Bad Buchau () (formerly Buchau;
Swabian: ''Buacha'') is a small town in the district of
Biberach,
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg (; ), commonly shortened to BW or BaWü, is a German state () in Southwest Germany, east of the Rhine, which forms the southern part of Germany's western border with France. With more than 11.07 million inhabitants across a ...
, Germany with about 4,000 inhabitants. It is situated near Lake
Federsee
Federsee is a lake located just north of Bad Buchau in the region of Upper Swabia in Southern Germany. It is surrounded by moorland, partially overgrown with reeds. With a size of 33 km2 (8,155 acres), the area is one of the largest, groundw ...
, which is separated from the town by a wide reed belt.
Bad Buchau incorporates the nine villages of
Allmannsweiler
Allmannsweiler () is a municipality in the district of Biberach in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.
History
In 1803, Schussenried Abbey was secularized and its holdings mediatized to the County of Sternberg-Manderscheid. It was re-mediatized in ...
,
Dürnau,
Kanzach,
Betzenweiler
Betzenweiler () is a municipality in the Biberach district of Baden-Württemberg, in southwestern Germany.
The area is between the basin of Federsee and the Bussen
The Bussen is a mountain in southern Germany, in the region of Upper Swab ...
,
Moosburg
Moosburg an der Isar (Central Bavarian: ''Mooschbuag on da Isa'') is a town in the ''Landkreis'' Freising of Bavaria, Germany.
The oldest town between Regensburg and Italy, it lies on the river Isar at an altitude of 421 m (1381 ft). ...
,
Alleshausen
Alleshausen () is a municipality in the district of Biberach in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.
World heritage site
It is home to one or more prehistoric pile-dwelling (or stilt house) settlements that are part of the Prehistoric pile dwelling ...
,
Seekirch,
Tiefenbach, and
Oggelshausen
Oggelshausen () is a municipality in the district of Biberach in Baden-Württemberg in Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe ...
, as well as the outlying farm settlements of Ottobeurer Hof, Bruckhof, and Henauhof. Also part of Bad Buchau is the formerly independent district of Kappel.
The official language is
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
, with day-to-day conversations by the majority of its inhabitants in the
Swabian dialect
Swabian (german: Schwäbisch ) is one of the dialect groups of Alemannic German that belong to the High German dialect continuum. It is mainly spoken in Swabia, which is located in central and southeastern Baden-Württemberg (including its capita ...
.
From the 13th century to the
mediatisation Mediatization or mediatisation may refer to:
* German mediatisation, German historical territorial restructuring
* Mediatization (media) Mediatization (or medialization) is a process whereby the mass media influence other sectors of society, includ ...
of 1803, Buchau had the particularity of being the seat of both an
Imperial Abbey
Princely abbeys (german: Fürstabtei, ''Fürststift'') and Imperial abbeys (german: Reichsabtei, ''Reichskloster'', ''Reichsstift'', ''Reichsgotthaus'') were religious establishments within the Holy Roman Empire which enjoyed the status of impe ...
and a
Free Imperial City
In the Holy Roman Empire, the collective term free and imperial cities (german: Freie und Reichsstädte), briefly worded free imperial city (', la, urbs imperialis libera), was used from the fifteenth century to denote a self-ruling city that ...
, independent of each other. In terms of area, it was one of the smallest such self-ruling cities and its island situation eliminated the necessity to erect city walls and towers. Buchau, however, lost its insular benefits after the water level of Lake Federsee had been lowered on two occasions.
History
*AD 770 –
Buchau Abbey
Buchau Abbey, otherwise the Imperial Abbey of Buchau (german: Reichsstift Buchau), was initially a community of canonesses regular, and later a collegiate foundation of secular canonesses, in Buchau (now Bad Buchau) in Baden-Württemberg, Germa ...
was founded in by the Frankish Count Warin and his wife Adelindis, from whom the present ''"Adelindisfest"'' takes its name. The church still serves as the parish church.
*819 and 857 – Grants for the Abbey are received from the Frankish Kings
Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious (german: Ludwig der Fromme; french: Louis le Pieux; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aqui ...
and
Louis the German
Louis the German (c. 806/810 – 28 August 876), also known as Louis II of Germany and Louis II of East Francia, was the first king of East Francia, and ruled from 843 to 876 AD. Grandson of emperor Charlemagne and the third son of Louis the P ...
respectively.
*902 – The three sons of countess Adelindis, Gerhard, Beringer and Reginolf, are killed when attempting to abduct their sister, the Abbess Adelindis, from Buchau's Abbey in order to get her married. Countess Adelindis joins the Abbey in order to atone for her sons' deed and is to this day admired as a great Benefactrix and Saint of the people. She rests together with her slain sons in the crypt of the collegiate church.
*1014 or 1022 – A mint and market is mentioned by the Abbey. Buchau appears for the first time as a ''"Freie Reichsstadt"'' (
Free imperial city
In the Holy Roman Empire, the collective term free and imperial cities (german: Freie und Reichsstädte), briefly worded free imperial city (', la, urbs imperialis libera), was used from the fifteenth century to denote a self-ruling city that ...
).
*1417 – The Abbey is declared a secular convent and accepts daughters of the Swabian nobility.
![Buchau, on the Federsee](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Buchau%2C_on_the_Federsee.jpg)
*1577 – The Free Imperial City hosts a Jewish Community, which quickly gains prominence under the protection of the city.
*1650 – A Jewish cemetery is constructed.
*1730 and 1837 – Erection of a synagogue for the growing Jewish community.
*1774–1776 – The style of the collegiate church is transformed from Gothic to French classicism.
*1787 and 1808 – Lake
Federsee
Federsee is a lake located just north of Bad Buchau in the region of Upper Swabia in Southern Germany. It is surrounded by moorland, partially overgrown with reeds. With a size of 33 km2 (8,155 acres), the area is one of the largest, groundw ...
's level is lowered, yet hopes to gain farm land in this manner are dashed, though roads can now be constructed.
*1802/1803 – Both the Imperial Abbey and the Free Imperial City lose their independence during the course of the German mediatisation. They become the property of the Prince of
Thurn and Taxis
The Princely House of Thurn and Taxis (german: link=no, Fürstenhaus Thurn und Taxis ) is a family of German nobility that is part of the ''Briefadel''. It was a key player in the postal services in Europe during the 16th century, until the end ...
by decree of the Regensburg parliament "Reichstag von Regensburg".
*1806 – Buchau becomes a township of the kingdom of
Württemberg
Württemberg ( ; ) is a historical German territory roughly corresponding to the cultural and linguistic region of Swabia. The main town of the region is Stuttgart.
Together with Baden and Hohenzollern, two other historical territories, Würt ...
.
*1807 – The Jewish community acquires the right to acquire goods.
*1828 – The Jewish community acquires their civil liberties.
*1847 –
Hermann Einstein
father of Albert Einstein, is born.
*1896–1917 – The narrow-gauge railway Schussenried – Buchau –
Riedlingen
Riedlingen () is a town in the district (''Kreis'') of Biberach, Baden-Württemberg, in the south-west of Germany. It is one of the destinations of the Upper Swabian Baroque Route. Riedlingen has approximately 10,000 inhabitants.
Geography
...
is being built as a feeder line to and from the main railroad line.
![Buchau](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Buchau._View_of_former_Imperial_abbey%2C_circa_1900.jpg)
*1911 – The boardwalk is installed, which leads to Lake Federsee by intersecting a wide reed belt. Buchau and the Lake Federsee area are quickly becoming well known through archaeological digs in the moor. Noteworthy is the unearthing of the Waterfortress Buchau "Wasserburg Buchau", a settlement from the late Bronze Age (1100-800 BC). Establishment of the Wildlife Preserve Federsee, which today presents the largest turf moor wildlife preserve in Baden-Wuerttemberg.
*1935 – Saulgau-Earthquake damages 200 buildings and collapses the pediment of St. Peter and Paul church in Kappel
*1938 – During the Kristallnacht Pogrom, the synagogue is set on fire, the mayor ordered the fire department to extinguish the burning synagogue. The next night, however, the arson was repeated. The synagogue's stone blocks were sold and used for road construction.
*1941–45 – The Jewish people of Buchau, who had made up a substantial part of the population, were deported to Nazi extermination camps. Only 4 returned after the Second World War.
*1949 – Opening of the civic spa.
*1963 – Buchau receives the title of "Bad" ("Spa") and is henceforth known as Bad Buchau
*1968 – The new Federseemuseum opened, with extraordinary exhibits relating to the
Stone Age
The Stone Age was a broad prehistoric period during which stone was widely used to make tools with an edge, a point, or a percussion surface. The period lasted for roughly 3.4 million years, and ended between 4,000 BC and 2,000 BC, with t ...
and
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second pri ...
. The area is rich in archaeological artifacts from this era.
![Bad Buchau - Wolken über dem Federsee 03](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Bad_Buchau_-_Wolken_%C3%BCber_dem_Federsee_03.jpg)
*1969 – The narrow-gauge railroad line is ultimately retired.
*1963–1998 – Expansion of Bad Buchau's Spa with a thermal spring and large spa gardens.
Mayors
* 1948–1978: Hans Knittel
* 1979–2003: Harald Müller
* 1 February 2003 – present: Peter Diesch
World heritage site
The prehistoric settlement at Siedlung Forschner is part of the
Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps
Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps are a series of prehistoric pile dwelling (or stilt house) settlements in and around the Alps built from about 5000 to 500 BC on the edges of lakes, rivers or wetlands. In 2011, 111 sites located various ...
a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
.
Other
The most prominent company is Franz Kessler GmbH,
based in Bad Buchau's light industrial area of Kappel.
Notable residents
![Hermann einstein](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Hermann_einstein.jpg)
*
Karoline Kaulla
Karoline (Hebrew: Chaile) Kaulla née Raphael, known foremost as 'Madame Kaulla' or '"Kiefe" Auerbacher' (1739, in Buchau am Federsee – 18 March 1809, in Hechingen), was a German banker. She was one of the most famous Court Jews of her time, an ...
(1739–1809), court Jew, working at the Württemberg court
*
Hermann Einstein
The Einstein family is the family of physicist Albert Einstein (1879–1955). Einstein's great-great-great-great-grandfather, Jakob Weil, was his oldest recorded relative, born in the late 17th century, and the family continues to this day. Al ...
(1847–1902), entrepreneur and father of
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein ( ; ; 14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time. Einstein is best known for developing the theory ...
* Hans Kayser (1891–1964), composer and music theorist
References
External links
Town Website*
German Wiki for Bad Buchau
AmFedersee.de
{{Authority control
Biberach (district)
Württemberg
Buchau
Bochov (german: Buchau) is a town in Karlovy Vary District in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,900 inhabitants.
Administrative parts
Villages of Číhaná, Dlouhá Lomnice, Herstošice, Hlineč, Javorná, Jesínky, Koz ...
Spa towns in Germany
Holocaust locations in Germany