Leoben

Leoben is a city in the northern part of the Austrian state of Styria, located on the Mur River. It is the administrative center of the Leoben District and a regional economic and educational hub. The town sits in a valley framed by Styrian hills and is part of the Styrian industrial belt. It has a population of roughly 25,000.

Leoben's history is closely tied to mining and metalworking. From medieval times onward, the area developed around ore extraction and related crafts, shaping its urban layout and institutions. Today the city remains a center for mining and metallurgy through the Montanuniversität Leoben, which traces its origins to 1840 as a mining academy and now concentrates on mining, metallurgical engineering, and materials science, attracting students and researchers from abroad.

Besides the university, Leoben preserves a historic town center with buildings from the Gothic and Baroque periods, a landscape of churches, palaces, and fountains around the main square. Local cultural life includes museums related to mining heritage and regular events that highlight Styrian traditions and contemporary arts.

Leoben is connected to Austria's road and rail network, providing access to Graz and the wider national system. As the district's administrative seat, it hosts municipal government services and serves as a regional base for commerce, education, and industry.