Virgenhaus

Virgen is a municipality in the district of Lienz in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It includes part of the Virgen valley in the Venediger Group mountain range, and extensive parts of the municipality are in High Tauern National Park. The history of the area goes back to 500 BC, when copper mining played an important role. After the end of the Roman period Slavs settled in the Virgen valley, who were gradually assimilated by Baiuvarii settlers beginning in the 8th century. The simultaneous Christianization of the area led to the creation of one of the first parishes in the region. During the Middle Ages Virgen was a part of Carinthia and the County of Gorizia, and by 1500 it was annexed by Tyrol. With a population of 2,200, Virgen is the fifth largest community in east Tyrol in terms of population. Agriculture and tourism both play important economic roles, but a lack of jobs and structural problems lead to a very high commuter rate. Virgen has won awards for being the most beautiful municipality in Tyrol several times.