Bobingen

Infobox German Location
name = Bobingen
image_coa = Wappen Bobingen.png

state = Bavaria
regbzk = Schwaben
district = Augsburg
population = 16787
population_as_of = 2004-12-31
population_ref =
pop_dens = 333
area = 50.45
elevation = 500
lat_deg = 48 | lat_min = 16 | lat_hem = N | lon_deg = 10 | lon_min = 49 | lon_hem = E
postal_code = 86399
area_code = 08234
licence = A
mayor = Bernd Müller
party = SPD
website = [http://www.stadt-bobingen.de www.stadt-bobingen.de]

Bobingen is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It lies on the rivers Wertach and Singold, on the edge of the Augsburg-Westliche Wälder Nature Park, in Augsburg District, some 13 km south Augsburg itself.

History

The placename "Bobingen" goes back to the Alamannic settler "Pobo" ("ca" 506). About 993, Bobingen was called "Pobinga" ("at Pobo's people's house"). Also about 993 came Bobingen's first documentary mention in the "Vita S. Udalrici". Bobingen in today's administrative region of Swabia was later an administrative centre of the Augsburg Church Estate. As a result of the "Reichsdeputationshauptschluss" in 1803, the city came under Bavarian sovereignty. In 1847, the railway arrived, joining Bobingen to Lindau and Hof. In 1899, the rayon factory was founded, starting production in 1902. In 1953, the town was raised to market town, and in 1969 to city. In 1972, the communities of Straßberg, Reinhartshausen and Burgwalden were amalgamated into Bobingen. Bobingen now belongs to the Augsburg district. In 1975, the communities of Waldberg and Kreuzanger were also amalgamated into Bobingen. In 1993, the city hall (Singoldhalle) was completed. In 1994, the city held a thousandth-anniversary celebration, as well as celebrating 25 years as a city. In 2004, the city saw the completion of the rehabilitation and expansion of the city hospital. In 2005, the city's buildings underwent beautification.

The Bobingen "Büble" Legend

There is more than one version of the story about the Bobingen "Büble" ("lad" or "young man"). In a second, later version, the story even ends with the characters' arrest and execution. This, however, cannot be true from an historical point of view, as there were no gallows in Bobingen, and therefore no hangings could be carried out. The Church Estate's High Justice establishment had its execution place at Schwabmünchen.

The following legend is the earliest version, drawn from Alexander Schöppner's "Bayerische Sagen" (Bavarian Legends):

:"Three hours south of Augsburg on the so-called Hochstraße (a "high road", built on embankments or viaducts), lies the great and beautiful village of Bobingen. There, however, it is not good to ask "Wo geht's Bobingen zu?" ("How does one get to Bobingen"), and quite a few have ended up with bloody heads from it. At the least one will be mauled with insult and scoffing, and with blasphemous talk, whomever one wishes to ask. This came about as follows: Once, a long time ago, there was a young man from Bobingen who was prosecuted before a court. The accused appealed to a lawyer with a good name in Augsburg to fight his case for him. He advised the young man to behave like an idiot before the court, to answer every question asked of him by saying "Bobingen zu" (which is rather nonsensical), at the same time pointing with his right hand under his nose from right to left. He did just as he was advised, and since neither a confession nor anything else could be got out of him, the court released him. After a time, he came to the town on business and met the lawyer, who was curious to know the case's outcome. After hearing of the fortunate success, he said "It is now time for you to pay me for this advice; I demand two Karolins for my troubles."

:"The young man, however, replied with a "Bobingen zu", turned round the street corner and since that time has left the lawyer waiting for his fee."

City divisions

*"Kernstadt" with Bobingen-Siedlung (pop. 14,403)
*Stadtteil Straßberg (pop. 1,142)
*Burgwalden (pop. 80)
*Reinhartshausen (pop. 571)
*Waldberg (pop. 424)
*Kreuzanger (pop. 167)

Politics

The mayor has been, since 1996, Bernd Müller (SPD).

Places on the 24-seat city council are apportioned as follows (as of municipal elections in 2002):

* CSU: 11 seats
* SPD: 10 seats
* "Free Voters" (non-aligned citizens' group): 1 seat
* Free Citizens' Union: 1 seat
* Greens: 1 seat

Coat of arms

Arms description: Azure a peak argent, therein a horseshoe sable .

Arms history: The meaning of the horseshoe in the municipal coat of arms is not entirely clear. The horseshoe could to some be a reminder of a once intensive horse raising industry in the town. Others see in it a reference to finding horseshoes – which happens often around Bobingen – which are called "Ungarneisen" ("Hungary irons"). They supposedly date from the Battle of Lechfeld (10 August 955) in which the Hungarians were defeated. A seal from the time around 1815 with a horseshoe in the shield has its roots in a local emblem that places along the so-called "Hochstraße", following then Prince-Bishop Clemens Wenzeslaus von Sachsen's (1739–1812) wishes, assumed for marking border stones, border posts, and even posts around pastures. After the national emblem was bestowed by King Ludwig I of Bavaria in 1837, the municipal arms bore the Bavarian National Colours overlaid with the black horseshoe.

City partnership

Since 1969 there has been a city partnership with the French town of Aniche.

Education

Schools

*Staatl. Realschule
*Dr. Jaufmann Hauptschule
*Laurentius Grundschule (primary school)
*Freie Aktive Schule
*Grundschule Bobingen an der Singold (primary)
*Krankenpflegeschule im Städt. Krankenhaus (nursing school)

Hospital

*Krankenhaus an der Wertach

Culture und sightseeing

Places of worship

* St. Wolfgang- und Wendelin-Kapelle (chapel)
* St. Felizitas
* Rokoko-Wallfahrtskirche Mariae Himmelfahrt (Rococo Pilgrimage Church)
* Mosque

Other sights

* Late mediaeval wayside atonement cross
* Lower "Schlößchen" (small palace)
* Middle mill
* Middle "Schlößchen"
* Holy cross "Schlößchen"
* Upper mill
* Brewery and former inn
* Cosimosinisches Schlößchen
* Upper "Schlößchen"
* Milestone from historic Roman road
* Stauden-Haus
* Singoldhalle (City hall)
* Bobinger Büble (a sculpture relating to the story above)
* Westliche Wälder Nature Park

Transport

* Autobahn A 8 passes a few kilometres north of Augsburg.
*Bundesstraße (Federal highway) 17B east of Bobingen, B 300 north of Bobingen.
*Railway line Augsburg - Buchloe.
* Railway line Augsburg - Landsberg.

Personalities

* Roy Black was a German hit singer and actor in many German musical films.

External links

* [http://dmoz.org/World/Deutsch/Regional/Europa/Deutschland/Bayern/Landkreise/Augsburg/St%c3%a4dte_und_Gemeinden/Bobingen/ Bobingen in Open Directory Project]