Großgmain

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Großgmain is a municipality in the district of Salzburg-Umgebung in the state of Salzburg, Austria. It sits in the northern foothills of the Berchtesgaden Alps, right on the border with Bavaria in Germany, next to Bayerisch Gmain. The Weißbach creek marks part of the border and flows into the Saalach river. The Gmain area has early roots, first mentioned in a 712 deed by Duke Theodbert of Bavaria. Bronze Age finds show long settlement, and in the Middle Ages it was the center of the lands of the Bavarian Counts of Plain, who built the Plainburg residence. When the archbishops of Salzburg became prince-bishops, Weißbach formed the border of the estates in the region. Großgmain and Bayerisch Gmain were part of different dominions but share a common local identity. In 1938 the area was annexed by Germany, and in 1941 the Oflag 78 prisoner-of-war camp was established there before it moved to Hohenfels, Bavaria. The municipality covers about 22.82 square kilometers, sits at about 520 meters above sea level, and had about 2,615 residents as of 2018.