Neuenstadt am Kocher
Encyclopedia
Neuenstadt, usually known as Neuenstadt am Kocher (and until as late as 1800 also known as Neuenstadt an der großen Linde) is a town in Baden-Württemberg
in south-western Germany
with 9,600 inhabitants. It consists of Neuenstadt, the villages of Stein am Kocher, Kochertürn, Cleversulzbach and Bürg and the hamlet
s Brambacher Hof (part of Kochertürn), Buchhof and Lobenbacher Hof (part of Stein). The name Neuenstadt is derived from the “neue Stadt” or “New Town” in English.
river in the east of the District of Heilbronn
. It stands on a hill where the Brettach flows into the Kocher river.
, Neckarsulm
, Oedheim
, Bad Friedrichshall
, Neudenau
, Hardthausen am Kocher and Langenbrettach (all also in the district of Heilbronn). Neuenstadt is part of a joint administration agreement with Hardthausen am Kocher and Langenbrettach.
Neuenstadt was originally a settlement known as Helmbund which was first mentioned in records as early in 797 A.D. Helmbund stood in the meadows of Brettach. It is believed that the settlement moved a kilometer away at some time around the beginning of the 14th century to avoid flooding. Since then it has stood on higher ground between the Kocher and Brettach rivers. This gave rise to name New Town, or "Neue Stadt" in German. The hamlet of Helmbund subsequently all but disappeared with only the scattered ruins of the Gothic church of Helmbund remaining. Neuenstadt first fell under the reign of the rulers of Weinsberg
whose lineage came to an end in 1507. As a result, it was originally an Electoral Palatinate town before falling into the area of Württemberg
in 1504. In the 17th and 18th century the Württemberg-Neuenstadt
branch line of the ducal house of Württemberg took up residence in Neuenstadt castle until the male lineage of dukes died out in 1742.
Towards the end of the Second World War the fortified stronghold of Neuenstadt came under heavy fire from allied forces. In April 1945 nearly 80% of Neuenstadt old town was destroyed. During fighting one of the wires holding up the legendary lime tree outside the gates of the town, which had given the town part of its name in mediaeval times, was destroyed and the tree was destroyed in a storm.
in 1541 and is now home to the deanery of the Württembergisch State Church. The Evangelical Church Parish of Neuenstadt, which also encompasses Kochertürn, Stein and Bürg currently boasts 2960 members. The font in the church at Gosheim castle is said to have originally stood in Bürg church.
The town mayor is also member and chairman of the district council.
The coat of arms originate from a seal first used in the late 13th century. The colours have remained unchanged since 1535. The shields are believed to represent the two founders of the “new town” – the Lords of Weinsberg – who used three silver shields on a red background as their coat of arms. The helmet (German:‘Helm’) points to the origins of the town, the now lost settlement of Helmbund.
and the Eduard-Mörike grammar school, a special needs school and a music school. In addition to the primary school in Stein am Kocher, there are also 6 state-run, 2 catholic and one evangelical kindergartens.
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...
in south-western 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...
with 9,600 inhabitants. It consists of Neuenstadt, the villages of Stein am Kocher, Kochertürn, Cleversulzbach and Bürg and the hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
s Brambacher Hof (part of Kochertürn), Buchhof and Lobenbacher Hof (part of Stein). The name Neuenstadt is derived from the “neue Stadt” or “New Town” in English.
Geography
Neuenstadt lies on the KocherKocher
The Kocher is a 168 km long right tributary of the Neckar in the north-eastern part of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The name "Kocher" originates from its Celtic name "cochan" and probably means winding, meandering river. The Kocher rises in the eastern foothills of the Swabian Alb from two karst...
river in the east of the District of Heilbronn
Heilbronn
Heilbronn is a city in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is completely surrounded by Heilbronn County and with approximately 123.000 residents, it is the sixth-largest city in the state....
. It stands on a hill where the Brettach flows into the Kocher river.
Neighbouring communities
Starting from the south going in a clockwise direction, Neuenstadt is surrounded by EberstadtEberstadt
Eberstadt is a municipality in the district of Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is best known for its winegrowing and its yearly international high jump meeting .-External links:*...
, Neckarsulm
Neckarsulm
Neckarsulm is a city in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, near Stuttgart, and part of the district Heilbronn. As of 2004, Neckarsulm had 27,296 inhabitants....
, Oedheim
Oedheim
Oedheim is a town in the north west of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is a small town with about 7,000 inhabitants. It belongs to the district Heilbronn....
, Bad Friedrichshall
Bad Friedrichshall
Bad Friedrichshall is a town in the district of Heilbronn in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It is situated at the confluence of the Jagst and the Kocher into the Neckar, 10 km north of Heilbronn...
, Neudenau
Neudenau
Neudenau is a town in the district of Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated on the river Jagst, 17 km north of Heilbronn....
, Hardthausen am Kocher and Langenbrettach (all also in the district of Heilbronn). Neuenstadt is part of a joint administration agreement with Hardthausen am Kocher and Langenbrettach.
Districts of Neuenstadt
The town of Neuenstadt is subdivided into the districts of Neuenstadt itself, Stein am Kocher, Kochertürn, Cleversulzbach, Bürg and the hamlets of Brambacherhof, Buchhof and Lobenbacher Hof (of Stein).History
Weinsberg
Weinsberg is a town in the north of the German state Baden-Württemberg. It was founded ca. 1200 and is situated in the Heilbronn district. The town has about 11,800 inhabitants. It is noted for its wine...
whose lineage came to an end in 1507. As a result, it was originally an Electoral Palatinate town before falling into the area of Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
in 1504. In the 17th and 18th century the Württemberg-Neuenstadt
Württemberg-Neuenstadt
Württemberg-Neuenstadt was the name of two branch lines of the ducal House of Württemberg in the 17th and 18th century. It was named after the town of residence, Neuenstadt.- First branch line :...
branch line of the ducal house of Württemberg took up residence in Neuenstadt castle until the male lineage of dukes died out in 1742.
Towards the end of the Second World War the fortified stronghold of Neuenstadt came under heavy fire from allied forces. In April 1945 nearly 80% of Neuenstadt old town was destroyed. During fighting one of the wires holding up the legendary lime tree outside the gates of the town, which had given the town part of its name in mediaeval times, was destroyed and the tree was destroyed in a storm.
Annexed communities
- January 1, 1972: Cleversulzbach
- September 1, 1972: Kochertürn
- December 31, 1972: Stein am Kocher
- January 1, 1973: Bürg
Religion
Neuenstadt underwent the influence of the ReformationProtestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
in 1541 and is now home to the deanery of the Württembergisch State Church. The Evangelical Church Parish of Neuenstadt, which also encompasses Kochertürn, Stein and Bürg currently boasts 2960 members. The font in the church at Gosheim castle is said to have originally stood in Bürg church.
District council
Local elections on June 13, 2004 returned the following seats:| party | amount | seats | ||
| CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... |
44.2% | (+3.9) | 9 | (=) |
| BG citizens party | 31.5% | (−3.5) | 6 | (−1) |
| SPD Social Democratic Party of Germany The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany... |
24.3% | (−0.4) | 4 | (−1) |
The town mayor is also member and chairman of the district council.
Coat of arms and flag
The Neuenstadt coat of arms depicts two silver shields over a silver helmet on a blue background. Blue and white are the town’s official colours.The coat of arms originate from a seal first used in the late 13th century. The colours have remained unchanged since 1535. The shields are believed to represent the two founders of the “new town” – the Lords of Weinsberg – who used three silver shields on a red background as their coat of arms. The helmet (German:‘Helm’) points to the origins of the town, the now lost settlement of Helmbund.
International relations
Neuenstadt am Kocher belongs to a ‘towns association’ consisting of 36 towns in 5 European states. All towns in the association share a similar name in the indigenous language: 'New Town'.Architecture
- From 1618 to 1781 Neuenstadt Renaissance Castle was residence to the Württemberg-Neuenstadt branch line of the royal house of Württemberg. The castle was built between 1559 and 1565 on the fortification walls of the Lords of Weinsberg’s castle.
- The evangelical Nikolaus Church dates back to the 16th century. Under the chancel is a crypt which was used as a burial vault between 1659 and 1781 for the three Dukes of Württemberg-Neuenstadt.
- The castle and church join together to form the upper Gate Tower which was built in 1300 and renewed in 1703. The current tower was reconstructed following a fire in 1831.
- A number of historical timber-framed buildings still stand in Neuenstadt old town including the Old Apothecary and gate, dating back to 1801, the rectory from 1749 and the Old Forestry Commission office.
- Until April 1945 a huge lime tree stood near the castle outside the Gate Tower. It was reputed to be 1000 years old and lent the town its alternative name of Neuenstadt on the Great Lime. The lime was destroyed by allied bombing during fighting near the end of the Second World War but locals took shoots from the destroyed tree and planted new lime trees around the former lime. Their branches now form a shady garden, supported by approx 100 stone pillars donated by local citizens and aristocrats. The pillars in the garden were renovated between 1962 and 1981 and now bear the coats of arms of the manor houses of the Lords of Ehrenberg, the Lords of Berlichingen and the Lords of Gemmingen from 1557.
Open air theatre
Since 1958, Neuenstadt has staged an open air theatre every year between June and July in the castle moat. Some 20,000 visitors a year descend on the town to hear classical music and watch traditional local plays.Museums
The town museum in the Schafstall was opened in 1991. As well as housing a memorial to the Mörike Family it has an exhibition of local history with rotating themes throughout the year. The museum in the Town Tower (Stadtturm) house the former tower residence and town jail. There is also a Mörike Museum in Cleversulzbach.Transportation
Neuenstadt is directly on the A81 Autobahn. Between 1907 and 1993 the town was connected to the outside world via the now disused Untere Kochertalbahn railway.Education
Neuenstadt has a primary school, the Lindenschule, two secondary school, Helmbundschule HauptschuleHauptschule
A 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...
and the Eduard-Mörike grammar school, a special needs school and a music school. In addition to the primary school in Stein am Kocher, there are also 6 state-run, 2 catholic and one evangelical kindergartens.