Krems borders the following municipalities: Stratzing, Langenlois, Rohrendorf bei Krems, Gedersdorf, Traismauer, Nußdorf ob der Traisen, Paudorf, Furth bei Göttweig, Mautern an der Donau, Dürnstein, and Senftenberg.
Krems was first mentioned in 995 in a certificate of Otto III, but settlement was apparent even before then. For example, a child's grave, over 27,000 years old, was found here. This is the oldest grave found in Austria.
During the 11th and 12th centuries, Chremis, as it was then called, was almost as large as Vienna.
Krems is the primary producer of Marillenschnaps, an apricot brandy.
Krems is the hometown of Martin Johann Schmidt, called "Kremserschmidt", the leading painter, draughtsman and etcher of the Austrian late Baroque.