Bürgstadt
Bürgstadt | |
|---|---|
Renaissance town hall | |
|
Coat of arms | |
Location of Bürgstadt
within Miltenberg district | |
Location of Bürgstadt | |
Bürgstadt Bürgstadt | |
| Coordinates: 49°42′49″N 09°16′17″E / 49.71361°N 9.27139°E | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | Bavaria |
| Admin. region | Lower Franconia |
| District | Miltenberg |
| Municipal assoc. | Erftal |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–26) | Thomas Grün[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 17.38 km2 (6.71 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 150 m (490 ft) |
| Population (2024-12-31)[2] | |
• Total | 4,193 |
| • Density | 241.3/km2 (624.8/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 63927 |
| Dialling codes | 09371 |
| Vehicle registration | MIL |
| Website | www.buergstadt.de |
Bürgstadt (German pronunciation: [ˈbʏʁkʃtat]) is a market municipality in the Miltenberg district in the Regierungsbezirk of Lower Franconia (Unterfranken) in Bavaria, Germany and the seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft (Administrative Community) of Erftal. Bürgstadt is a winegrowing community in the wine region of Franken. It has a population of around 4,300.
Geography
Location
Bürgstadt lies at the mouth of the river Erf where it empties into the Main and has grown together with the district seat of Miltenberg lying to the southwest. It lies at the northeast edge of the Odenwald hill, on the boundary with Baden-Württemberg.
History
The Bürgstadter Berg (hill) (see Ringwall Bürgstadter Berg) was inhabited as early as 3,200 BC by members of the Michelsberg culture. During the Urnfield period (ca. 1200 to 800 BC) a fortified settlement protected by a circular rampart was constructed on the hill. The ramparts stretched for a total length of 3.2 km, surrounding an area of ca. 40 hectares. Excavations found remains of a gate from around 900 BC.[3]: 26–7
In 1181, Bürgstadt had its first documentary mention.[3]: 27 Bürgstadt passed into Electoral Mainz's control early on.
Economy
In the past furniture making, the growing of tobacco and (for centuries) quarrying all played a role in the local economy.[4]: 61
Winegrowing was first mentioned in a document in 1248. With just under 60 ha of vineyards, it is one of the biggest winegrowing communities on the Lower Main.[3]: 27
Notable buildings
The Martinskapelle is a chapel originally erected about 950 and rebuilt on the earlier foundations ca. 1200, with its mural Bible paintings presented in 40 medallions (ca. 1590). It also features Gothic doors (ca. 1490) and a Baroque altar (ca. 1600). The late Romanesque old parish church (built about 1350) was until 1522 the mother church of Miltenberg. There are also the historic town hall (built about 1590-2) and the ruins of the Centgrafenkapelle ("Tithe Counts’ Chapel") from the 17th century on a nearby hill. Work on the latter ceased during the Thirty Years' War leaving the unfinished building a ruin. The modern Catholic parish church dates from 1961.[4]: 62 [3]: 26–7
Government
Community council
The council is made up of 17 council members, counting the mayor.
| 10 CSU | 3 SPD | 4 UWG | 17 Total |
(as at municipal election held on 2 March 2008)
Coat of arms
The community’s arms might be described thus: On a base vert gules a castle embattled argent with two round side towers likewise embattled and with door and windows open, in chief between the towers a wheel spoked of six of the last.
Despite the market community’s The arms have been borne since the 19th century.[5]
Notable people
- Ernst Heinrichsohn, mayor from 1978 to 1980, sentenced in 1980 in Cologne to six years in prison for having taken part in persecuting Jews in occupied France during the Second World War (see: Vel' d'Hiv Roundup)
- Johann Michael Breunig (Baroque composer)
- Maria Bachmann (actress, screenwriter, producer)
References
- ^ Liste der ersten Bürgermeister/Oberbürgermeister in kreisangehörigen Gemeinden, Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik, 15 July 2021.
- ^ "Gemeinden, Kreise und Regierungsbezirke in Bayern, Einwohnerzahlen am 31. Dezember 2024; Basis Zensus 2022" [Municipalities, counties, and administrative districts in Bavaria; Based on the 2022 Census] (CSV) (in German). Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik.
- ^ a b c d Schumacher, Karin; Schumacher, Hans-Jürgen (2003). Zeitreise durch den Spessart (German). Wartberg Verlag. ISBN 3-8313-1075-0.
- ^ a b Thiemig, Karl, ed. (1972). Grieben Reiseführer, Band 137: Spessart (German). Grieben Verlag, München.
- ^ Description and explanation of Bürgstadt’s arms Archived September 25, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
External links
- Town’s official webpage (in German)