- Schotten
Infobox Ort in Deutschland
Art = Stadt
Name = Schotten
Wappen = Wappen Schotten (Stadt).png
lat_deg = 50 |lat_min = 30
lon_deg = 09 |lon_min = 07
Lageplan = Mittelhessen Vogelsberg Sot.png
Bundesland = Hessen
Regierungsbezirk = Gießen
Landkreis = Vogelsbergkreis
Höhe = 330
Fläche = 133.56
Einwohner = 11325
Stand = 2006-12-31
PLZ = 63679
Vorwahl = 06044
Kfz = VB
Gemeindeschlüssel = 06 5 35 016
Gliederung = 14 Stadtteile
Adresse = Vogelsbergstraße 184
63679 Schotten
Website = [http://www.hessennet.de/schotten/ www.hessennet.de/schotten]
Bürgermeister = Susanne Schaab-Madeisky
Bürgermeistertitel = Bürgermeisterin
Partei = SPDSchotten is a town in the middle of Hesse,
Germany . The nearest larger towns areAlsfeld in the north,Fulda in the east, Friedberg in the south andGießen in the west.Geography
Location
The officially recognized climatic spa lies from 168 to 773 m above
sea level on the western slope of theVogelsberg Mountains . Nearby are Hoherodskopf (764 m) and Taufstein (773 m), the two highest peaks in the High Vogelsberg Nature Park. Schotten is a tourist town thanks to reliably highsnow fall in the winter andhiking opportunities in the summer in the extensiveforest s.Watersports are also possible on the Nidda Reservoir.In the outermost northwestern municipal area is the source of the river Nidda, a favourite destination for hikers.
Neighbouring communities
Schotten borders in the north on the town of
Ulrichstein , in the northeast on the town ofHerbstein , in the east on the community ofGrebenhain , in the south on the town ofGedern and the community ofHirzenhain (both in theWetteraukreis ), and in the west on the town ofNidda (Wetteraukreis) and the town ofLaubach (district).Constituent communities
Besides the main town, which bears the same name as the whole municipality, Schotten is divided into the following communities: Betzenrod, Breungeshain, Burkhards, Busenborn, Eichelsachsen, Einartshausen, Eschenrod, Götzen, Kaulstoß, Michelbach, Rainrod, Rudingshain, Sichenhausen and Wingershausen.
History
Archaeological finds from the Schotten area reach back to the
New Stone Age . Several barrows bear witness toprehistoric times as do the "Alteburg" and "Wildhauskopf" ringwalls, whose building date is unknown.Schotten had its first documentary mention in 778. The "Horstburg", a local
castle near the constituent community of Rudingshain, may have stood in connection with the town's founding. There were digs at the ruins in the 1970s, and they were interpreted as having been aCarolingian royal court. Schotten is said to have been founded by Irish-Scottish monks. The great Gothic "Liebfrauenkirche" ("Church of Our Lady") was built in the 14th century.In the
Middle Ages , Schotten belonged to the Eppstein and Trimberg noble families. The Rhenish League of Towns, in a feud with these families, captured the town and destroyed the walls and the stately home. From 1403, Schotten belonged to the HessianLandgrave s. The current stately home, the "Schottener Schloss", dates from this time.Municipal area development
Under the municipal reforms in the early 1970s, 15 communities were amalgamated into a greater community of Schotten.
Politics
Coat of arms
Schotten's civic coat of arms might heraldically be described thus: In azure a falcon argent armed gules wings outstretched standing upon a hill Or.
The golden hill stands for the
Vogelsberg Mountains . The falcon comes from a legend about the town's founding.Town partnerships
Schotten has the following sister towns:
* Arco,Italy since 1960
* Belœil-Quevaucamps,Belgium since 1963
*Crosne ,France since 1963
*Rýmařov ,Czech Republic since 1996
*Maybole ,Scotland ,United Kingdom since 2000There are furthermore town friendships between Schotten and these towns:
* Bogen,Bavaria
*Ozimek ,Poland since 1996Economy
Transport
Federal Highways ("Bundesstraßen") B 455 and B 276 run through the town. The nearest
Autobahn en arre the A 5 and the A 45.The B 276 from Gedern by way of Schotten to Laubach is a notorious
motorcycle road that attracts motorcyclists in droves on sunny weekends, not least of all for the motorcycle clubs along the road, such as the "Falltorhaus" ("Portcullis House"). There have been problems with street racing, which in 2005 left 12 people dead and another 129 injured. A particular problem on the highway is the "Applauskurve", a 180° bow in the roadway between Schotten and Laubach known to motorcyclists all over Germany. There, onlookers – mostly other motorcyclists – gather to watch motorcycles take the curve a great speed, applauding – and even photographing or filming – the ones who go round the bend at the greatest lean.Sports and leisure
Schotten is also home to the Niddastausee, a man-made lake. Here, sailors, surfers and other watersport lovers find a place, as do recreation seekers. In winter, on the other hand, the Hoherodskopf is probably the favourite outing destination in the area.
Culture and sightseeing
Buildings
In the Old Town, the Gothic "Liebfrauenkirche" can be seen with its famous "Marienaltar". The winged altar was made about 1385 by an unknown painter.
Regular events
In motorsport, the town is known for the
Schottenring races.Personalities
Sons and daughters of the town
*
Wilhelm Gontrum (1910–1969), German politician (CDU), Member of theBundestag References
External links
* [http://www.schotten.de/ Schotten]
* [http://www.naturpark-hoher-vogelsberg.de/ High Vogelsberg Nature Park]
* [http://www.schottenring.de Schottenring]
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