Vaihingen an der Enz

History

Vaihingen may date back as far as 799 a.d., but the documents are not clear. In 1252 documents refer directly to Vaihingen as a town, established by Count Gottfried von Vaihingen. The city changed hands several times. In the sixteenth century it became a Protestant city. During the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), Vaihingen was besieged by both the Protestant and Catholic warring factions. The consequences of the 1848 revolution caused harvest failures and inflation, and the city population diminished by a large emigration. In the early 1900s, a connection to the railroad network brought more people and industries to Vaihingen. In 1938 Vaihingen became a regional center.

Vaihingen was the site of a concentration camp during World War II. See Vaihingen an der Enz concentration camp.

Mayor

At the top of the town is since 1256 the mayor and the court, consisting of twelve citizens, including four mayors. Chairman of the court was the official mayor. With the elevation to Große Kreisstadt on January 1, 1973, the mayor bears the official title Lord mayor. He is directly elected by the electorate every 8 years. He is chairman of the municipal council. His general deputy is the first councilor with the official title of mayor.

Mayors since 1893

On May 7, 2006, Gerd Maisch (previously mayor of Tamm), was elected as the new mayor of Vaihingen. He took office on September 1, 2006. Gerd Maisch won against Matthias Ehrlein (Stutensee), and Helga Eberle (Aurich) with 62% of the votes.

Things

Vaihingen is located on the Württemberger Weinstraße and on the southern route of the German Timber-Frame Road, both routes pass many sights.

Museums

Vaihingen has a municipal museum in the St. Peter's Kirche and a wine museum in the old winery in the district Horrheim.

KZ-memorial

The memorial for the concentration camp Vaihingen in the Glattbachtal was opened on April 16, 2005. A twenty minute audiovisual presentation reminiscent of the events of the years 1944 and 1945.

Sights

The panoramic sight at the market place includes the city hall and the city church (alternative central/main church). Due to devastating fires in 1693 and 1784, housing facilities had to be rebuilt and their architecture dates back to then.

A fire destroyed the old city hall building in 1693. It was rebuilt in the same location in 1720, following long years of controversy between the citizens of Vaihingen and the administration of Württemberg. Its paintings date back to 1901. The ground floor was originally used as a sales area for tradesmen.

The former Town Wall is partly preserved in the Baedergasse. It is accessible by foot in the direction of the Klingengasse. A broad alley including a stone portraying the coat of arms was built in 1786. Small bridges connect the top level of the buildings and served as escape routes during high flood water.

The Peterskirche is the oldest church in Vaihingen and dates back to 1490 Roman architecture. Modifications were carried out several times. It remained Vaihingen’s cemetery church until 1839. From 1871 onwards, it was used as a gym and was rebuilt again in 1980 according to the old style. The city museum can be found on the top floor of the building. Even today, old gravestones from the former cemetery can still be seen. The museum is open every first Sunday of the month from 2pm – 4pm. Other viewing appointments can be arranged via phone at +497042/98100.

The Haspelturm, also called "a thief’s tower“ is the oldest tower in Vaihingen. An old roman ornament ("Rundbogenfries“) indicates that it might have been built as early as the 13th century. The tower’s six stories dominate the old town’s silhouette. In the first floor the "Haspel,“ a kind of pulley that was used to lower its prisoners into the dungeon, can be found.

The Pulverturm is a former prison with massive walls up to three meters thick. The former corner tower of the city’s defense wall was built in 1492 and served among others as a prison, a home of homeless people and a slaughterhouse. Today the tower, with its historic atmosphere, can be used as an extraordinary place for special occasions, in particular art exhibitions.

The City Church was built in 1513. Its current appearance came to be after the fire of 1693. Before that fire, the church suffered from destructions because of the fires in 1617 and 1618. The tympanum over the south entrance (carrying the cross) is from 1521. In 1892-93 the inside of the church was rebuilt by the master-builder Dolmetsch. That is when the organ was put in the place where it still sits today. Moreover, galleries have been included. These galleries as well as the outside stairways at the south entrance were removed in the 1960s.

This castle is Vaihingen’s landmark. It was built on a rocket of Muschelkalk (Middle Trias). It was the former seat of the area’s duke and was first mentioned in 1096 as »castrum vehingen«. Duke Karl Alexander had it renovated in 1734 and later fortified. In the following years it was used as a garrison and a hospital, from 1842 onwards as a workhouse. Today, it is the seat of a social, Christian charity organisation ("Christlichens Jugenddorf“).

Culture

The May Festival Vaihingen Enz is one of the oldest children's festivals in Baden-Württemberg, first documented in 1687. Despite being held yearly on Pentecost (May or June), it is a non-religious festival. The highlight of the festival is a parade presenting several historic events as well as current sportsclubs and institutions of Vaihingen. Many people who moved away from Vaihingen take the opportunity to visit their hometown on this event.

People

published his "Introduction to the doctrine of spirituality" ("Einleitung in die Seelenlehre") in Stuttgart, 1786.

Literature