REUTLINGEN

'Reutlingen' is a city in southern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is the capital of the eponymous district 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.

Contents

Geography

History

Main sights

Sister cities

External links

Geography

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'').

History

The first settlements in the area are believed to date from the 4th/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 stands until 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 1089-1090.
Around 1180, Reutlingen receives market rights and between 1220 and 1240 it is promoted to city status and city-walls and fortifications are built. Shortly thereafter, from 1247-1343, the town's landmark, the St. Mary's Church (German: ''Marienkirche'') was built.
Reutlingen became a 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.
General Ferdinand Heim, later to be noted as the "Scapegoat of Stalingrad" was born in Reutlingen.

Main sights

★ Church of the Virgin Mary, built in Gothic style in the 13th-14th 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)

Sister cities

★ Aarau, Switzerland, since 1986

★ Bouaké, Ivory Coast, since 1970

★ Dushanbe, Tajikistan, since 1990

★ Ellesmere Port and Neston, United Kingdom, since 1966

★ Pirna, Germany

★ Reading, United States, since 1998

★ Roanne, France, since 1958

★ Szolnok, Hungary, since 1990

External links

★ Homepage of Reutlingen

★ The University of applied sciences in Reutlingen