Gernsbach
Encyclopedia
Gernsbach is a town in the district of Rastatt
, in Baden-Württemberg
, Germany. It is located on the river Murg
, 7 km (4.35 mi) east of Baden-Baden
in the Black Forest
. Twin towns are Baccarat
in France and Pergola, Marche in Italy.
The town is the historic center of the lower Murg Valley and forms a central place
of mid-size with Gaggenau
. It is located in the ‘’Region Mittlerer Oberrhein’’, one of the twelve spatial planning regions of Baden-Württemberg
.
Gernsbach is an officially recognized climatic spa with a historic center. Furthermore, Gernsbach is noted for its paper industry and Paper Center, a service provider in the field of training, staff qualification and management consultancy for the German and Swiss paper and pulp industry. Since 2010 headquarters of a subsidiary of Steinbeis-Hochschule Berlin
are also located in this town.
on both banks of the river Murg at 150 to 988 meters above the sea level.
In the west the 668 m high mountain Merkur provides a distinctive landscape. In the east there is the 908 m high mountain Teufelsmühle.
In the 20th century following townships were suburbanized:
After the redivision of local government in the 1970s
followed.
Coat of Arms of the quartes
At the beginning of the 12th century the Counts of Eberstein
bought the “predium” Rotenfels thus allowing the initial settlement of the lower Murg vally.
From Rotenfels the counts of Eberstein ordered to uproot the wooded and swampy valley and to found new settlements. By 1200 the route Loffenau–Scheuern–Gernsbach–Staufenberg was established.
In an ebersteinian inheritance document Gernsbach is first mentioned in written form in 1219 as ‘’Genrespach’’. At that time there was already a differentiation between a Marktdorf (a settlement which had the right to run a market) and a Kirchdorf (a settlement which had the right to build a church). Gernsbach (also called “Hof” –‘’a little settlement of farmers’’) was a Kirchdorf at that time, being located to the left of the Murg in the south of the Waldbach on the ebersteinian allodium.
The local church was the preceding building of today’s St.-Jakobskirche.
To the north of the Waldbach was a Marktdorf on the grounds of the Diocese of Speyer located on a spur, thus having an ideal location for the construction of a fortification.
Rastatt (district)
Rastatt is a district in the west of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are Karlsruhe, Calw, Freudenstadt and the Ortenaukreis. To the west it borders the French département Bas-Rhin...
, in Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
, Germany. It is located on the river Murg
Murg
The Murg is a river and right tributary of the Rhine in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.-Source:The river has numerous tributaries and is known as the Murg only from the point of confluence of the rivers Rechtmurg and Rotmurg in the community of Obertal, a part of Baiersbronn...
, 7 km (4.35 mi) east of Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a spa town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, in the region of Karlsruhe...
in the Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
. Twin towns are Baccarat
Baccarat, Meurthe-et-Moselle
Baccarat is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-Crystal:In 1764, King Louis XV granted permission to the Bishop of Metz to establish a glassworks at Baccarat...
in France and Pergola, Marche in Italy.
The town is the historic center of the lower Murg Valley and forms a central place
Central Place Theory
Central place theory is a geographical theory that seeks to explain the number, size and location of human settlements in an urban system. The theory was created by the German geographer Walter Christaller, who asserted that settlements simply functioned as 'central places' providing services to...
of mid-size with Gaggenau
Gaggenau
Gaggenau is a town in the district of Rastatt, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located some 8 km northeast of Baden-Baden.- Geography :...
. It is located in the ‘’Region Mittlerer Oberrhein’’, one of the twelve spatial planning regions of Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
.
Gernsbach is an officially recognized climatic spa with a historic center. Furthermore, Gernsbach is noted for its paper industry and Paper Center, a service provider in the field of training, staff qualification and management consultancy for the German and Swiss paper and pulp industry. Since 2010 headquarters of a subsidiary of Steinbeis-Hochschule Berlin
Steinbeis Business Academy
Steinbeis Business Academy is a subsidiary of Steinbeis-Hochschule Berlin and located in the town of Gernsbach, Germany. With almost 2000 students it is the largest school of its university system, offering undergraduate as well as postgraduate degree programs to employees of companies and...
are also located in this town.
Geographical position
Gernsbach is located in the northern part of the Black ForestBlack Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
on both banks of the river Murg at 150 to 988 meters above the sea level.
In the west the 668 m high mountain Merkur provides a distinctive landscape. In the east there is the 908 m high mountain Teufelsmühle.
Area
The local subdistrict area of Gernsbach including all quarters is 8208,86 hectares of which most is covered by forest areas – 6628,00 hectares (81% of the total area). That is more than twice as much as the average ratio in Baden-Württemberg. Settlement and traffic areas make up 6% - less than half of the average. 12% of the area used for agriculture.Quarters
The nucleated town is divided into “to the right of the Murg” (including: Kelterberg, Entensee, Kolonie and Nord) and “to the left of the Murg” (including:Klingele, Waldbach, Faltergass, Heppeler, Walheimer Hof , Stadtbuckel, Siedlung, Hahnbachweg, Panoramaweg and Weinau)In the 20th century following townships were suburbanized:
- Scheuern (in 1936)
After the redivision of local government in the 1970s
- Lautenbach (in 1973)
- Hilpertsau (in 1974)
- Obersrot (in 1974)
- Staufenberg (in 1974)
- Reichental (in 1975) (doubling the total subdistrict area of Gernsbach)
followed.
Coat of Arms of the quartes
Neighboring towns
These townships and towns border on Gernsbach:- in the north: Gaggenau, Loffenau, Bad Herrenalb and Dobel
- in the east: Bad Wildbad and Enzklösterle
- in the south: Forbach and Weisenbach
- in the west: Baden-Baden
Beginnings
A permanent settlement of Gernsbach before the 12th century is not verified.At the beginning of the 12th century the Counts of Eberstein
Counts of Eberstein
The Counts of Eberstein were a family of nobility in Baden, Germany. From 1085 up into the 13th century they lived in the castle known today as Alt Eberstein which lies on a mountain top between the valleys of the rivers Murg and Oos...
bought the “predium” Rotenfels thus allowing the initial settlement of the lower Murg vally.
From Rotenfels the counts of Eberstein ordered to uproot the wooded and swampy valley and to found new settlements. By 1200 the route Loffenau–Scheuern–Gernsbach–Staufenberg was established.
In an ebersteinian inheritance document Gernsbach is first mentioned in written form in 1219 as ‘’Genrespach’’. At that time there was already a differentiation between a Marktdorf (a settlement which had the right to run a market) and a Kirchdorf (a settlement which had the right to build a church). Gernsbach (also called “Hof” –‘’a little settlement of farmers’’) was a Kirchdorf at that time, being located to the left of the Murg in the south of the Waldbach on the ebersteinian allodium.
The local church was the preceding building of today’s St.-Jakobskirche.
To the north of the Waldbach was a Marktdorf on the grounds of the Diocese of Speyer located on a spur, thus having an ideal location for the construction of a fortification.