Grafenau, Bavaria
Location and facilities
The town lies 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
Personalities
- Alfred Edel (1932–1993), actor, was buried in Grafenau.
- Fredl Fesl (1947–2024), singer-songwriter-musician, was born in Grafenau.
Twin towns
Grafenau is twinned with:
- Kašperské Hory (Bergreichenstein), Czech Republic
- Schärding, Austria
References
- ^ Liste der ersten Bürgermeister/Oberbürgermeister in kreisangehörigen Gemeinden, Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik, 15 July 2021.
- ^ Genesis Online-Datenbank des Bayerischen Landesamtes für Statistik Tabelle 12411-003r Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes: Gemeinden, Stichtag (Einwohnerzahlen auf Grundlage des Zensus 2011).
- ^ Stadt Grafenau - Partnerstädte