Weißenburg in Bayern

Infobox German Location
type = Stadt
Wappen = Wappen von Weissenburg.pngimage_photo = Weissenburg_Rathaus.jpg
imagesize =
image_caption = The old town hall of Weißenburg is one of the icons of the city
lat_deg = 49 |lat_min = 01|lat_sec = 50
lon_deg = 10 |lon_min = 58|lon_sec = 19
Lageplan =
Bundesland = Bayern
Regierungsbezirk = Mittelfranken
Landkreis = Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen
Höhe = 422
Fläche = 97.55
Einwohner = 17648
Stand = 2006-12-31
PLZ = 91781
Vorwahl = 09141
Kfz = WUG
Gemeindeschlüssel = 09 5 77 177
Gliederung = 24 Ortsteile
Adresse = Marktplatz 19
91781 Weißenburg i.Bay.
Website = [http://www.weissenburg.de/ www.weissenburg.de]
Bürgermeister = Jürgen Schröppel
Bürgermeistertitel = Oberbürgermeister
Partei = SPDInfobox Former Country
native_name = "Reichsstadt Weißenburg im Nordgau"
conventional_long_name = Imperial City of Weißenburg im Nordgau
common_name = Weissenburg im Nordgau
continent = Europe
region = Central Europe
country = Germany
era = Middle Ages
status = City-state
empire = Holy Roman Empire
government_type = Republic
year_start = 1296
year_end = 1803
event_pre = Founded
date_pre = before 867
event_start = Gained "Reichsfreiheit"
date_start =
event_end = Mediatised to Bavaria
date_end =
p1 = Bishopric of Würzburg
flag_p1 = Flagge Großherzogtum Baden (1871-1891).svg
s1 = Electorate of Bavaria
flag_s1 = Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg
capital = Weißenburg im Nordgau

Weißenburg in Bayern (formerly also "Weißenburg im Nordgau") is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the district Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen. Its population is 17,731 (2005).

Location

Weißenburg is located in central Bavaria, in the south of the administrative region Mittelfranken. Large cities in the area are Ingolstadt (55.5 km), Nuremberg (61.7 km), Augsburg (85 km), Munich (134.6 km) and Würzburg (150.4 km).

History

The history of Weißenburg is generally traced back to the Roman fort that was built in the area towards the end of the first century. The settlement lay on the border of the Roman Empire and on the Tabula Peutingeriana from the 4th century it had the name Biriciana. Germanic tribes destroyed the fort and settled in what is still the city centre. The first mention of the name Weißenburg is in a deed dating from 867. The city became the seat of a royal residence during the reign of the Franks and according to legend, Charlemagne stayed there to supervise the construction of Fossa Carolina.

The city became an Imperial Free City in 1296 and continued to grow until the Reformation. Following the example of Nuremberg the city joined the Protestant side but it suffered heavily in the ensuing wars. However, the rights of the city were restored in the final peace treaty and some growth resumed.

Weißenburg lost its independence in 1802 and became part of the Bavarian kingdom in 1806. It was however saved from insignificance with the construction of a railway between Nuremberg and Augsburg which goes through the city and which supported industrialisation. Following World War II over 6,000 refugees and people expelled from the territories which Germany lost settled in the city and have since played an important role in its industry and culture.

The many stages in the history of Weißenburg can still be seen today. There are many ruins from the Roman times. One of the finest is the remains of a Roman bath was excavated in 1977 and has been turned into a museum. The city wall from the Middle Ages has survived almost intact with its towers and in the Gothic Town Hall the city's elected members have held their meetings from 1476.

Famous people from Weißenburg

*Gustav Ritter von Kahr, politician (29 November 1862 – 30 June 1934)
*Hans Hofmann, painter (21 March 1880 – 17 February 1966)
*Rudolf Nebel, physicist (21 March 1894 – 18 September 1978)
*Markus Steinhöfer, footballer, (b. 7 March, 1986)