Grafenau, Bavaria

Grafenau is a town in the Freyung-Grafenau district, in Bavaria, Germany. 32 km north of Passau, the town is in the Bavarian Forest and is the base of the Bavarian Forest National Park Authority. Grafenau is a holiday destination with a variety of kinds of accommodation from self-catering apartments to a "holiday village".

Grafenau.jpg
Coat of arms of Grafenau
Location of Grafenau within Freyung-Grafenau district
Grafenau in FRG.svg
Coordinates: 48°51′N 13°23′E / 48.850°N 13.383°E / 48.850; 13.383Coordinates: 48°51′N 13°23′E / 48.850°N 13.383°E / 48.850; 13.383
CountryGermany
StateBavaria
Admin. regionNiederbayern
DistrictFreyung-Grafenau
Government
 • Mayor (2020–26) Alexander Mayer[1]
Area
 • Total63.79 km2 (24.63 sq mi)
Elevation
609 m (1,998 ft)
Population
 (2016-12-31)[2]
 • Total8,276
 • Density129.738/km2 (336.02/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
94475–94481
Vehicle registrationFRG, GRA, WOS
Websitewww.grafenau.de

Place and facilities

The town is in the Bavarian Forest at a height between 600 and 700 meters over sea level, right beside the Bavarian Forest National Park. The Kleine Ohe river flows along the east and south of the town. It is close to the Frauenberg.

In April 1945, Major General Stafford LeRoy Irwin opened his XII Corps Headquarters there.

Since 1976 there has been an artificial lake (surrounded by a park) which is used for sport and recreation.

There are museums about the town and surrounding area, including a museum with a collection of traditional furniture, and also a museum about snuff.

The town has curling and ice skating rinks (which are seasonal), and ski drag lifts in an area which in summer months is used for bobsleds. There is also a golf course.

There is a Catholic church, a railway terminus, and a bus station, in addition to a range of hotels, shops, and garage facilities for motorists.

Gallery

 
Local museum in Grafenau
 
Grafenau - former town hall
 
Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Grafenau

Personalities

  • Alfred Edel (1932-1993), actor, was buried in Grafenau.

Twin towns

Grafenau is twinned with:[3]

References

  1. Liste der ersten Bürgermeister/Oberbürgermeister in kreisangehörigen Gemeinden, Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik, 15 July 2021.
  2. "Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes". Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik und Datenverarbeitung (in German). January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  3. Stadt Grafenau - Partnerstädte