Opfenbach
Encyclopedia
Opfenbach is a municipality in the district of Lindau
in Bavaria
in Germany
.
region, more precisely in the Westallgäu
, about 15 km from Lindau
. One of the districts of Opfenbach is Wigratzbad
. Others are Mellatz, Beuren, Heimen, Litzis, Göritz, Mywiler and Ruhlands.
in 1805 the town belongs to Bavaria. In the course of the administratice reforms in Bavaria, the contemporary municipality was formed by the "Gemeindeedikt" of 1818.
/Freie Wählerschaft) is mayor of the town.
The revenue from the municipal tax added up to 869,000 € in 1999, of which the net business tax amounted to 160,000 €.
At place of domicile there were 711 employees altogether. In the industrial sector there were none, in the main construction trade two businesses. Moreover, there were 62 agricultural businesses in 1999 with a total area of 1,010 ha.
The remains of Antonie Rädler and long-time pilgrim pastor Pater Johannes Schmid OP, who is considered saintly by his followers, rest in a particular chapellike grave.
Lindau (district)
Lindau is a Landkreis or rural district in Bavaria, Germany; its capital is the city of Lindau. It is bounded by the district of Oberallgäu, Austria , Lake Constance and the state of Baden-Württemberg .-History:The city of Lindau became a Free Imperial City in the 13th century; it was...
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...
in 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...
.
Geography
Opfenbach is located in the AllgäuAllgäu
The Allgäu is a southern German region in Swabia. It covers the south of Bavarian Swabia and southeastern Baden-Württemberg. The region stretches from the prealpine lands up to the Alps...
region, more precisely in the Westallgäu
Westallgäu
Westallgäu is the western part of the Allgäu in Germany. It contains large parts of the districts of Lindau in the south west of the region, Swabia in Bavaria and the district of Ravensburg in the south east of Baden-Württemberg. Westallgäu extends to the north to, amongst others, the towns of...
, about 15 km from Lindau
Lindau
Lindau is a Bavarian town and an island on the eastern side of Lake Constance, the Bodensee. It is the capital of the Landkreis or rural district of Lindau. The historic city of Lindau is located on an island which is connected with the mainland by bridge and railway.- History :The name Lindau was...
. One of the districts of Opfenbach is Wigratzbad
Wigratzbad
Wigratzbad is a hamlet in the Lindau district of Bavaria, Germany. The village is 1 mile north of the town of Opfenbach, and south of Hergatz. It is situated on the ancient frontier of Bavaria and Swabia, a short distance from Germany's borders with Austria and Switzerland.-Marian apparitions:The...
. Others are Mellatz, Beuren, Heimen, Litzis, Göritz, Mywiler and Ruhlands.
History
Opfenbach once was part of the Austrian authority of Bregenz-Hohenegg. Since the signing of the peace treaties of Brünn and PreßburgBratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
in 1805 the town belongs to Bavaria. In the course of the administratice reforms in Bavaria, the contemporary municipality was formed by the "Gemeindeedikt" of 1818.
Population development
In 1970 1,879, in 1987 1,952 and in 2000 2,196 inhabitants were living in the municipality of Gestratz.Politics
Matthias Benz (CSUChristian Social Union of Bavaria
The 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...
/Freie Wählerschaft) is mayor of the town.
The revenue from the municipal tax added up to 869,000 € in 1999, of which the net business tax amounted to 160,000 €.
Economy, agriculture and forestry
According to the official statistics, in 1998 there were neither employees who were subject to social insurance contribution in the industrial sector, nor in the sector of trade and transport at place of work. In miscellaneous sector there were 110 people employed at place of work.At place of domicile there were 711 employees altogether. In the industrial sector there were none, in the main construction trade two businesses. Moreover, there were 62 agricultural businesses in 1999 with a total area of 1,010 ha.
Education
In 1999 there were the following institutions:- Kindergartens: 75 kindergarten places and 72 children
- An elementary school with six teachers and 102 students
- A seminary in Wigratzbad
Place of prayer
A catholic place of prayer is located in the district of Wigratzbad. On the occasion of an alleged personal epiphany for Frau Antonie Rädler in a small chapel ("Gnadenkapelle"), the place of prayer developed bit by bit until the so called "Sühnekirche", a bigger church in modern red steel architecture, was built. In Wigratzbad Blessed Virgin Mary is worshiped as "Unsere Liebe Frau vom Sieg" ("Our beloved woman of victory").The remains of Antonie Rädler and long-time pilgrim pastor Pater Johannes Schmid OP, who is considered saintly by his followers, rest in a particular chapellike grave.