Mindelheim | |
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 Marian Square | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Mindelheim within Unterallgäu district  | |
  Mindelheim  Mindelheim | |
| Coordinates:48°02′N10°28′E / 48.033°N 10.467°E /48.033; 10.467 | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | Bavaria |
| Admin. region | Swabia |
| District | Unterallgäu |
| Subdivisions | 7Stadtteile |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2020–26) | Stephan Winter[1] (CSU) |
| Area | |
• Total | 56.44 km2 (21.79 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 607 m (1,991 ft) |
| Population (2023-12-31)[2] | |
• Total | 16,226 |
| • Density | 290/km2 (740/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 87711–87719 |
| Dialling codes | 08261 |
| Vehicle registration | MN |
| Website | www.mindelheim.de |
Mindelheim (German pronunciation:[ˈmɪndl̩ˌhaɪm]ⓘ;Swabian:Mindelhoi) is atown inSwabia,Bavaria,Germany. The town is thecapital of theUnterallgäu district. At various points in history it was the chief settlement of aneponymous state.
Mindelheim is located on the riverMindel, about 90 kilometres (56 miles) west of the Bavarian capital ofMunich. Other towns nearby areMemmingen and thehealth resorts ofBad Grönenbach,Ottobeuren andBad Wörishofen.
Mindelheim is located close to theAutobahn 96 leading from Munich toLindau. Furthermore,Mindelheim station is on theBuchloe–Memmingen railway, which connects toZürich viaMemmingen andLindau and toMunich viaBuchloe, and theCentral Swabian Railway (Mittelschwabenbahn), which connects toGünzburg viaKrumbach.
In 1365, the Dukes of Teck-Owen came into the possession of Mindelheim but had to sell their heritage around the castle Teck to the Counts of Württemberg. The last member of that line, Louis of Teck, Patriarch of Aquileia since 1412, died in 1439.
On 18 November 1705,John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough was made Prince of Mindelheim byJoseph I, Holy Roman Emperor. Marlborough was invested at anImperial Diet inInnsbruck on the 24 May 1706. Mindelheim had been bought by anElector of Bavaria in the 16th century. It wasconfiscated from ElectorMax Emmanuel in 1704 for his treachery, and effectively occupied after theBattle of Blenheim.
ThePrincipality of Mindelheim was situated south of theDanube, 28 miles (45 km) south-west ofAugsburg, and 48 miles (77 km) west ofMünchen. It covered an area of about 15 square miles (39 km2) and had an income of £2,000.[3] Marlborough had to meet the cost ofinvestiture, which was reduced to £4,500 from the usual £12–15,000. He also avoided paying the wartime imperial tax of £6,000.
The King ofPrussia, through his representative the prince ofAnhalt-Dessau, moved that the title should descend successively to all the heirs of Marlborough’s body. But the princes were opposed. The lack of a male heir would prevent the Churchills becoming hereditary princes of the empire, and was essential to their agreement. Thus no special remainder was provided.
Marlborough visited Mindelheim in late May 1713, receiving princely honours from his subjects. But the fate of the principality, and of Marlborough's effectiveterritorial sovereignty, depended upon the ultimate peace treaty. Mindelheim was lost 1714 to the Elector of Bavaria under theTreaty of Utrecht.
The town center of Mindelheim reflects the typical structure of amedieval settlement. The most important municipal buildings such as thetown hall orchurches are arranged around a centralmarket square.
Like many other German cities, Mindelheim used to be surrounded by acity wall. As in most cases, this wall is now incomplete as it was partially torn down in the 19th century to make room for modern buildings. Nevertheless, the remaining parts of the wall and some gates give a good impression of the original state.
Besides the old town center, thecastleMindelburg — now housing a restaurant and a publishing company — used to guard over the town in old times. The castle as well was not changed much in the last centuries. The complete annex displays the typical structure of a European fortress, including adonjon. This architectural ensemble is used to stage several festivals and markets.
Several museums and picture galleries are situated in Mindelheim as well; there is an ethnic art (Chinese, African, Arab) museum in Oberauerbach. TheSchwäbisches Turmuhrenmuseum is dedicated to historic tower clocks.
Mindelheim is served by theBuchloe–Memmingen railway.
Mindelheim istwinned with severalEuropean towns:[4]
Bourg-de-Péage,France, since 1961
East Grinstead,United Kingdom, since 1994
Sant Feliu de Guixols,Spain, since 1994
Schwaz,Austria, since 1990
Tramin,Italy, since 1994Verbania,Italy, since 1994
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