Elsenfeld
Encyclopedia
Elsenfeld is a market community in the Miltenberg district
in the Regierungsbezirk
of Lower Franconia
(Unterfranken) in Bavaria
, Germany
.
The community has the following Gemarkungen (traditional rural cadastral areas): Eichelsbach, Elsenfeld, Rück, Schippach and Himmelthal (formerly a monastery estate).
(Bronze Age
) burial finds near Eichelsbach and Rück-Schippach. However, there likely was not continuous habitation before Frankish
times.
Barrows
near Eichelsbach bear witness to a relatively dense population in the time between 1600 and 700 BC. Only in the late 6th century did the actual era of written history begin here.
The oldest settlements in today’s municipal area are Eichelsbach and Schippach. In 1122, Elsenfeld had its first documentary mention. Schippach’s first documentary mention came in 1233, when the Count and Countess of Rieneck
expanded the Himmelthal Monastery’s landholdings with estates around Schippach. Rück came to light for the first time about 1270 in the so-called Mainzer Heberolle (“Mainz Levy Roll” – a taxation document). In the mid 13th century, all these places appeared in the Koppelfutter-Verzeichnis (“Paddock Fodder Directory”). Eichelsbach (also then known as Egilespach, Aigilspach or Egilspach) was leibeigen – in serfdom
The area’s landlord was the Archbishop and Elector of Mainz. The resident lords were therefore enfeoffed by Electoral Mainz
.
Until the 1803 Reichsdeputationshauptschluss, the community’s development was tightly bound to Klingenberg castle, town, court, Amt and stewardship holdings. The area became in 1803 part of the Principality of Aschaffenburg
. In 1804, Elsenfeld passed to the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt
and was transferred into the ownership if the Kingdom of Bavaria
in 1814. Eichelsbach and the remaining Himmelthal monastic landholdings were definitively delivered from serfdom and socage
.
On 30 July 1828, Elsenfeld was separated from the Klingenberg district court and assigned to the Obernburg district court, with which it remained until district reform in 1972.
On 1 July 1971, the formerly self-administering communities of Rück-Schippach and Eichelsbach voluntarily amalgamated with the market community of Elsenfeld.
Council seats are apportioned thus:
Municipal taxes in 1999 amounted to €5,059,000 (converted), of which net business taxes amounted to €1,522,000.
might be described thus: Per pale, dexter gules a wheel spoked of six, in base a bend wavy argent, sinister of the second a mount, thereon an alder tree vert.
The alder
in the arms is known locally as an Elsenbaum and stands for the first two syllables. The wavy fess stands for the community’s geographical location on the local brook, the Elsava, and at the same time, it refers to the community’s name, which is derived from the brook’s. The wheel is the Wheel of Mainz
; it, along with the tincture
s argent and gules (silver and red), refers to Electoral Mainz’s
former hegemony in this part of Germany.
The arms have been borne since 1954.
was renovated and reopened as the Elsavamar Leisure Pool. The pool contains a 25 m basin with a non-swimmer area as well as a water and rock playing area for young children. In the foyer and the bathing area is a cafeteria. A sunroom with access to the leisure area and to the sunbathing field is inviting to those who want to unwind. In November 2007 a sauna
was opened.
area, a badminton
and streetball
court, table tennis tables, big chessboards, a music pavilion and in the former wading pool a water and adventure playground for children up to ten years old were built.
On the monastery estate is found the Elsavaschule, a special school with an holistic-pedagogical daycare centre.
this was 0. In other areas, 498 workers on the social welfare contribution rolls were employed, and 3,157 such workers worked from home. There were 0 processing businesses. Eight businesses were in construction, and furthermore, in 1999, there were 34 agricultural operations with a working area of 678 ha, of which 504 ha was cropland and 157 ha was meadowland.
In the outlying centre of Rück lies a winegrowing area for Frankenwein
with the appellation
Rücker Schalk.
AG as Bahnhof Obernburg-Elsenfeld, although it is actually on the Elsenfeld side of the Main. From there run regional services on the Maintalbahn
to Aschaffenburg
and Miltenberg
. The Obernburg-Elsenfeld–Heimbuchenthal railway line was already closed by 1978, and has been largely converted into a cycle path.
on Bundesstraße
469.
Miltenberg (district)
Miltenberg is an administrative district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the city of Aschaffenburg, the districts of Aschaffenburg and Main-Spessart, and the states of Baden-Württemberg and Hesse .-History:During the Middle Ages there was continuous...
in the Regierungsbezirk
Regierungsbezirk
In Germany, a Government District, in German: Regierungsbezirk – is a subdivision of certain federal states .They are above the Kreise, Landkreise, and kreisfreie Städte...
of Lower Franconia
Lower Franconia
Lower Franconia is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria , Germany ....
(Unterfranken) in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Location
Elsenfeld lies in the Bavarian Lower Main (Bayerischer Untermain) Region on the Main’s right bank. Running through the community is the brook Elsava, which empties into the Main at Elsenfeld.The community has the following Gemarkungen (traditional rural cadastral areas): Eichelsbach, Elsenfeld, Rück, Schippach and Himmelthal (formerly a monastery estate).
Name
The name Elsenfeld comes from the brook’s name, Elsava, and means “Flowing Water on the Alder Ground”. Until the late 17th century, the place was named Elsaffen or Elsava. The name Elsenfeld is only confirmed as far back as 1625.History
The area around Elsenfeld was already settled more than 5,000 years ago. This is witnessed by Linear Pottery cultureLinear Pottery culture
The Linear Pottery culture is a major archaeological horizon of the European Neolithic, flourishing ca. 5500–4500 BC.It is abbreviated as LBK , is also known as the Linear Band Ware, Linear Ware, Linear Ceramics or Incised Ware culture, and falls within the Danubian I culture of V...
(Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
) burial finds near Eichelsbach and Rück-Schippach. However, there likely was not continuous habitation before Frankish
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
times.
Barrows
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
near Eichelsbach bear witness to a relatively dense population in the time between 1600 and 700 BC. Only in the late 6th century did the actual era of written history begin here.
The oldest settlements in today’s municipal area are Eichelsbach and Schippach. In 1122, Elsenfeld had its first documentary mention. Schippach’s first documentary mention came in 1233, when the Count and Countess of Rieneck
County of Rieneck
The County of Rieneck was a comital domain within the Holy Roman Empire that lay in what is now northwestern Bavaria...
expanded the Himmelthal Monastery’s landholdings with estates around Schippach. Rück came to light for the first time about 1270 in the so-called Mainzer Heberolle (“Mainz Levy Roll” – a taxation document). In the mid 13th century, all these places appeared in the Koppelfutter-Verzeichnis (“Paddock Fodder Directory”). Eichelsbach (also then known as Egilespach, Aigilspach or Egilspach) was leibeigen – in serfdom
Serfdom
Serfdom is the status of peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to Manorialism. It was a condition of bondage or modified slavery which developed primarily during the High Middle Ages in Europe and lasted to the mid-19th century...
The area’s landlord was the Archbishop and Elector of Mainz. The resident lords were therefore enfeoffed by Electoral Mainz
Archbishopric of Mainz
The Archbishopric of Mainz or Electorate of Mainz was an influential ecclesiastic and secular prince-bishopric in the Holy Roman Empire between 780–82 and 1802. In the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, the Archbishop of Mainz was the primas Germaniae, the substitute of the Pope north of the Alps...
.
Until the 1803 Reichsdeputationshauptschluss, the community’s development was tightly bound to Klingenberg castle, town, court, Amt and stewardship holdings. The area became in 1803 part of the Principality of Aschaffenburg
Principality of Aschaffenburg
The Principality of Aschaffenburg was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire and the Confederation of the Rhine from 1803–10. Its capital was Aschaffenburg....
. In 1804, Elsenfeld passed to the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt
Grand Duchy of Frankfurt
The Grand Duchy of Frankfurt was a German satellite state of Napoleonic creation. It came into existence in 1810 through the combination of the former territories of the Archbishops of Mainz along with the Free Imperial City of Frankfurt itself....
and was transferred into the ownership if the Kingdom of Bavaria
Kingdom of Bavaria
The Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that existed from 1806 to 1918. The Bavarian Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806 as Maximilian I Joseph. The monarchy would remain held by the Wittelsbachs until the kingdom's dissolution in 1918...
in 1814. Eichelsbach and the remaining Himmelthal monastic landholdings were definitively delivered from serfdom and socage
Socage
Socage was one of the feudal duties and hence land tenure forms in the feudal system. A farmer, for example, held the land in exchange for a clearly defined, fixed payment to be made at specified intervals to his feudal lord, who in turn had his own feudal obligations, to the farmer and to the Crown...
.
On 30 July 1828, Elsenfeld was separated from the Klingenberg district court and assigned to the Obernburg district court, with which it remained until district reform in 1972.
On 1 July 1971, the formerly self-administering communities of Rück-Schippach and Eichelsbach voluntarily amalgamated with the market community of Elsenfeld.
Population development
Within town limits, 6,908 inhabitants were counted in 1970, 7,370 in 1987 and in 2000 8,744. In 2006, Elsenfeld welcomed its 9,000th inhabitant.Politics
Mayor and community council
On 2 March 2008, Matthias Luxem (UBV) was elected the new chief mayor. The deputies are Second Mayor Richard Hornung (UBV) and Third Mayor Wolfgang Büttner (SPD).Council seats are apportioned thus:
- UBV: 10 seats
- CSUChristian Social Union of BavariaThe Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany...
: 6 seats - SPDSocial Democratic Party of GermanyThe Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
: 4 seats
Municipal taxes in 1999 amounted to €5,059,000 (converted), of which net business taxes amounted to €1,522,000.
Coat of arms
The community’s armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
might be described thus: Per pale, dexter gules a wheel spoked of six, in base a bend wavy argent, sinister of the second a mount, thereon an alder tree vert.
The alder
Alder
Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants belonging to the birch family . The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone and in the Americas along the Andes southwards to...
in the arms is known locally as an Elsenbaum and stands for the first two syllables. The wavy fess stands for the community’s geographical location on the local brook, the Elsava, and at the same time, it refers to the community’s name, which is derived from the brook’s. The wheel is the Wheel of Mainz
Wheel of Mainz
thumb|150px|version until 1992thumb|150px|version from 1992 - 2008thumb|150px|version from 2008The Wheel of Mainz or Mainzer Rad, in German, was the coat of arms of the Archbishopric of Mainz and thus also of the Electorate of Mainz , in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It consists of a silver wheel...
; it, along with the tincture
Tincture (heraldry)
In heraldry, tinctures are the colours used to emblazon a coat of arms. These can be divided into several categories including light tinctures called metals, dark tinctures called colours, nonstandard colours called stains, furs, and "proper". A charge tinctured proper is coloured as it would be...
s argent and gules (silver and red), refers to Electoral Mainz’s
Archbishopric of Mainz
The Archbishopric of Mainz or Electorate of Mainz was an influential ecclesiastic and secular prince-bishopric in the Holy Roman Empire between 780–82 and 1802. In the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, the Archbishop of Mainz was the primas Germaniae, the substitute of the Pope north of the Alps...
former hegemony in this part of Germany.
The arms have been borne since 1954.
Leisure pool
In 2001, the indoor swimming poolSwimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
was renovated and reopened as the Elsavamar Leisure Pool. The pool contains a 25 m basin with a non-swimmer area as well as a water and rock playing area for young children. In the foyer and the bathing area is a cafeteria. A sunroom with access to the leisure area and to the sunbathing field is inviting to those who want to unwind. In November 2007 a sauna
Sauna
A sauna is a small room or house designed as a place to experience dry or wet heat sessions, or an establishment with one or more of these and auxiliary facilities....
was opened.
Beach and leisure facility
On 30 April 2000 in the former outdoor swimming pool property, Northern Bavaria’s biggest multifunctional beach sport facility with six beach volleyball courts was opened. In the former diving basin, a skating facility with a halfpipe, a 450 m² wetland biotope, an integrated festival square with a bowlsBoules
Boules is a collective name for games played with metal balls.Two of the most played boule games are pétanque and boule lyonnaise. The aim of the game is to get large, heavy balls as close to the 'jack' as you can. It is very popular especially in France, but also Italy, where it may often be seen...
area, a badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
and streetball
Streetball
Streetball or street basketball is a variation of the sport of basketball, typically played on outdoor courts and featuring significantly less by way of formal structure and enforcement of the game's rules...
court, table tennis tables, big chessboards, a music pavilion and in the former wading pool a water and adventure playground for children up to ten years old were built.
Himmelthal Monastery
At Himmelthal Monastery for 15 years now, the Himmelthaler Sommerkonzerte have been presented at the monastery church because it has such outstanding acoustics. Furthermore, there is also Elsenfeld’s and the Rück Winegrowers’ Association’s wine-sampling parlour at the monastery, which is open on the second Sunday of each month.On the monastery estate is found the Elsavaschule, a special school with an holistic-pedagogical daycare centre.
Hiking paths
Elsenfeld has lain since 1990 on the Fränkischer Rotwein Wanderweg (“Franconian Red Wine Hiking Path”).Schools
- Mozart-Volksschule (primary school)
- Georg-Keimel-Volksschule (HauptschuleHauptschuleA Hauptschule is a secondary school in Germany and Austria, starting after 4 years of elementary schooling, which offers Lower Secondary Education according to the International Standard Classification of Education...
) - Staatliche RealschuleRealschuleThe Realschule is a type of secondary school in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. It has also existed in Croatia , Denmark , Sweden , Hungary and in the Russian Empire .-History:The Realschule was an outgrowth of the rationalism and empiricism of the seventeenth and...
Elsenfeld, roughly 1000 students - Julius-Echter-Gymnasium (language GymnasiumGymnasium (school)A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
, economics and social sciences Gymnasium with social science profile), roughly 950 students
Special schools
- Elsavaschule for educational help with holistic-pedagogical daycare centre, Himmelthal Monastery
- Richard-Galmbacher-Schule (Special educationSpecial educationSpecial education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
school with focus on mental development) - Janusz-Korczak-Schule (school for help with learning)
- Blindeninstitutsstiftung Außenstelle Elsenfeld (school for the blind – branch location)
Economy and infrastructure
According to official statistics, there were 999 workers on the social welfare contribution rolls working in producing businesses in 1998. In trade and transportTransport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
this was 0. In other areas, 498 workers on the social welfare contribution rolls were employed, and 3,157 such workers worked from home. There were 0 processing businesses. Eight businesses were in construction, and furthermore, in 1999, there were 34 agricultural operations with a working area of 678 ha, of which 504 ha was cropland and 157 ha was meadowland.
In the outlying centre of Rück lies a winegrowing area for Frankenwein
Franconia (wine region)
Franconia is a region for quality wine in Germany situated in the north west of Bavaria in the district of Franconia, and is the only wine region in the federal state of Bavaria...
with the appellation
Appellation
An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown; other types of food often have appellations as well...
Rücker Schalk.
Industrial park
Partly within Elsenfeld’s limits lies an industrial park called the Industrie Center Obernburg (ICO), although it is also locally known as Glanzstoff , after the former owners, Vereinigte Glanzstoff-Fabriken AG. There, in line with tradition, various kinds of chemical fibres are produced. Moreover, the industrial park is home to many other, smaller businesses in various fields. Although the industrial park bears the name Obernburg, and this is also the postal address, it lies exclusively within the communities of Erlenbach am Main and Elsenfeld.Rail
Elsenfeld has at its disposal a railway station, run by Deutsche BahnDeutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
AG as Bahnhof Obernburg-Elsenfeld, although it is actually on the Elsenfeld side of the Main. From there run regional services on the Maintalbahn
Main Valley Railway
The Main Valley Railway is a single-tracked, main line running alongside the Main River in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. In Miltenberg it connects to the Miltenberg–Walldürn railway. It also has a junction with the Tauber Valley Railway at the Baden town of Wertheim,...
to Aschaffenburg
Aschaffenburg
Aschaffenburg is a city in northwest Bavaria, Germany. The town of Aschaffenburg is not considered part of the district of Aschaffenburg, but is the administrative seat.Aschaffenburg is known as the Tor zum Spessart or "gate to the Spessart"...
and Miltenberg
Miltenberg
Miltenberg is the seat of the like-named district in the Regierungsbezirk of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany.- Location :...
. The Obernburg-Elsenfeld–Heimbuchenthal railway line was already closed by 1978, and has been largely converted into a cycle path.
Road
Elsenfeld lies right at the Obernburg am Main interchangeInterchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
on Bundesstraße
Bundesstraße
Bundesstraße , abbreviated B, is the denotation for German and Austrian national highways.-Germany:...
469.
Famous people
- Daniel HaasDaniel HaasDaniel Haas is a German footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for 1899 Hoffenheim. He is one of the only two players who have been with Hoffenheim since their promotion to the 2. Bundesliga and then to the 1. Bundesliga, the German top-flight...
, football goalkeeper, b. 1 August 1983 - Joachim Spatz, chairman of the Lower Franconia FDPFree Democratic Party (Germany)The Free Democratic Party , abbreviated to FDP, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Germany. It is led by Philipp Rösler and currently serves as the junior coalition partner to the Union in the German federal government...
and former Member of the Landtagsabgeordneter, b. 5 January 1964 - Heidemarie Wright, SPDSocial Democratic Party of GermanyThe Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
Member of the BundestagBundestagThe Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
, b. 20 February 1951