Altdorf bei Nürnberg (, ) is a town in south-eastern

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. It is situated 25 km east of

Nuremberg Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ...

, in the district

Nürnberger Land Nürnberger Land is a ''Landkreis'' (district) in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Forchheim, Bayreuth, Amberg-Sulzbach, Neumarkt, Roth and Erlangen-Höchstadt, and by the city of Nuremberg. Hi ...

. Its name literally means “Altdorf near Nuremberg”, to distinguish it from other Altdorfs.

History

Altdorf is first mentioned in 1129. In 1504 the town was conquered by the

Free Imperial City of Nuremberg The Imperial City of Nuremberg (german: Reichsstadt Nürnberg) was a free imperial city — independent city-state — within the Holy Roman Empire. After Nuremberg gained piecemeal independence from the Burgraviate of Nuremberg in the High Mid ...

. In the 16th century, the city government of Nuremberg founded an academy in Altdorf, which became a university in 1622. The university lasted until 1809. Among the alumni of the University of Altdorf were the soldier Albrecht von Wallenstein and the philosopher and scientist Gottfried Leibniz.

Discovery of teleosaur fossils

Teleosaur remains have been known from Altdorf bei Nürnberg since 1832,Meyer, H. von, (1832), ''Paleologica zur Geschichte der Erde'', Frankfurt am Main, 560 p but none have been placed in a specific

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

yet.

Economy

Even though the times of its once famous university have long passed, Altdorf is the seat of several educational institutions. It is also the home of a number of mid-scale industrial enterprises.

Monuments

Altdorf's chief monuments are the church of St. Laurentius, the city hall and the Wichernhaus, which once housed the university. Altdorf also boasts some impressive remnants of its fortifications.

International relations

Altdorf bei Nürnberg is twinned with: * Altdorf, Switzerland *

Colbitz Colbitz is a Municipalities in Germany, municipality in the Börde (district), Börde Districts of Germany, district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Colbitz is well known for its "Colbitzer" beer and the :de:Colbitz-Letzlinger Heide, Colbitz-Letzlinge ...

, Saxony-Anhalt * Sehma, Saxony *

Dunaharaszti Dunaharaszti (german: Harast) is a town in Pest County, Budapest metropolitan area, Hungary. It has a population of around 20,000 people. Twin towns – sister cities Dunaharaszti is twinned with: * Altdorf bei Nürnberg, Germany Sport *Dunah ...

, Hungary * Pfitsch, South Tyrol (Italy)

Mayors

Gallery

File:Laurentius Kirche Altdorf.jpg, Church of Saint Lawrence File:Lower gate Altdorf.JPG, The lower gate (Unteres Tor) in 2005

Sons and daughters of the town

* Stephan Farffler (1633–1689), inventor * Johann Fabricius (1644–1729), theologian * Moses Ferst (1828–1889), successful businessman in the United States *

Konrad Mannert Konrad Mannert (April 17, 1756 – September 27, 1834) was a Prussian historian and geographer. Mannert was born in Altdorf bei Nürnberg, where he did his studies. In 1784 he became a teacher at the Sebaldusschule in Nuremberg, and in 1788 at t ...

(1756–1834), professor and historian * Friedrichs Lachs (1832–1910), Bavarian-Swedish brewmaster *

Dora Hitz Dora Hitz (30 March 1856, Altdorf bei Nürnberg - 20 November 1924, Berlin) was a Court Painter to the Romanian Royal Family, a member of the November Group and co-founder of the Berlin Secession. Life When she was six years old, her family ...

(1856–1924), Impressionist painter * Klaus Kreuzeder (1950–2014), saxophonist * Klaus Wolfermann (born 1946), athlete (javelin thrower) *

Thomas Tuschl Thomas Tuschl (born June 1, 1966) is a German biochemist and molecular biologist, known for his research on RNA. Biography Tuschl was born in Altdorf bei Nürnberg. After graduating in Chemistry from Regensburg University, Tuschl received his P ...

(born 1966), biochemist

Personalities who worked in the town

* Johann Richter or '' Johannes Praetorius '' (1537–1616), German mathematician and astronomer * Wallenstein (1583–1634), military leader and politician in the Thirty Years' War * Johann Christoph Wagenseil (1633–1705), polyhistor, legal scholar and orientalist; taught and died in Altdorf *

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Gottfried Wilhelm (von) Leibniz . ( – 14 November 1716) was a German polymath active as a mathematician, philosopher, scientist and diplomat. He is one of the most prominent figures in both the history of philosophy and the history of mathema ...

(1646–1716), philosopher and natural scientist, promoted in Altdorf *

Johann Pachelbel Johann Pachelbel (baptised – buried 9 March 1706; also Bachelbel) was a German composer, organist, and teacher who brought the south German organ schools to their peak. He composed a large body of sacred and secularity, secular music, and h ...

(1653–1706), composer, studied at the University of Altdorf * Lorenz Heister (1683–1758), surgical professor at the University of Altdorf from 1710 to 1719 * Wolfgang Haffner (born 1965), Funk and jazz drummer

References

External links

*
Official homepage of Altdorf
{{Authority control Nürnberger Land