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Gars am Kamp, N.ö.

Gars is one of the bigger towns along the river Kamp, which recently entered the news with its dangerously high floodwaters.  The town lies at 256 metres above sea level and its total area, villages included, covers 50 square kilometers.  Though much larger than other towns on the Kamp, Gars still only has a population of 3450 persons.  The ruined castle of Babenbergerburg dominates the town, rising on a tower of stone in the centre of town.  Its main function these days is a theatre for summer opera.  The town was the site of a Slav settlement during Carolingian times, and the castle was a fortified position of even earlier significance.  Gars’ 13 villages are Buchberg, Burgholz (uninhabited), Etzmannsdorf, Gars am Kamp, Kamegg, Kotzendorf, Loibersdorf, Maiersch, Nonndorf, Tautendorf, Thunau am Kamp, Wanzenau, Wolfshof, and Zitternberg.  Of these communities, only Gars and Kotzendorf produced Notgeld.

View of the Ruined Babenbergerburg overlooking the main square, 1900

Gars released a regular issue of Notgeld in four denominations:  10, 20, 50, and 80 Heller, and they were good until 31 December 1920.  In addition, some sets carried a stamp from the town, while others were marked "Zweite Auflage" for the second series.  Those issues with the town stamp are much harder to find than without.  In addition, the store of Josef Solterer issued some very rare Notgeld on different coloured cardboard.  Described as a purveyor of articles of glass, porcelain, and pottery, Solterer released 10, 20, and 50 Heller notes.  These consisted of a piece of card with his store stamp, and then Solterer wrote by hand the denominations and his initials.

The main square in Gars, 2000

The Babenbergerburg appears in the upper left corner of the 20 heller note.

The church looks the same as in the photo above, but one cannot see the attached rectory to the left side as can be seen on the 50 heller note.

GWS, 2/03 [rev. 7/04]