The town is part of the Salzburg Pongau region. It is located in the valley of the Enns River, near the confluence with its Taurach tributary, at the foot of Roßbrand mountain, part of the Salzburg Slate Alps. In the south the road runs parallel to the Taurach stream up to Untertauern, the Obertauern ski resort and the Radstädter Tauern Pass at 1,738 metres (5,702 ft), which marks the border with the Salzburg Lungau region. In the east, the Ennstal road leads to Schladming in Upper Styria.
The municipal area comprises the cadastral communities of Höggen, Löbenau, Mandling, Radstadt proper, and Schwemmberg.
History
In the 4th century before the Common Era the area was settled by Celtic tribes, their Noricum kingdom was incorporated as a Roman province about 15 BC. The road across the Tauern Pass was part of a major Roman road, leading from Aquileia in Italy to the city of Iuvavum (present-day Salzburg) in the north.
Styrian Gate and Capuchin Tower
A place called Rastat (i.e. "resting place") was already mentioned in a 1074 deed. The fortress of Radstadt was founded in the 13th century, when the Pongau region became part of the Archbishopric of Salzburg and border conflicts arose with the Habsburg dukes of Styria; it received city rights in 1289. The town served as seat of the local administration and was of significant value for the protection of the Enns Valley and the road crossing the Alpine crest via Radstädter Tauern Pass towards Carinthia and Aquileia. Radstadt has a Gothic church consecrated in 1417, and a town hall dating from 16th century.
Today Radstadt is also a popular tourism resort, with more tourists annually than the year-round population. It features its own ski area, and is part of an extended downhill ski and snowboard region (Ski Amadé) with links with the neighbouring town of Altenmarkt.
Politics
Town hall
Seats in the municipal assembly (Stadtsenat) as of 2014 elections
