Donauwörth

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Donauwörth
Reichsstrasse, Donauwörth
Reichsstrasse, Donauwörth
Coat of arms Location
Coat of arms of Donauwörth
Donauwörth (Germany)
Donauwörth
Administration
Country Flag of Germany Germany
State Bavaria
Admin. region Swabia
District Donau-Ries
Lord Mayor Armin Neudert (CSU/"Engagierte Bürger")
Basic statistics
Area 77.02 km² (29.7 sq mi)
Elevation 410 m  (1345 ft)
Population 18,149  (31/12/2006)
 - Density 236 /km² (610 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate DON
Postal code 86609
Area code 0906
Website www.donauwoerth.de

Coordinates: 48°42′00″N 10°48′00″E / 48.7, 10.8

Donauwörth is a city in the German State of Bavaria (Bayern), in the region of Swabia (Schwaben). It is said to have been founded by two fisherman where the Danube (Donau) and Wörnitz rivers meet. The city is part of the scenic route called "Romantische Straße" (Romantic Road)

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[edit] Geography

The town is situated between Munich and Nuremberg, 46 km in north of Augsburg.

[edit] History

It is historically important to Germany as the site of one of the incidents which led to the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). In 1606, the Lutheran majority barred the Catholic residents of the town from holding a procession, causing a riot to break out.

Donauwörth was again the scene of the Battle of Schellenberg (or Battle of Donauwörth) on 2 July 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713). The battle was named after the village and high ground behind the city. Duke of Marlborough was marching from Flanders to Bavaria and came to the Danube river. The French decided to make a crossing of the Danube at Donauwörth, where they were surprised by Marlborough's troops and after heavy fighting pulled back. This allowed Marlborough to capture Donauwörth and cross the Danube without problems. About 5,000 French troops were drowned trying to escape.

[edit] Notable citizens

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