Weinsberg
Weinsberg | ||
---|---|---|
Location of Weinsberg within Heilbronn district | ||
Municipal assoc. „Raum Weinsberg“ | | |
Subdivisions | 4 | |
Government | ||
• Mayor (2020–28) | Birgit Hannemann[1] (Ind.) | |
Area | ||
• Total | 22.22 km2 (8.58 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 219 m (719 ft) | |
Population (2022-12-31)[2] | ||
• Total | 13,290 | |
• Density | 600/km2 (1,500/sq mi) | |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) | |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) | |
Postal codes | 74189 | |
Dialling codes | 07134 | |
Vehicle registration | HN | |
Website | www.weinsberg.de |
Weinsberg (South Franconian: Weischberg) is a town in the north of the state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany. It was founded around 1200 and is situated in the Heilbronn district. The town has about 11,800 inhabitants. It is noted for its wine.
Geography
Geographical position
Weinsberg lies in the eastern Heilbronn district in the northeast part of Baden-Wuerttemberg, between the Neckar in the west and the Löwenstein mountains in the east. The small river Sulm rises from the Löwenstein mountains and flows into the Neckar after approximately 20 km (12 mi). The valley formed of the Sulm and its tributaries is called Weinsberger Tal. The city mainly lies in and on the tendencies of the valley of the Stadtseebach (also called Saubach), a southern tributary of the Sulm. The Sulm flows by Weinsberg's area, but not by the city itself, and only a small northern part of the city lies at the edge of the Sulm valley.
Northwest of the town centre rises the Burgberg, with the ruins of
The Sulm valley in the north of the Schemelsberg becomes dominated by the A 6, which meets the A 81 by the Weinsberg interchange in the north-east of the town. North of the Sulmtal continues the wooded Sulmer Bergebene. The A 81 towards Stuttgart runs approximately along the eastern boundary border of Weinsberg.
The lowest point of the boundary lies at the Sulm with 166 m elevation. The highest point lies on the northern slope of the Reisberg at the southeast boundary border to Heilbronn with 338 m elevation.[3]
Geology
Weinsberg is situated on the edge of a
In former times in the periphery of Weinsberg 10 quarries were operated. In Weinsberg there were quarries at the southwest border to Heilbronn as well as on the Burgberg (the last one very small).
Area
The town of Weinsberg covers 22.22 km2 (8.58 sq mi), about 13.95 km2 (5.39 sq mi) of which are allotted to Weinsberg, 3.36 km2 (1.30 sq mi) to Gellmersbach, 2.10 km2 (0.81 sq mi) to Grantschen and 2.79 km2 (1.08 sq mi) to Wimmental (conditions: June 2006).[4]
By the incorporations the form of the communal land can be compared with an irregular (Greek) cross, whereby Weinsberg represents the short west and the thickened south bar. Gellmersbach represents the north bar; Grantschen and Wimmental represent the extended east bar. The expansion in north–south direction amounts to about 8.6 km (5.3 mi), in west–east direction about 9.3 km (5.8 mi). In 1957 as well as 1988-2004 the land use distributed itself as follows: (Area specifications in ha, source 1957:;[5] 1988–2004:[6]):
1957 | % | 1988 | % | 1992 | % | 1996 | % | 2000 | % | 2004 | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total surface | 1,429 | 100.00 | 2,223 | 100.0 | 2,222 | 100.0 | 2,222 | 100.0 | 2.221 | 100.0 | 2,222 | 100.0 |
Settlement and traffic surface |
155.9 | 10.90 | 515 | 23.2 | 546 | 24.6 | 567 | 25.5 | 595 | 26.8 | 615 | 27.7 |
Agricultural surface | 750.9 | 52.50 | 1,186 | 53.4 | 1,122 | 50.5 | 1,100 | 49.5 | 1,068 | 48.1 | 1,048 | 47.1 |
Forest surface | 496.1 | 34.70 | 494 | 22.2 | 529 | 23.8 | 529 | 23.8 | 528 | 23.8 | 528 | 23.7 |
Water surface | 6.5 | 0.45 | 10 | 0.5 | 12 | 0.5 | 12 | 0.5 | 13 | 0.6 | 13 | 0.6 |
Remaining surface | 19.6 | 1.37 | 17 | 0.8 | 13 | 0.6 | 14 | 0.6 | 17 | 0.8 | 18 | 0.8 |
The settlement surface increases continuously, since Weinsberg still proves construction sites. Conversely the agriculturally used surface decreases.
The urban forest possession amounts to altogether 567 ha. Beside 426 ha forest on the communal land of Weinsberg and its localities the city also possesses 141 ha forest on the communal land of Gemmingen, which was acquired on 29 July 1936, as reconciliation for Weinsberg's area deliveries to the state for military purposes (extension of Heilbronn's drilling place on the Waldheide).
Neighbouring municipalities
Neighboring municipalities of Weinsberg are (clockwise from the west): the city
Part | Incorporation | Inhabitants[7] | Surface |
---|---|---|---|
Weinsberg | – | 9040 | 13.95 km2 |
Gellmersbach | January 1, 1975 | 921 | 3.36 km2 |
Grantschen | January 1, 1973 | 819 | 2.10 km2 |
Wimmental | January 1, 1975 | 610 | 2.79 km2 |
Town structure
Except from the town itself, Weinsberg consists of the incorporated localities of Gellmersbach, Grantschen and Wimmental. Outside of the closed land development are the places Weißenhof (with clinical center), Rappenhof and Stöcklesberg belonging to Weinsberg, without it dealing thereby with own localities. Gone off no longer existing places on Weinsberg's communal land are Bodelshofen, Burkhardswiesen (or Burchardeswiesen), Holßhofen, In dem Gründe, Lyndach, Uff the Wier and Wolfshöfle.[8]
Climate
The climate is mostly mild by the protected valley situation and favours the extensively operated viticulture. The annual average duration of sunshine amounts on 1638.7 hours.[9]
According to annual reports of the viticulture school Weinsberg,[10] the average yearly temperature during 1961-1990 was 9.6 °C (49.3 °F), the annual precipitation was about 740 mm (29.1 in). Values for the period 1971-2000 are 738.4 mm (29.1 in) at 10.0 °C (50.0 °F) and 2002 11.1 °C (52.0 °F) at 959 mm (37.8 in). January from 1961 to 1990 had on the average 0.6 °C (33.1 °F) at 57 mm (2.2 in) precipitation, 1971-2000 1.4 °C (34.5 °F) at 51.7 mm (2.0 in) and 2002 0.8 °C (33.4 °F) at 21 mm (0.8 in). July had from 1961 to 1990 on the average 18.7 °C (65.7 °F) at 65 mm (2.6 in) precipitation, 1971-2000 19.2 °C (66.6 °F) at 74.5 mm (2.9 in) and 2002 18.8 °C (65.8 °F) at 92 mm (3.6 in).
According to meteorological data of the viticulture school the average yearly temperature in Weinsberg increased from 1900 to 2006 from 9.2 °C (49 °F) to 10 °C (50 °F).[11]
History
Prehistory and antiquity
The earliest known settlement trace in Weinsberg is a group of tumuli. They're situated in the forest near the boundary to Heilbronn and haven't been investigated so far. It is assumed that the tumuli are to be assigned to the Hallstatt culture.[12]
In the 19th century there was found a Celtic silver coin from the 2nd century BC. Its inscription "V, O, L, C" can be assigned to the Celtic tribe of the Volcae, which lived (among other places) in Southern Germany at that time. So it can be assumed that Celts lived at least occasionally in the area of today's Weinsberg.[13]
However, the first solidly attested settlers in the area of Weinsberg were the Romans. In the 2nd century, a
Middle Ages
Around 500 AD, the Alamanni were displaced by the Franks, who settled on Weinsberg's communal land between Erlenbach and Gellmersbach in the 7th century. In 778 the area around Weinsberg was first mentioned as "Sulmanachgowe" in a deed of donation of Charlemagne to the Lorsch Abbey. In the area of today's Weinsberg several medieval settlements (Bodelshofen, Burchardeswiesen, Lyndach) were established, continuing even after the town foundation, but finally given up.
Presumably around 1000, the Weinsberg castle was established on a mountain at the trade route running from Heilbronn to Schwäbisch Hall.
In 1140 the
The Staufers used a family of
Presumably Weinsberg was created at the same time and surrounded with a
The city wall around the town established in early 13th century originally also included the castle in the northwest by linking walls. In the area between these linking walls, directly underneath the castle, there were houses for priests, ministerialis and serfs of the masters. Presumably in 1332 Weinsberg's citizens destroyed this quarter and locked the city in the west in opposite to the castle, as documents state from 1375. While two of the three castle masters were absent and against the resistance of the third one they established a wall between castle and town with a moat. Probably the linking walls were broken off at the same time.[14]
The quarrels with the masters persisted. Finally, on May 22, 1417, Sigismund gave Weinsberg to his treasurer Konrad IX. So the town had been devalued by losing its status as a free imperial city to the subordinated status of the Masters of Weinsberg's rule. The town looked for protection in a further city federation called the Weinsberg Federation. On November 27, 1420, 33 free imperial cities united for the protection of Weinsberg.
The town refused to acknowledge Konrad's rule and did not want to pay its taxes any longer. That is why Konrad IX achieved the
16th until 19th century
The German religious reformer
On April 16, 1525 (
From 1819 until his death in 1862, the poet and physician Justinus Kerner lived in Weinsberg. His circle of friends, all of them poets, often met at his house, giving Weinsberg the reputation of being a "Swabian Weimar".
World War II
During the
Politics
Twin Towns
Weinsberg has official partnerships with the French town of
The American town of
Mayors
Before 1930 the title was Schultheiß/Stadtschultheiß
- 1820-1845 Heinrich Pfaff
- 1845-1853: Franz Fraas
- 1853-1862: Johann Jakob Haug,
- 1862-1875: Johann Franz Käpplinger,
- 1875-1914: Carl Seufferheld
- 1914-1924: Adolf Strehles
- 1924-1945: Karl Weinbrenner
- 1945 Ludwig Mayer
- 1945 Rudolf Ilg
- 1946-1948: Gustav Zimmermann
- 1948-1972 Erwin Heim
- 1972-1996: Jürgen Klatte
- 1996-2004: Walter Kuhn
- since 2004: Stefan Thoma
Economy and infrastructure
Wine growing
In earlier times viticulture has been the basis of Weinsberg's economy and plays still an important role. In 1271 viticulture in Weinsberg was mentioned for the first time, there are proven 28 wine presses in the town from 1636. With a cultivated area of 430 ha (conditions: 2005, with districts), two thirds of it are red wine sorts, standing the town in fifth place of the viticulture municipalities in Württemberg.[15] In 1868 the winemaking cooperative Weinsberg was created, getting combined with Erlenbach's and Heilbronn's cooperatives to the Genossenschaftskellerei Heilbronn-Erlenbach-Weinsberg e. G., still attaching the most wine-growers of Weinsberg. In addition there are some estates removing and marketing their wine by themselves. Besides there's the Staatliche Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt für Wein- und Obstbau Weinsberg (LVWO or briefly viticulture school) created in 1868, educating people and marketing their wine as Staatsweingut Weinsberg. Since January 19, 1957, there is also the technical school of cooper business providing courses each year to a mastership examination in this profession. Finally since 1972 also the viticulture association of Württemberg has resided in Weinsberg.
Traffic
In 1966, a motorway interchange was built in the area of Weinsberg and named after the town. The A 6 (Mannheim–Nuremberg) and A 81 (Würzburg–Stuttgart) cross there. The A 81 to Würzburg is less busy than the other three directions. Due to the opening of the Eastern Bloc, the A 6 leading in east–west direction is often a gridlock. In 2001, the daily traffic volume reached 102,000 vehicles. 30% of it are HGV, so it is one of the highest portions in the German motorway net. For a long time, the extension to six lanes of the four-lane A 6 is an urgent desire of the whole Heilbronn region. It has paid the costs of the expansion plan from Weinsberg interchange up to the Bavarian border.[16] The extension is assured but not scheduled yet, so as a remedy the shoulders of the motorway became provisional driving strips.[17]
Formerly the Bundesstraße 39 (Heilbronn–Schwäbisch Hall) leading in west–east direction had been running right through the town, dividing Weinsberg into a northern and southern part. Crossing the B 39 apart from traffic lights was nearly impossible, so the desire of a bypass grew, which was finally inaugurated on July 13, 1990. Running from Heilbronn it passes the Schemelsberg in a tunnel, then it leads around Weinsberg parallel to the A 6 and finally meets the old B 39 in the east. The old route of the B 39 through the town received less traffic. At the border to Ellhofen the motorway feeder B 39a branches to the south, which leads to the A 81's motorway junction Weinsberg/Ellhofen.
Public transport is provided by
Public institutions
Weinsberg has a big psychiatric and neurological hospital, founded in 1903. Named "Klinikum am Weissenhof" (since 2002), it is the town's biggest employer. There also is a state institution for teaching and research in winemaking, called the Staatliche Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt für Wein- und Obstbau. Several new grape varieties were bred there since it was founded in 1868.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Hans Schweiner (c. 1473 – 1534), builder, builder of the western tower of the Heilbronner Kilianskirche
- Carl Krayl (1890–1947), architect
Notes
- ^ Aktuelle Wahlergebnisse, Staatsanzeiger, accessed 13 September 2021.
- Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg. June 2023.
- ISBN 3-17-005708-1. p. 142ff.
Topographische Karte 1:25 000, Nr. 6821 Heilbronn, 3. Auflage 2001
Stadtverwaltung Weinsberg per E-Mail vom 30. Oktober 2006 - ^ Source: City administration Weinsberg per E-Mail of June 26th, 2006
- ^ Jahrbuch für die Stadt Weinsberg 1958
- ^ Structural and regional data base of the statistic office of Baden-Wuerttemberg (called up on November 13th, 2006)
- ^ conditions: October 2007; Source: Jahrbuch für die Stadt Weinsberg 2007, p. 82
- ISBN 3-17-005708-1. p. 142–146; Dumitrache/Haag: Archäologischer Stadtkataster Weinsberg (view literature). p. 16ff.
- ^ Annual average value 1961–1990; Source: Deutscher Wetterdienst, click here and here (called up on April 23, 2008)
- ^ Annual reports of the LVWO since 1999
- ^ Kilian Krauth: Das Klima wandelt auch den Wein. In: Heilbronner Stimme of January 19th, 2007, p. 38
- ^ Entry in the project Kulturdenkmale in der Region Heilbronn-Franken (called up on November 13th, 2006)
- ISBN 3-9801562-4-9. p. 49–53
- ^ Simon M. Haag, Helmut Deininger, Manfred Wiedmann: Die Schenkelmauern zwischen Burg und Stadt Weinsberg und die Vorburgsiedlung oder die Unterstützung historischer Forschung durch neuere naturwissenschaftliche Errungenschaften. In: Württembergisch Franken 84. Historischer Verein für Württembergisch Franken, Schwäbisch Hall 2000. p. [75]–101
- ^ Daten und Fakten zum Weinland Württemberg at the viticulture association Württemberg Archived 2008-09-20 at the Wayback Machine (called up on November 13th, 2006)
- ^ Herbert Kaletta: 100.000 Euro für die Autobahn. In: Heilbronner Stimme of July 26, 2007, p. 30
- ^ Website of the Aktionsbündnis pro Ausbau A 6 Archived 2008-02-05 at the Wayback Machine (called up on November 13, 2006)
- ^ Joachim Kinzinger: Stadtbahn saust vorbei. In: Heilbronner Stimme of December 20th, 2008, p. 36
References
- Simon M. Haag: Römer – Salier – Staufer – Weinsberger : kleine Geschichte von Burg und Stadt Weinsberg. Hrsg. vom Stadtarchiv Weinsberg. Verlag Nachrichtenblatt der Stadt Weinsberg, Weinsberg 1996, ISBN 3-9802689-9-3
Concise overview of the town's history (in German). - Jahrbuch für die Stadt Weinsberg. Jahrbuch-Verlag, Weinsberg 1956–2004; RichterResponse, Weinsberg 2005–
Published annually. Contains a review of the year's events, a directory of residents and information about the town administration, institutions, associations and societies (in German).