Landau an der Isar

Infobox German Location
Art = Stadt
Wappen = Wappen von Landau an der Isar.pnglat_deg = 48 |lat_min = 40
lon_deg = 12 |lon_min = 40
Lageplan =
Bundesland = Bavaria
Regierungsbezirk = Niederbayern
Landkreis = Dingolfing-Landau
Höhe = 390
Fläche = 84.37
Einwohner = 12952
Stand = 2005-06-30
PLZ = 94405
Vorwahl = 09951
Kfz = DGF "(formerly: LAN)"
Gemeindeschlüssel = 09 2 79 122
Adresse = Oberer Stadtplatz 1
94405 Landau
Website = [http://www.landau-isar.de/ www.landau-isar.de]
Bürgermeister = Josef Brunner
Partei = CSU

Landau an der Isar (official title: "Landau a.d.Isar") is the second largest town in the Lower Bavarian county, or "Landkreis", of Dingolfing-Landau, in the province of Bavaria, Germany. It lies on the river Isar. As of 2005, the population was around 12,950.

History

Landau was founded in 1224 by the Wittelsbach Duke Ludwig of Kelheim. The town had been a "Pflegamt" for many years and belonged to the Landshut "Rentamt" of the Electorate-Principality ("Kurfürstentum") of Bavaria. Landau possessed a town court with broad magisterial powers (Landgericht).

Up until the Bavarian county reform, or "Kreisreform" in German, of 1972, Landau was the county seat ("Kreisstadt") of its own Landkreis, having the license plate code LAN. In the reform, the former townships of Frammering, Mettenhausen, Reichersdorf and Zeholfing, along with parts of the townships of Kammern and Ganacker, were merged with the town of Landau. The incorporation of the townships of Nieder- and Oberhöcking followed in 1978.

Celebrities

Former Landauers

* Uschi Glas, actress
* Jakob Ziegler, mathematician
* Christian Jungwirth, actor and radio DJ
* Manfred Böckl, author
* town pastor Johann Baptist Huber, opponent of the Nazi régime
* Norbert Niemann, author

Honorary town citizens

* Alois Schlögl (1893–1957), CSU politician, member of the provincial parliament and Provincial Minister for Nutrition, Agriculture and Forestry (1948–1954)
* Arthur Piechler (1896–1974), Cathedral organist in Augsburg und composer
* Hans Kick (1917-2000), 1st Mayor (1966-1984)

Sights to See

* Late Gothic parish church with important Spätgotische Pfarrkirche mit bedeutendem winged altar associated with Hans Leinberger in Usterling
* Town Museum ("Heimatmuseum")
* Town parish church of the Virgin Mary; the parish church of the Assumption of Dormition of the Mother of God (feast day: 15 August) was constructed during the tenure of the town priest Fr. Phillip Rappoldsberger von Dominikus Magazin in 1713. It counts as the largest and most beautiful Baroque church structure in the lower Isar Valley. The church interior shines with the marvellous Baroque high altar and eight side altars.
* Wildthurn Castle ("Schloss Wildthurn")
* Lower Bavarian Museum of Archæology in the Kastenhof, a former ducal residence
* The "Growing Rock" ("Wachsender Felsen") in Usterling
* The Devil's Stairway ("Teufelstritt") in Zulling
* The Boulder Church, or "Steinfelskirche"; the church "At the Thrice-Great Mother in the Rock" originates from the period after the Thirty Years' War and was constructed under Fr. Phillip Rappoldsberger. It houses many votive panels from the 17th and 18th centuries and is counted among the most important pilgrimage churches of the lower Isar Valley.

Economy and Infrastructure

Economy: Prominent Companies

* Brauerei Krieger
* Einhell AG
* Dräxlmaier Group
* Fruchthof Landau/Isar
* Isoflock
* Hefele KG
* Huber GmbH
* Spedition Niedermaier
* vionic Dialog- und Internetmarketing

Traffic/Roadways

The town is bound by the Bundesstraße 20 and the Bundesautobahn 92 and lies on the train line Landshut–Wörth a.d.Isar–Dingolfing–Landau a.d.Isar–Wallersdorf–Plattling.

Government Offices

* Juvenile Detention Centre
* Ministry for Rural Development
* Forest Ministry
* Ministry of Agriculture
* Surveying Agency

External links

* [http://www.landau-isar.de Web portal for Landau an der Isar]
* [http://www.gymnasium-landau.de Website of the town's Gymnasium]
* [http://www.gym-landau.de Students' website for the Gymnasium (with pictures and lots of info)]
* [http://www.idowa.de Landauer Zeitung (local newspaper; available through following link)]