HOME NUMERICAL INDEX ALPHABETICAL INDEX HISTORICAL MAPS INDEX OF NAMES
ÖSTERREICH AUSTRIA
Bundesland: Tirol Tyrol
Bezirk: Innsbruck-Land  

map

Wattens

lt: Vatensas
bg: Ватеис be: Ватэис ru: Ваттеис be: Ватэис

631 Wattens Wattens was already mentioned in AD 930. In 1559 the first paper mill of North Tyrol was founded here. The economical growth of the town was initiated by the Swarovski glass factory which was founded in Wattens in 1895. The founder, Daniel Swarovski, invented a machine in 1892 that allowed the cutting of crystals with highest precision. He moved to Wattens coming from his home in Georgenthal in Bohemia (now Jiřetín pod Bukovou, CZ) because he needed more water power for his factory. Today, Swarovski & Co. is the world's largest manufacturer of crystal glass. The Austrian artist André Heller created the theme park Kristallwelten (Crystal Worlds) in 1995 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the company. 779 Wattens

Glass n.631 [left] is labeled “Erinnerung an Wattens. Weltkrieg 1914–1916” (Souvenir from Wattens. World War 1914–1916).


[scale]
contact: webmaster