WAIBLINGEN

'Waiblingen' is a town in the southwest of Germany, located in the center of the densely populated Stuttgart Region, directly neighboring Stuttgart. It is the capital of the Rems-Murr district. As of September 30 2004 Waiblingen accommodated 52,948 inhabitants (25,953 men and 26,995 women).
As of December 31 2004 the area of the town (including all external proprieties, such as forests) was 42.76 km².

Contents

History

Incorporation

Economy

Twin towns

External links

History

Waiblingen was first mentioned in Carolingian documents in 885 at the time of Charles the Fat. It received its town charter in 1250.
Waiblingen was property of the Salian kings, from whom the Hohenstaufen dukes and kings inherited it. It is assumed that the Italian name of the Hohenstaufen party, Ghibelline, is derived from "Waiblingen".
The town was almost completely destroyed in 1634 during the Thirty Years' War, and its citizens either killed or deported. It was rebuilt after the war; the existing old central part of the town dates back to the years between 1640 and 1700. Its fortifications are now well restored.

Incorporation

The following towns were incorporated into Waiblingen:

★ December 1, 1971: Beinstein

★ January 1, 1975: Bittenfeld, Hegnach, Hohenacker and Neustadt

Economy

Waiblingen houses the principal office of the World's biggest chainsaw manufacturer, Stihl.

Twin towns

★ Mayenne, France

★ Devizes, United Kingdom

★ Jesi, Italy

★ Baja, Hungary

External links

★ Official homepage of Waiblingen

★ Waiblingen Webcam

★ Pictures of Waiblingen (German/English)