Walldorf | |
|---|---|
 Walldorf from above | |
_COA.svg) Coat of arms | |
Location of Walldorf within Rhein-Neckar-Kreis district  | |
 Location of Walldorf | |
  Walldorf  Walldorf | |
| Coordinates:49°18′N08°39′E / 49.300°N 8.650°E /49.300; 8.650 | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | Baden-Württemberg |
| Admin. region | Karlsruhe |
| District | Rhein-Neckar-Kreis |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2021–29) | Matthias Renschler[1] (FDP) |
| Area | |
• Total | 19.91 km2 (7.69 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 110 m (360 ft) |
| Population (2023-12-31)[2] | |
• Total | 15,995 |
| • Density | 803.4/km2 (2,081/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 69190 |
| Dialling codes | 06227 |
| Vehicle registration | HD |
| Website | www.walldorf.de |
Walldorf (German pronunciation:[ˈvalˌdɔʁf]ⓘ;South Franconian:Walldoaf) is atown in theRhein-Neckar-Kreis district in thestate ofBaden-Württemberg in Germany.
In the eighteenth century, Walldorf was the birthplace ofJohn Jacob Astor,[3] who emigrated and became a prominent fur trader in the newly independent United States, establishing a monopoly in North America. Concentrating on real estate acquisition and investment, and based in New York City, he grew even wealthier and was the patriarch of the wealthy and influentialAstor family.
Walldorf is home to the world'sfifth largestsoftware company,SAP. It is also famous for its motorway interchange for the A5 and A6 highway.
The neighbouring town to the southeast isWiesloch. The towns are strongly linked economically. Adjacent municipalities areSandhausen,Leimen,Nußloch,St. Leon-Rot andReilingen. The train station, namedWiesloch-Walldorf, is located between the two towns.
Hallstatt-culture barrows are preserved in the Hochholz woods, near the offices of SAP Deutschland.[4] The earliest documentary mention of the settlement occurs as Waltorf in a 770 deed issued by the Abbey of Lorsch. The Electorate of thePalatinate received Walldorf as an Imperial fief in 1230. The town suffered much during theThirty Years' War of 1618–1648, and in 1689 was completely destroyed in the course of the French invasion duringNine Years' War. The area was settled anew by religious refugees, among them the predecessors of John Jacob Astor, Waldensians fromPiedmont.
During theGerman Mediatisation, Walldorf fell to Baden. In 1843 theRheintalbahn was built: this railway decisively promoted economic development. In 1901 Grand DukeFrederick I of Baden granted Walldorf town privileges. After World War II the companies Heidelberger Druckmaschinen (founded 1850) and SAP (founded 1972; moved to Walldorf in 1977) were established in Walldorf.
Seats in the municipal assembly (Gemeinderat) as of2024 elections:
SAP SE has had its headquarters in the city since 1977.[5] It is Europe's most valuable brand,[6] as well asthe largest non-American software enterprise by revenue.
Astoria, Oregon, United States, since 1963
Kırklareli, Turkey, since 1970
Saint-Max, France, since 1985Waldorf, Maryland, United States, since 2002Freeport, New York, United States, since 2003TheAstorhaus was built in 1854, from a pecuniary legacy of the deceasedJohn Jacob Astor[3] to his hometown. For decades, it served as analmshouse, and now hosts the register office and a museum.
The 19th-century synagogue was devastated in the 1938Kristallnacht attacks and most of the congregation was killed in theHolocaust. The building is now used as aNew Apostolic Church.[7]
Walldorf is known for cultivatingwhite asparagus, which is available in the months of April through June.
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