Klausen, South Tyrol

Klausen (Chiusa ; Ladin: Tluses or Tlüses) is an urban comune (municipality) and a village in South Tyrol in northern Italy, located about 20 km northeast of the city of Bolzano. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").

Geography
As of 30 November 2010, it had a population of 5144 and an area of 51.4 km2.

Klausen borders the following municipalities: Feldthurns, Lajen, Sarntal, Vahrn, Villanders and Villnöß.

Frazioni
The municipality of Klausen contains the frazioni (subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Gufidaun (Gudon), Latzfons (Lazfons), and Verdings (Verdignes).

History
Klausen is first mentioned in 1027, in a document issued by emperor Conrad II, as Clausa sub Sabiona sita, meaning chasm below the Säben Abbey.

Coat-of-arms
The emblem represents an argent dexter key on gules. The emblem was used as a seal from 1448, known from 1397 and granted in 1540 by Cardinal Bernhard von Cles, Bishop of Brixen.

Linguistic distribution
According to the 2011 census, 91.30% of the population speak German, 7.88% Italian and 0.81% Ladin as first language.

Twin / associated cities

 * Nuremberg (Germany) since 1970
 * Planegg (Germany) since 2006