SCHWECHAT

town, Niedersterreich Bundesland (federal state), northeastern Austria. It lies on the west bank of the Danube River near the mouth of the Schwechat River, just southeast of Vienna. The site of a Roman camp, the town was first mentioned in the 11th century and was granted market rights in 1624. It was a district of Vienna from 1938 until it was returned to Niedersterreich in 1954. The Rococo parish Church of St. Jakob (1764) has notable interior decorations. A brewing (lager beer) town, Schwechat is also an important industrial centre with a major oil refinery, chemical industries, and flour mills. The main Vienna airport is at Schwechat. Pop. (1991) 14,683.