Zams


Zams is a municipality in the district of Landeck in the Austrian state of Tyrol.

Geography

The Inn River runs through Zams, which is situated in the river's basin together with its neighbour town Landeck. The geographical location is. Here, the old roads coming from Vinschgau, Engadin, Bavaria, and Lake Constance cross. At the bridge over the Inn, tolls were demanded from trade wagons as early as the Middle Ages. The municipality comprises two villages, Zams and the much smaller Zammerberg.

Local places

Zams: Lötz, Rease, Oberdorf, Engere, Oberreit, Unterreit, Siedlung, Riefe
Zammerberg: Falterschein, Grist, Kronburg, Lahnbach, Rifenal, Schwaighof, Tatschhof, Anreit
Ausserfern: Madau

Neighbour municipalities

, Fließ, Flirsch, Gramais, Grins, Imst, Kaisers, Landeck, Schönwies, Stanz bei Landeck, Strengen, Wenns

History

Zams has been populated since pre-Christian times, though the first known use of the name is from 1150. While Zams has often enjoyed prosperity due to its location, it has also suffered disasters. In 1406 and 1703, Zams was sacked and partially burned. In 1584 and 1635, plague came to Zams, and a plague cemetery was created on the site of the hospital. In 1763, fire destroyed 42 houses and damaged the church tower. In 1911, another fire burned half the village to ash and destroyed much of the old man-made structures, leaving 54 families homeless. The tower remained, and the church was established about fifty meters away. The free-standing church tower is a notable feature of the town.
In 1812 the Merciful Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul established a hospital in Zams, their first in Austria.
The castle at Kronburg was built in 1380 and reconstructed after changing owners in 1504. It fell into disrepair and has been saved only through conservation efforts since the 1830s.

Population

Notable people

While most other places in the Landeck district are shaped by tourism, in Zams handicraft, trade, and other services are major activities. About 5% of the population still practice agriculture, usually for supplementary income, particularly near Zammerberg.