Villingen-Schwenningen

Villingen-Schwenningen
Villingen-Schwenningen
Administration
Country	Germany
State	Baden-Württemberg
Admin. region	Freiburg
District	Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis
Town subdivisions	2 Stadtbezirke
Mayor	Dr. Rupert Kubon (SPD)
Basic statistics
Area	165.47 km2 (63.89 sq mi)
Elevation	704 m  (2310 ft)
Population	81,825  (31 December 2006)
- Density	495 /km2 (1,281 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate	VS
Postal codes	78001–78056
Area codes	07721, 07720, 07425, 07705
Website	www.villingen-schwenningen.de Coordinates: 48°03′37″N 08°27′31″E / 48.06028°N 8.45861°E / 48.06028; 8.45861

Villingen-Schwenningen is the largest city of the Schwarzwald-Baar district located in the south of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It has 81,520 inhabitants (as of 2005).

History

View of Villingen

Villingen

In the Middle Ages, Villingen was a town under Austrian lordship. During the Protestant Reformation it remained Catholic. Villingen came in the center of international attention when it was besieged by marshal Tallard in 1704. Colonel Von Wilstorff put up a stout defence of the outdated fortifications and after six days the siege failed.

Schwenningen remained a village until the 19th century. In 1858 the first watch factory was established, from which time on watch making and precision mechanics have been important industries.

As part of the Baden-Württemberg territorial reform of 1972, Villingen and Schwenningen were merged with a number of surrounding villages to form the city of Villingen-Schwenningen. Nevertheless, the two halves of the city are separated by a plateau and remain distinct.

Villingen is a big center of the German Carneval. The traditional Narros represent the old citizens of Villingen: Alt Villingere, Morbili, Hansele, Suribbel.

The town is the birth place of German footballer Sebastian Rudy and Croatian footballer Robert Prosinečki whose parents were working in Germany at the time.

Geography

Watershed of the Neckar River

Watershed of the Rhine River

Villingen-Schwenningen lies on the eastern edge of the Black Forest about 700 meters above sea level. The source of the River Neckar is in Schwenningen (Schwenninger Moos).

Boroughs

the two big boroughs:

• Villingen
• Schwenningen

and nine small boroughs

• Obereschach
• Weilersbach
• Weigheim
• Mühlhausen
• Marbach
• Rietheim
• Pfaffenweiler
• Herzogenweiler
• Tannheim

Places of interest

• Town Wall
• Municipal Art Gallery
• Franziskaner Museum (in German)
• Schwenningen Clock Museum (in German)
• Minster of Our Lady
• Theater am Ring
• Wanne Observation Tower, one of the oldest towers built of iron

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Villingen-Schwenningen

• Stadt Villingen-Schwenningen (in German)
• Villingen-Schwenningen: history & pictures(in German)
• Ice Hockey Club
• The siege of Villingen in 1702

v • d • e Towns and municipalities in Schwarzwald-Baar (district) Bad Dürrheim | Blumberg | Bräunlingen | Brigachtal | Dauchingen | Donaueschingen | Furtwangen im Schwarzwald | Gütenbach | Hüfingen | Königsfeld im Schwarzwald | Mönchweiler | Niedereschach | Sankt Georgen | Schonach im Schwarzwald | Schönwald im Schwarzwald | Triberg im Schwarzwald | Tuningen | Unterkirnach | Villingen-Schwenningen | Vöhrenbach