Zwettl

Zwettl is a town and district capital in Lower  Austria. It is chiefly known as the location of Zwettl Abbey, first mentioned in October 1139.
Zwettl has a total area of 256.7 km². The town is found in the middle of Waldviertel  at the confluence of the Kamp and Zwettl rivers. After Vienna and Wolfsberg in Carinthia, it is the third largest municipality in Austria by area.
According to Statistik Austria, in 2008 there were 11,444 people residing in Zwettl. In the town the population was spread out with 14.6% under the age of 15 years, 64.9% from 15 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older.
The name originates from Slavic "svetla" meaning "glade". Although the etymology suggests an early population of Slavic people no archeological evidence has been found yet. Zwettl was founded by the knights of Kuenring and was first mentioned in a monastery record in 1139. It was granted town privileges on December 28, 1200. Today, the Cistercian convent in Zwettl houses the only remaining manuscript of the life of Saint Agnes Blannbekin.