VILLINGEN-SCHWENNINGEN

'Villingen-Schwenningen' is the largest city of the Schwarzwald-Baar district located in the south of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It has 81,520 inhabitants (as of 2005).

Contents

History

Geography

Boroughs

Places of interest

External links

History

In the Middle Ages, Villingen was a town under Austrian lordship. During the Protestant Reformation it remained Catholic. Villingen came in the center of international attention when it was besieged by marshal Tallard in 1704. Colonel Von Wilstorff put up a stout defence of the outdated fortifications and after six days the siege failed.
Schwenningen remained a village until the 19th century. In 1858 the first watch factory was established, from which time on watch making and precision mechanics have been important industries.
As part of the Baden-Württemberg territorial reform of 1972, Villingen and Schwenningen were merged with a number of surrounding villages to form the city of Villingen-Schwenningen. Nevertheless, the two halves of the city are separated by a plateau and remain distinct.
Villingen is a big center of the German Carneval. The traditional Narros represent the old citizens of Villingen: ''Alt Villingere, Morbili, Hansele, Suribbel''.

Geography

Villingen-Schwenningen lies on the eastern edge of the Black Forest about 700 meters above sea level. The source of the River Neckar is in Schwenningen (Schwenninger Moos).

Boroughs

the two big boroughs:

★ Villingen

★ Schwenningen
and nine small boroughs

★ Obereschach

★ Weilersbach

★ Weigheim

★ Mühlhausen

★ Marbach

★ Rietheim

★ Pfaffenweiler

★ Herzogenweiler

★ Tannheim

Places of interest

★ Town Wall

★ Municipal Art Gallery

★ Franziskaner Museum (in German)

★ Schwenningen Clock Museum (in German)

★ Minster of Our Lady

★ Theater am Ring

★ Wanne Observation Tower, one of the oldest towers built of iron

External links

★ Stadt Villingen-Schwenningen (in German)

★ Villingen-Schwenningen: history & pictures(in German)

★ Ice Hockey Club

★ The siege of Villingen in 1702