Schwalldorf

Geography

Schwalldorf is located 7 km (4.35 mi) southwestern from Rottenburg am Neckar on the Gäu-Plateau with an elevation from 360 to 492 m.

Extent

The area of the district is 581 hectares (1,440 acres). Thereof fall 65.1% upon agriculturally used area, 25.6% upon forest area, 8.6% upon settlement area and roads, and 2.2% upon other.

Neighbour localities

The territories of the following villages adjoin to Schwalldorf, they are called clockwise beginning in the north: Bad Niedernau, Weiler, Dettingen, Hirrlingen, Frommenhausen, Bieringen and Obernau (all in the admin. district of Tübingen). All bordering villages, except for Hirrlingen, are suburbs of Rottenburg am Neckar.

Population

With a population of 781 people (31 January 2008) Schwalldorf is among the smaller districts of Rottenburg. At an area of 5.81 km² (2.2 sq mi) this corresponds to a population density of 134 people per km², or 348 per sq mi.

Faiths

The population of the village is predominantly Roman Catholic. About 100 people are evangelical. A small amount are undenominational or members of another denomination.

History

Around 1100 Schwalldorf was mentioned for the first time on a paper of the Hirsau Abbey (ger.: Kloster Hirsau). In that document a nobleman "Fridericus de Swaldorff" (Frederic of Schwalldorf) was called. The first official reference in a deed of gift dates from 7 July 1304. Heinrich der Amman (Henry the Amman) the reeve of the Counts of Hohenberg made a present to the domician nunnery in Kirchberg. He gave them a manor in Schwalldorf. Due to that document the village celebrated its 700th anniversary in 2004.

However, it is assumed, that the village is much older. The suffix "-dorf", gives a reason to suppose an appearance in the 7th or 8th century. Scores of excavation findings allude to that too. But the only real record is the deed of gift from the 7 July 1304.

In 1357 a chapel was mentioned. At that time Schwalldorf has been a subsidiary of the parish of Dettingen, which belonged to the commandry of the Knights Hospitaller in Hemmendorf. In a deed of the 28 August 1437 a "Kaplanei" (vicariate) was founded in Schwalldorf. In the deed the patron Saint Andrew was mentioned for the first time. In 1507 Schwalldorf got an own parish. The chapel became a parish church.

From 1381 to 1806 the village belonged to the territory of Niederhohenberg (Lower Hohenberg) of the County of Hohenberg. In 1381 Rudolf III. Count of Hohenberg sold the County in large part to the House of Habsburg. So Schwalldorf and large parts of the county became a part of Further Austria. For this reason the reformation could not take place around Rottenburg. All thoughts of reformation were defeated by the archduke of Austria. The exclave of Austria kept Catholic. In 1805 the County was assigned to the Dukedom of Württemberg by the Peace of Pressburg. Württemberg became a kingdom in 1806, few days after the treaty was effected.

When in 1807 the Oberamt Rottenburg (Oberamt of Württemberg) was founded, Schwalldorf became a part of it. Rottenburg was also the domicile of an Austrian Oberamt, before the County came to Württemberg. In 1934 the appellation Oberamt was replaced by Kreis (district). The District of Rottenburg was dissolved in 1938 and merged into the District of Tübingen. Since then Schwalldorf has been a part of the District of Tübingen. On 1 January 1972 the municipality of Schwalldorf was incorporated into the town of Rottenburg am Neckar.

Schultheißen, Mayors and Local representatives

The first Schultheiß of Schwalldorf was mentioned in 1425. The Schultheiß was the chairperson of the village court (precursor of the council). The name of the first Schultheiß is not known. On 10 July 1470 Hans Gefrör was mentioned as the second Schultheiß in a document.

Mayors from 1917 until 1972

In 1917 the term Schultheiß was replaced by mayor.

1917–1940: Lukas Jungel

1940–1945: Jakob U. Wiest (without election)

1946–1972: Fabian Straub

Local representatives since 1972

When the Municipality of Schwalldorf was incorporated into the Town of Rottenburg on 1 January 1972, the mayor was replaced by a local representative "(Ortsvorsteher)". The local representative is elected by the members of the advisory body for a period of five years. The local representative is the chairperson of the advisory body and the spokesperson of the suburb.

1972–1979: Fabian Straub

1980–1989: Adolf Straub

1989–2004: Ernst Rößner, senior prosecutor

since 2004: Klaus Krajewski

Advisory Body

In Schwalldorf there has been a village court since the 15th century, which was directed by the Schultheiß. The village court is regarded as the precursor of the later council. The names of the councillors of the former municipality of Schwalldorf are passed down since 1932. The council of the former municipality had up to ten councillors in the terms of office since 1932.

In 1972 the council of the municipality was dissolved and replaced by an advisory body (in German: Ortschaftsrat) in the course of the incorporation of the municipality into the Town of Rottenburg. The advisory body is elected by the citizens of the village for a period of five years. The advisory body represents the interests of the citizens of the suburb towards the town administration and the town council. Thereby the advisory body acts as administrative body. In the first session the advisory body also elects the local representative for a period of five years. The current advisory body was elected on 7 June 2009. All seven members of the body are from the voter's association Bürgerliste Schwalldorf (Citizen's List Schwalldorf).

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the village was designed in 1952. It was adopted as official seal by the Municipality of Schwalldorf. The coat of arms shows a blue swallow and a blue auger snail divided by a blue waved fess on a silver shield. The blue auger snail below the waved fess shall refer to the "Schneckenhof" (snail yard), which is one of the two settlement cores the village emerged from. The blue waved fess shows a water amount and interprets the name of Schwalldorf, that shall derive from a well. On the area of the village, however, there isn't any water. Another theory, which is more folk-etymological is represented by the blue swallow (German: Schwalbe) above the fess. Due to the fact, that the village is a Frankish-Alemannic village the most likely theory is, that the village name derives from an Alemannic clan ruler named "Swalo".

St Andrew's parish church

The today's parish church was built in 1733 in baroque style and is consecrated to the Holy Andrew. Beforehand there was a chapel, which was mentionend for the first time in 1357 and that was, according to a document from 1437, consecrated to Saint Andrew as well. In 1507 Schwalldorf got an own parish and the chapel became a parish church. When the old church became too small for the growing congregation, it was decided to build a new church in 1732.

Associations

Liederkranz Schwalldorf 1892 e. V. – a male choral society founded in 1892

Schützenverein Schwalldorf 1928 e. V. – Shooting Club Schwalldorf 1928

Sportverein Schwalldorf 1968 e. V. – Sports Club Schwalldorf 1968

Narrenzunft Schwalldorf 1989 e. V. – Swabian-Alemannic Carnival Guild 1989

e. V. stands for eingetragener Verein, that means registered association. The association is insrcribed (with the official name) to the register of associations at the local court.

Institutions

Auxiliary fire brigade (1886)

Catholic Parish

Church choir

Catholic public library

Parish Hall St Franziskus

Catholic Kindergarten St Andrew

Elementary School Schwalldorf-Frommenhausen

Youth club

Dissolved associations and Institutions

Former associations and institutions in Schwalldorf that have been dissolved:

1886–1945: Kriegerverein Schwalldorf 1886 e. V. – Warrior Association Schwalldorf (1886–1945)

1908–1965: Spar- und Darlehenskasse Schwalldorf – Savings and loan association

1923–1963: Dreschgenossenschaft Schwalldorf

1930–1970: Viehversicherungsverein

1934–1978: Milchverwertungsgenossenschaft

1956: Flurbereinigungs-Teilnehmerschaft

1997–2007: Kulturverein "Treffpunkt Schule" e. V. – Culture Association "Meeting place the school"'

Regular Events

Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet: The Fasnet (Swabian-Alemannic Carnival) has a high significance in the area of Rottenburg. A "Vassnacht" was firstly documented in Rottenburg in the 15th century. In the catholic Town of Rottenburg and its hinterland the wild goings have become a tradition. The first carnival group in Schwalldorf were the "Elbenlocher Hexen" (witches of the Elbenloch), in Swabian Dialect Elbaloch Hexa. They were founded in 1984. The Elbenloch is a forest on the boundary of Schwalldorf. According to a legend the Elbenloch was a meeting place for witches in the middle-age. During the middle-age Rottenburg was a center of the witch-hunt. The carnival group "Elbenlocher Hexen" is an allusion to that. In 1989 the "Narrenzunft Schwalldorf" (Carnival Guild Schwalldorf) was founded. Nowadays the Carnival Guild has three carnival groups, two music groups and several single characters. The Fasnet season begins officially on 6 January with the traditional dedusting of the wood masks. The so-called "Fleggafasnet" (Swabian for village carnival) with the parade takes place on Saturday, one week before the "Hauptfasnet" (Main-Fasnet). The Hauptfasnet is the time from Fat Thursday to Ash Wednesday, it's the high season of carnival in Rottenburg. During the last years more than one thousand participants from approximately 30–40 carnival guilds attended the parade in Schwalldorf.

Onion-Tart-Fest: On the last weekend of the summer vacations (usually first or second weekend in September) the local associations arrange the "Zwiebelbeeten Fest" (Onion-Tart-Fest). It's a small contemplative fest in the village core. The fest is arranged since 1986 and has established itself as village fair.

Infrastructure

The village is remote from big traffic routes. Unlike in other suburbs of Rottenburg there couldn't be registered a great increase of population in the past decades.

Telecommunication

Until a modification of the local network in 2005, the use of the Internet was only possible with ISDN. Since then DSL light (384 kbit/s) has been available in some streets. A faster Internet connection is not possible, by the reason of old wires. A modernization of the connection is refused by the German Telecom because of little profitability. The village has about 250 households. The German Telecom requires a minimum amount of 300 households that demand a faster connection for a replacement of the old wires. Though there are people, especially seniors, who are not interested in a faster broadband connection.

Several suburbs of Rottenburg are concerned by a slow Internet connection. In July 2008 a citizens' group for DSL was founded in Bieringen, a neighbor village of Schwalldorf. The aim was to reach a faster Internet connection by radio. In addition a radio mast would have had to be built on the plateau near Schwalldorf. However, in August the plan was canceled, because the town administration of Rottenburg announced an open call for tender. If the project succeeds DSL at a speed of probably 16,000 kbit/s will be available in Schwalldorf.

Traffic

The Kreisstraße 6943 (K 6943 = district road 6943) leads from Bad Niedernau (Rottenburg) or Frommenhausen into the village. The road was formerly known as Landstraße 392 (L 392 = state road 392), before it has been downgraded to a district road. The K 6943 serves as communication road between the L 370 (Horb-Rottenburg-Tübingen) and the L 392 (Hirrlingen-Felldorf). It discharges into the L 392 in Frommenhausen and into the L 370 next to Bad Niedernau. The volume of traffic is low, so there is a very little noise exposure.

Public transport

In the local public transport there is a bus connection between Rottenburg and Horb am Neckar or Felldorf – the bus route 7626. The village is situated in sector 112 of the Neckar-Alb-Donau Transportation Association. On working days (Monday-Friday) buses drive roughly every hour from about 6 am till 7 pm On Saturday there is a connection at a regular interval of two hours from about 7.30 am till 5 pm For the time between 7 pm till midnight on working days, and in the nights from Friday to Saturday as well as Saturday to Sunday "Anmeldefahrten" (calling drives) are stated in the schedule. That means buses that drive only if required. The bus has to be ordered at least 60 minutes before the departure according to schedule.

Education

Schwalldorf has a Kindergarten and an elementary school. The Kindergarten "St. Andreas" is a Roman Catholic Kindergarten and was originally organized by nuns. Though it also stands open for non-catholic children. The elementary school has been opened in 1995 and has no special name. It is named "Grundschule Schwalldorf-Frommenhausen" (Elementary School Schwalldorf-Frommenhausen). Frommenhausen is the neighbour village.

Sons and daughters of the village

Noteworthy persons, who were born in Schwalldorf:

Michael Mayer (1833–1892), sculptor

Lukas Jungel (1886–1940), Mayor, Victim of the National Socialism

Persons, who lived in the village

Noteworthy persons, who acted on spot:

Franz Egger (1882–1945), parish priest, Victim of the National Socialism

Literature

"700 Jahre Schwalldorf" by Karlheinz Geppert and various other authors, 2004 ISBN 3-924123-51-9

700 Jahre Schwalldorf (700 Years Schwalldorf) was published on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the village in 2004.