| Rattenberg, Austria is a town on the Inn River, near Rattenberg mountain and Innsbruck. With a population of 440, it is the smallest town in the country.
Founded in the 1300s, it was built in the literal shadow of Rat Mountain to protect itself from marauders. The protection, however, comes at a price. Like an estimated 60 other communities nested in the Tyrol region of the Alps, Rattenberg receives little-to-no sunlight during the winter. It is one of the few places at a significant distance from the Arctic Circle that has a time of permanent darkness.
In November of 2005, the town announced they were building 30 specialized rotating mirrors called heliostats to reflect sunlight into parts of the town during the winter months. The $2.4 million operation was suggested by Bartenbach Lichtlabor GmbH, a lighting design company. The EU plans to foot half the bill as of November of 2005.
Rattenberg is known for its glass making. It has an abundance of crystal glass shops. |