Usingen

Infobox Ort in Deutschland
Art = Stadt
Wappen = Wappen Usingen.jpg
lat_deg = 50 |lat_min = 20 |lat_sec = 04
lon_deg = 8 |lon_min = 32 |lon_sec = 15
Lageplan =
Bundesland = Hessen
Regierungsbezirk = Darmstadt
Landkreis = Hochtaunuskreis
Höhe = 269
Fläche = 55.83
Einwohner = 13328
Stand = 2006-12-31
PLZ = 61250
Vorwahl = 06081
Kfz = HG|Gemeindeschlüssel = 06 4 34 011
Gliederung = 7 Stadtteile
Straße = Wilhelmjstraße 1
Website = [http://www.usingen.de/ www.usingen.de]
Bürgermeister = Matthias Drexelius
Partei = CDU

Usingen is a small town in the Hochtaunuskreis in Hesse, Germany. Until 1972, this residential and school town was the seat of the former district of Usingen.

Geography

Location

Usingen an der Usa lies about 35 km north of Frankfurt am Main and 50 km northeast of Wiesbaden in the Taunus, putting it on the edge of the Frankfurt Rhein-Main Region.

The town core is about 300 m above sea level. The highest elevation in the main town of Usingen is the "Hohe Berg" ("High Mountain"), 414 m above sea level.

Neighbouring communities

Usingen borders in the north on the town of Butzbach, in the east on the communities of Ober-Mörlen (both in Wetteraukreis) and Wehrheim, in the south on the town of Neu-Anspach and the community of Schmitten, and in the west on the communities of Weilrod and Grävenwiesbach.

Constituent communities

The town has seven centres named Usingen, Eschbach, Kransberg, Merzhausen, Michelbach, Wernborn and Wilhelmsdorf.

History

Usingen (Latin "Osinga"), which in Frankish times likely existed as a fortified stopping place at an old crossroads, was first mentioned in a document in 802 in the "Codex Eberhardi" from the Fulda Monastery, although what exists nowadays itself dates from the late 12th century, referring to an earlier document. This codex, however, contains quite a few falsifications, which has led to doubts about the reliability of the statements. Archaeological proof of a settlement on the modern town's site back in Carolingian times has yet to be unearthed, although not far from town, the remains of a Carolingian courtyard were once dug up. The possibility therefore exists that today's Usingen might not lie on the same spot as it once did, having relocated at some time in the past. More investigation will be needed before this is ascertained.

In 1207, being on the outskirts of the "Usinger Land", it passed into the ownership of the Counts of Diez, who had acquired this Imperial estate in exchange for Mainz-Kastell (fort).

A Nassau castle – in 1326, the Counts of Nassau had acquired the "Usinger Land" by pledge, and by 1405 for good – on the site of today's "Christian-Wirth-Schule" (school) and a wall with five towers protected this small weaving town in the Middle Ages.

It is likely that Usingen was granted town rights in the 14th century.

As of 1659, the Counts resided in the castle, now converted into a stately home with a lovely garden, and from 1688 to 1744 the Princes of Nassau-Usingen lived there.

One prominent personage in Usingen's history was Fürst (Prince) Walrad. When Nassau-Saarbrücken lands were being divided up on 31 March 1659, Count Walrad got the "Usinger Land". He governed for 43 years and was a respected commander, among other things General field marshal of the Netherlands under William III of Orange. He was a decisive factor in making Usingen the way it is today, since after the Thirty Years' War and the three town fires in the 17th century – with their attendant drop in population – he settled Huguenots in the town and had the New Town built.

Another personage worthy of note was the violinist August Wilhelmj. He was made an honorary citizen of Usingen on 31 March 1876 on the occasion of his last concert in the town of his birth – Usingen. He was born here on 21 September 1845. The house where he was born stood at the lower end of the "Rathauspassage", now called Wilhelmjstraße after him. On the lot where the house where he was born stood, where a bank building now stands, a memorial stone with a plaque recalls the important violinist.

Usingen was until 1886 the seat of an "Amt" and thereafter, until 1972 a district seat. The scant industrial development in modern times could not even be strengthened by the railway connection that came in 1895. Usingen has been since the time of the Reformation a school town: Latin school until 1817, teachers' college from 1851 to 1926, Christian-Wirth-Schule (Gymnasium) since 1926 – today together with many other kinds of school.

As part of municipal reform, the communities of Usingen, Eschbach, Kransberg, Merzhausen, Michelbach, Wernborn and Wilhelmsdorf merged in 1972 into the town of Usingen. Even after losing its function as district seat (Usingen district was merged with Obertaunus district to form the Hochtaunuskreis with its seat at Bad Homburg) Usingen is more than ever the midpoint of the "Usinger Land".

Politics

Town council

Note: FWG is a citizens' coalition.

Coat of arms

Usingen's civic coat of arms shows four lions rampant, two gold and two silver. The earliest seal whose appearance is known – there had been earlier ones, but what they looked like is unknown – dates from 1277 and shows the four lions (golden ones denoting Nassau; silver ones denoting Saarbrücken), since the town was ruled then by the Counts of Nassau-Saarbrücken. Later seals did not show the billets and crosses with which the fields are spangled, but they reappeared in 1935, when the current arms were conferred. An earlier town symbol, a cloverleaf (or heraldically, a trefoil), may explain the charge on the inescutcheon. This was also added to the arms in 1935. [http://www.ngw.nl/int/dld/u/usingen.htm]

Partnerships

Usingen maintains partnerships with the following places:
* Overbetuwe, Netherlands
* Coleshill, United Kingdom
* Chassieu, France

Sightseeing

Usinger Schloss

In the middle of downtown Usingen is Usingen's stately home, the "Usinger Schloss". The home's exact origins have yet to be fully explained. It is assumed that it was built in the 14th century as a castle under Johann I of Nassau-Weilburg. Prince Walrad had a new stately home built on the castle's site in 1660–1663. The architect Friedrich Joachim Stengel (1694–1787) remodelled the "Usinger Schloss" into a Baroque residence between 1733 and 1738 as instructed by Princess Charlotte Amalie, Prince Wilhelm Heinrich I's widow. In 1873, a great fire destroyed the "Schloss", which was afterwards built anew. Today it is used as a Gymnasium (Christian-Wirth-Schule). Bordering right on the "Schloss" is the "Usinger Schlossgarten", the stately home garden.

Historic Old Town

"Evangelische Laurentiuskirche"

Huguenot church with marketplace

Another great fire in 1692 destroyed the so-called "Usinger Oberstadt" (Upper Town). The overlord at that time, Prince Walrad (1635–1702) gave orders for its prompt reconstruction. Symmetrical rows of houses, which still form the townscape now, were built, and along the Obergasse (Upper Lane) appeared representative buildings. The so-called New Town's heart was shaped by the "Hugenottenkirche" with what is nowadays the old marketplace. Benedikt Burtscher was the building master of the church, built in 1700 and showing in its building style certain commonalities with the well known church at La Rochelle. After the Huguenot church fell out of use with the union of the Lutheran Protestants and the Reformed Church, it was soon converted into a school. Today, however, it houses the Usingen library. On the upper floors are found many places where concerts and gatherings can be accommodated. The wedding room is a favourite place for couples to plight their troth.

"Eschbacher Klippen"

At the north end of Eschbach stands a group of cliffs up to 12 m high and made of quartz. The cliff wall is the visible part of a roughly six-kilometre-long quartz seam which continues slantwise across the Usa Valley to the Wormstein in Usingen town forest. From a geological standpoint, it is an oblique upthrow (fault with one side thrust up higher than the other) formed by faulting in the mountain range. The erosion-resistant quartz has lasted to this day and can be seen in many places in the Taunus, but nowhere is it more spectacular than here.

Climbers use the steeper walls for training.

Hattsteinweiher

The Hattsteinweiher near Usingen is the only bathing lake in the "Usinger Land". In summer, when the weather is good, it is the centre of attraction for many visitors from the Taunus and the Frankfurt Rhein-Main Region.

Taunusbad

This district indoor swimming pool makes swimming possible the year round. Designed as a sporting facility, it is the only public indoor swimming pool in the "Usinger Land".

Economy and infrastructure

Public transport

Usingen has at its disposal a good connection to the public railway network. Whereas railway lines have been closed elsewhere, things have gone another way in the Hochtaunuskreis. The line that has connected the "Usinger Land" to Frankfurt since 1895 has been run since 1993 by the district as the "Taunusbahn". At peak hours, the trains run half-hourly, and otherwise hourly, to Bad Homburg. Peak hours also bring hourly through trains to Frankfurt's main railway station. Service ends, however, at about 23:00 (0:00 on Saturday nights).

Further infrastructure

Usingen is the seat of an "Amtsgericht" ( ≈ Magistrates' Court) and home to a hospital.

Antenna farm

Usingen is home to a ground station with satellite dishes and various other antennas run by T-Systems. After the Second World War, during which the property was used as an aerodrome, a shortwave transmission station was built here. In 1979 came the first big parabolic antenna. Meanwhile, the station now houses more than 90 antennas, among them three dishes measuring 19 m across.

Regular events

Known far beyond Usingen's borders is the yearly "Usinger Flohmarkt" (flea market) in late June.

Literature

* "1200 Jahre Usingen", articles about the former residence and district seat, ISBN 3-924103-21-6
* "Waren "Osungen" und "Otsingen" wirklich Usingen?" in: Usinger Anzeiger, 11 May 2002

References

External links

* [http://www.usingen.de/ Usingen]
* [http://www.Merzhausen-Taunus.de/ Merzhausen]
* [http://www.wilhelmsdorf-online.de/ Wilhelmsdorf]
* [http://www.kransberg.com/ Kransberg]
*