Hornbach

For|the store|Hornbach (hypermarket).Infobox Ort in Deutschland
Art = Stadt
image_photo =
Wappen = Wappen hornbach.jpg
lat_deg = 49 |lat_min = 11 |lat_sec = 17
lon_deg = 7 |lon_min = 22 |lon_sec = 09
Lageplan =
Bundesland = Rheinland-Pfalz
Landkreis = Südwestpfalz
Verbandsgemeinde = Zweibrücken-Land
Höhe = 233
Fläche = 13.32
Einwohner = 1642
Stand = 2006-12-31
PLZ = 66500
Vorwahl = 06338
Kfz = PS
Gemeindeschlüssel = 07 3 40 211
Adresse-Verband = Landauer Straße 18-20 66482 Zweibrücken
Website = [http://www.stadt-hornbach.de/ www.stadt-hornbach.de]
Bürgermeister = Reinhold Hohn
Partei = FDP

Hornbach is a municipality in the Südwestpfalz district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated southwest of the Palatinate forest, on the border with France, south of Zweibrücken. It is part of the "Verbandsgemeinde" ("collective municipality") Zweibrücken-Land.

The monastery was the most likely reason for the founding of the town of Hornbach. According to legend, Pirminius (†11/3/753) chose this area for the foundation of the monastery ["Isaac Besse, The Mayor of Hornbach Stadschultheiss (1652-1725), Ancestors and Descendants, Copyright 2005 by Dr Maria Besse, Thomas Besse, ISBN: 3-937436-03-0. "] . A plaque in the renovated monastery museum indicates that the monastery was founded in 737.

In 1220, Hornbach was under the direct ecclesiastical rule of the Bishop of Metz. King Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor 1316-1378, also known as King Karl IV of Weisswasser in Bohemia, gave the town Hornbach its town rights on 16 April 1352, in connection with the establishment of a mayoral office ["Daten zur Geschichte Hornbachs, WANDERKARTE der Klosterstadt Hornbach, Copyright 1995."] .

Hieronymus Bock, considered the first modern botanist, lived at the monastery beginning in 1533 ["Daten zur Geschichte Hornbachs, WANDERKARTE der Klosterstadt Hornbach, Copyright 1995."] .

'Hornbach was supposedly uninhabited from 1636 for 3 years, during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). At this time, the completely emptied and desolate area was avoided by the troops. Due to the war, the number of citizens decreased from 88 families, 10 widows with 75 houses to 30 citizens and 5 widows. 40% of the population was evacuated. The craftsmen began the rebuilding in 1648. In 1657, the reinstatement of the town rights was confirmed. With respect to agriculture, in Zweibrucken as in Westrich, where there were extensive vineyards, these vineyards were not replanted' ["Isaac Besse, The Mayor of Hornbach Stadschultheiss (1652-1725), Ancestors and Descendants."] . After the war, the Dukes of Zweibrucken caled Tryolean and Swiss immigrants into their emptied lands (Westrich). During the "Reunion" (1680-1697), the Duchy Palatinate-Zweibrucken was incorporated into the centralist French state. Foreign immigrants were encouraged to settle in the Saar and Alsace provinces by receiving generous priviliges. On 17 October 1680, the French government promised settlers the following: cattle, goods, and money, in addition to a tax-free period of 10 years. Later, the Duchy of Palatinate-Zweibrucken fell as a result of the French Revolution. ["Isaac Besse, The Mayor of Hornbach Stadschultheiss (1652-1725), Ancestors and Descendants, Copyright 2005 by Dr Maria Besse, Thomas Besse, ISBN: 3-937436-03-0."] See also, "Schweizer Einwanderer im Westrich, 1650-1750, Zweibrucker Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Familienforschung 1995, ISBN 3-924171-23-8."

The historic town sits on a hill between Horn Brook and Schwalb Brook, and is encircled by a defensive wall, and town gates. A 'Stadtplan des Favart' showing the encircling stone wall, interior streets, church, monastery, and other buildings was produced circa 1704 ["Kloster Hornbach, Festschrift zur Eroffnung des Hotels"] .

An historic Town Hall (Rathaus) remains in public use.

After extensive stabilization and a beautiful renovation with historic and archaeological sensitivity, the original monastery is currently used as a modern hotel, restaurant and cafe, the Kloster-Hornbach. A portion of the space houses a museum ["Kloster Hornbach, Festschrift zur Eroffnung des Hotels"] .

The New Church-the Evangelist Protestant Church built in 1785, stands next to the monastery. It is an expansion and renovation of the old Church, which was utilized for hundreds of years prior to that date . There is also a very old Church, next to the tomb of Pirminius.

Hornbach-The History of a Town: Hornbach-Die Geschichte einer Stadt, hrsg. vom Förderverein Kultur der Stadt Hornbach, Hornbach, 2002.