Leoben, Educational center in Styria, Austria
Leoben is a town in the Austrian state of Styria and sits along the course of the Mur in a wide valley. Forest covers most of the municipal area and shapes the landscape around it.
The Bohemian king Ottokar II granted town rights to the settlement in 1263 and laid the foundation for its later development. Mining and metal processing shaped the economic direction of this region for centuries.
The main church dedicated to Francis Xavier shows the clear building concept of the Jesuits from the mid-17th century. Visitors recognize the strict lines and the connection between faith and education that mattered in this region at that time.
The town is easy to explore on foot, as most points of interest lie in the center. Visitors can use the paths along the river between spring and autumn, which are also suitable for cyclists.
The mining university was founded as early as 1840 and belongs to the oldest institutions of its kind in Europe. Today students from many countries come here to specialize in mineralogy and materials science.
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