Großbottwar | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Großbottwar within Ludwigsburg district  | |
  Großbottwar  Großbottwar | |
| Coordinates:49°0′5″N9°17′35″E / 49.00139°N 9.29306°E /49.00139; 9.29306 | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | Baden-Württemberg |
| Admin. region | Stuttgart |
| District | Ludwigsburg |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2017–25) | Ralf Zimmermann[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 25.51 km2 (9.85 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 215 m (705 ft) |
| Population (2022-12-31)[2] | |
• Total | 8,452 |
| • Density | 330/km2 (860/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 71723 |
| Dialling codes | 07148 |
| Vehicle registration | LB |
| Website | grossbottwar.de |
Großbottwar (orGrossbottwar) is a town in theLudwigsburg district ofBaden-Württemberg,Germany. It sits within theNeckar River basin and is located on a tourist route through theWürttemberg wine region. The Großbottwar region has been inhabited since at least the Stone Age and was occupied by the Romans. The town itself was founded sometime during the mid-13th century by an alliance of prominent families. In 1971, Großbottwar incorporated the formerly independent communities of Hof und Lembach and Winzerhausen.[3]
Unlike most towns in the region, Großbottwar was neither heavily damaged by war nor by urban fires, so there are many old buildings from the 15th through the 17th centuries with original and well-preservedtimber framing. The 16th centuryRathaus, or town hall, is noted for its half-timber construction and decoratively carved façade. TheStadtschänke, approximately dated to 1434, is the oldest half-timber building in the Ludwigsburg district.
Großbottwar is part of theSwabian-Franconian Forest and theNeckar Basin. The city is located in theBottwar river valley in the north east district of Ludwigsburg. The Bottwar is a tributary of theNeckar River. Thirteen kilometres to the south east is the city of Ludwigsburg, andHeilbronn is sixteen km to the north east. The capital of the Baden-Württemberg region,Stuttgart, is 26 km to the south west.[4][5][6][7]
Nearby isWunnenstein mountain, the highest point of the Großbottwar area, at 394 metres above sea level.[8]
Findings from all of the cultural eras support the view that the Großbottwar area has been inhabited continuously since the Stone Age.[3]
The remains of three farms, dated 150–260 CE, of the late Roman period, have been discovered. Around 200 CE, Großbottwar was also the site of a brick factory, referred to asGaius Longinius Speratus. Bricks formed at this site were stamped withGLSP and examples have been found inWeinsberg andWalheim.[3][9]
The land, documented as "Boteburon", was included in a grant extending the domain of theFulda monastery in 779. The interpretation of the nameBoteburon is unclear. The former village was situated around the church of St Martin and, when first mentioned, was part of theDuchy of Franconia.[3]
The town of Großbottwar was probably founded in the mid-13th century, very near the former village, and first described as a city in 1279. An alliance of three noble families of the area founded the town, the Swabian familyHerren von Heinriet [de], the Swabian and Austrian family Hoheneck, and the owners of the nearbyLichtenberg Castle, bearing its name. In 1357 the von Lichtenbergs sold the castle, and the related rule, including the town, toEberhard II, Count of Württemberg.[3][10]
Aschool of Latin was established in the town sometime around 1490 and continued teaching until 1925.[3][11]
In April 1525, Großbottwar became involved in insurgency in theGerman Peasants' War, when two hundred citizens of the town moved to theWunnenstein mountain and electedMatern Feuerbacher as their leader in the peasants' revolt. The cluster of peasants joining the rebellion increased rapidly as the group marched, increasing Feuerbacher's responsibility, but theresulting battle atBöblingen on 12 May was a critical loss for the peasants, and one of the bloodiest of the whole uprising. Großbottwar was fined for partaking in the revolt and Feuerbacher was tried for his role as their leader, but he was acquitted and moved to Switzerland. A secondary school in the town is named after him.[3][12]
Großbottwar is situated on theWürttembergWeinstraße, orwine road, a tourist route through theWürttemberg wine region. The old town is well preserved, as it has been fortunate to have largely escaped damage from war and fire. Manyhalf-timbered buildings from the 15th to the 17th centuries are still intact, as is some of the original mediaeval wall that once stood around the town, although large sections of it were torn down between 1820 and 1837.[3][10]
The landmark of the town is the historicRathaus, or town hall, built in 1553, with gabling completed in 1556. It features elaborate timber framing with a clock, sundial, and carved stork on the façade. The wooden stork is jointed at the neck and nods its head when the clock strikes the hour.[4][13] The inventorPhilipp Matthäus Hahn built the clock in 1776. Originally, the ground floor of the town hall was open and contained the city bakery. The next floor up was a dance workshop and banquet hall, and the floor above was a court room. It is likely that a fountain stood outside the hall since the founding of the town. The fountain was renovated in 1774, but the standing lion put in place was made of sandstone and weathered quickly. The sandstone was replaced in 1873 with cast iron lions. Renovations to the fountain were again needed in 1930, and the lions were replaced by a figure of a sower.[3][4][13][14]
Another fine half-timbered building of the town isStadtschänke ("City Tavern"), which was probably built in 1434 and features long walls which would have been expensive and complicated to build.Stadtschänke is the oldest half-timbered building in the Ludwigsburg district and houses a restaurant and bed and breakfast business.[15]
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