Reutlingen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Reutlingen
Coat of arms Location
Coat of arms of Reutlingen
Reutlingen (Germany)
Reutlingen
Administration
Country Flag of Germany Germany
State Baden-Württemberg
Admin. region Tübingen
District Reutlingen
Lord Mayor Barbara Bosch (Ind.)
Basic statistics
Area 87.06 km² (33.6 sq mi)
Elevation 382 m  (1253 ft)
Population 112,431  (31/12/2006)
 - Density 1,291 /km² (3,345 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate RT
Postal codes 72760–72770
Area codes 07121, 07072, 07127
Website www.reutlingen.de

Coordinates: 48°29′0″N 9°13′0″E / 48.48333, 9.21667

Reichsstadt Reutlingen
Imperial City of Reutlingen
Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire
Duchy of Württemberg
1240 – 1803
Capital Reutlingen
Government Republic
Historical era Middle Ages
 - Founded 4th5th century
 - Gained Reichsfreiheit 1240
 - Co-founded Swabian
    League
 
1331
 - Signed Augsburg
    Confession
 
1530
 - Destroyed by fire 1726
 - Mediatised to
    Württemberg
 
1803
Marienkirche by day
Marienkirche by day

Reutlingen is a city in southern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is the capital of the eponymous district of Reutlingen. As of March 2007, it has a population of 109,977.[1] Reutlingen has a university of applied sciences, which was founded in 1855, originally as a weaver's school. Today Reutlingen is home to an established textile industry and also houses machinery, leather goods and steel manufacturing facilities.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Reutlingen lies in the Southwest corner of Germany, near Stuttgart. Reutlingen lies right next to the Swabian Jura, hence why it is often called The gate to the Swabian Jura (German: Das Tor zur Schwäbischen Alb).

[edit] History

The first settlements in the area are believed to date from the 4th or 5th century. Some time around 1030, Count Egino started to build a castle on top of the Achalm, one of the largest mountains in Reutlingen district (about 706 m). One of the towers of this castle still stands today and is open for visitors. The name Reutlingen was first mentioned in writing in the so-called Bempflingen Treaty (German: Bempflinger Vertrag) which is dated approximately 108990.

Around 1180, Reutlingen received market rights and, between 1220 and 1240 it was promoted to city status and city-walls and fortifications were built. Shortly thereafter, from 12471343, the town's landmark, the St. Mary's Church (German: Marienkirche) was built.

Reutlingen became an Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire, freeing from allegiance to the Duke of Württemberg.

Reutlingen's city council signed the Augsburg Confession in 1530 and the Formula of Concord in 1580, key documents of Lutheranism.

The largest disaster in the history of Reutlingen happened in 1726, when a large fire swept through the city, destroying 80% of all residential houses and almost all public buildings, making 1,200 families homeless. The impact of this fire, which lasted three days, can be seen in various spots throughout the city until today.

In 1803, in the wake of the French Revolutionary Wars, Reutlingen lost its independence in the German Mediatisation, being restored to Württemberg.

During World War 2 parts of the "V1 Vergeltungswaffe" or "Vengeance Weapon" ( wings )were manufactured in Reutlingen and the city became the target of several allied Bombing Raids.

General Ferdinand Heim, later to be noted as the "Scapegoat of Stalingrad" was born in Reutlingen.

[edit] Main sights

  • Church of the Virgin Mary, built in Gothic style in the 13th14th centuries. In the nearby is a statue of emperor Frederick II.
  • Marktbrunnen ("Market Fountain", 16th century), surmounted by the statue of emperor Maximilian II.
  • Spitalhof, built as a hospital in the 14th century. Damaged by a fire, it was largely rebuilt in the 18th century.
  • Church of St. Nicholas, built in the 14th century as a chapel.
  • Gerber- und Färberbrunnen ("Tanners' and Dyers' Fountain"), 1920
  • City Hall 1966

[edit] University

Reutlingen University is a university of applied sciences. Their method of hands on learning is apparent in their mandatory internship for all business majors. Reutlingen University is an internationally friendly school with 111 cooperative campuses worldwide. Also classes are generally taught in German, however in the Master's program classes are taught in English.

[edit] Partner cities

[edit] References

  1. ^ [1]

[edit] External links