Wernau is a town in the
district of Esslingen
Esslingen is a Districts of Germany, ''Landkreis'' (district) in the centre of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise) Rems-Murr, Göppingen (district), Göppingen, Reutlingen (district), Reutlingen, Böblinge ...
in
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 ...
southwestern
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 on the
Neckar
The Neckar () is a river in Germany, mainly flowing through the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg, with a short section through Hesse. The Neckar is a major right tributary of the Rhine. Rising in the Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis near Schwenn ...
river, 25 km southeast of
Stuttgart
Stuttgart (; Swabian: ; ) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the Neckar river in a fertile valley known as the ''Stuttgarter Kessel'' (Stuttgart Cauldron) and lies an hour from the ...
.
Geography
Location
Wernau is located on the southeast bank of the
Neckar
The Neckar () is a river in Germany, mainly flowing through the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg, with a short section through Hesse. The Neckar is a major right tributary of the Rhine. Rising in the Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis near Schwenn ...
river, south of
Plochingen
Plochingen (Swabian: ''Blocheng'' or ''Blochenga'') is a town in the district of Esslingen in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It lies on the river Neckar, on which it has a river port. With about 14,000 inhabitants, it is part of the Stuttg ...
and about 25 km east of
Stuttgart
Stuttgart (; Swabian: ; ) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the Neckar river in a fertile valley known as the ''Stuttgarter Kessel'' (Stuttgart Cauldron) and lies an hour from the ...
. The Bodenbach river flows through the city. In 1981 the Wernau Baggerseen (quarry ponds) were declared a wildlife preserve. Today it spans across 45
hectare
The hectare (; SI symbol: ha) is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to a square with 100-metre sides (1 hm2), or 10,000 m2, and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. An acre is a ...
s. Another 5.5 hectares of wildlife preserve are located in an area of the city called the Wernau Lehmgrube (clay pits).
The small community of "Freitagshof," which lies to the South, also belongs to Wernau.
Neighboring Communities
Neighboring Wernau are the communities of
Deizisau
Deizisau is a town in the district of Esslingen in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It belongs to the Stuttgart Region
(until 1992 ''Region Mittlerer Neckar'') and the Stuttgart Metropolitan Region. Deizisau is located between the towns ...
to the Northwest,
Plochingen
Plochingen (Swabian: ''Blocheng'' or ''Blochenga'') is a town in the district of Esslingen in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It lies on the river Neckar, on which it has a river port. With about 14,000 inhabitants, it is part of the Stuttg ...
to the North,
Hochdorf to the East and
Notzingen
Notzingen is a municipality in the district of Esslingen in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany.
Geography
Notzingen is east of the district of Esslingen, in a valley between Kirchheim unter Teck and Hochdorf. The town is southeast from ...
to the Southeast; the cities of
Kirchheim unter Teck
Kirchheim unter Teck ( Swabian: ''Kircha'') is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, in the district of Esslingen. It is located on the small river Lauter, a tributary of the Neckar. It is 10 km (6 miles) near the Teck castle, approximately ...
to the South and
Wendlingen
Wendlingen is a town in the district of Esslingen in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It is situated on the Neckar and Lauter rivers, 27 km southeast of Stuttgart.
The town grew in size, officially, on 1 April 1940, when three separ ...
to the Southwest and the community of
Köngen
Köngen is a municipality in the district of Esslingen in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. About nine kilometers from the district city Esslingen am Neckar and about six kilometers away from Nürtingen. It is part of the Stuttgart Region and the ...
to the West. All of them are located within and belong to the district of
Esslingen am Neckar
Esslingen am Neckar ( Swabian: ''Esslenga am Neckor'') is a town in the Stuttgart Region of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany, seat of the District of Esslingen as well as the largest town in the district. Within Baden-Württemberg it is t ...
.
Land Use Distribution
ImageSize = width:600 height:150
PlotArea = width:90% height:66% bottom:25% left:5%
DateFormat = x.y
Period = from:0 till:100
Legend = columns:2 columnwidth:250 left:12% top:95%
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:0
# The formatting blanks in the Colors-section are in fact figure spaces (U+2007)
Colors =
id:Gesa value:white legend: 1090_ha Gesamtfläche
id:Wald value:teal legend: 245_ha = 22,5_% Waldfläche
id:Land value:yelloworange legend: 446_ha = 40,9_% Landwirtschaftsfläche
id:Wass value:brightblue legend: 33_ha = 3,0_% Wasserfläche
id:Erho value:green legend: 36_ha = 3,3_% Erholungsfläche
id:Geba value:red legend: 174_ha = 16,0_% Gebäude-_und_Freifläche
id:Verk value:tan1 legend: 111_ha = 10,2_% Verkehrsfläche
id:Sons value:purple legend: 42_ha = 3,9_% Sonstige_Flächen
PlotData =
from:00.0 till:22.5 color:Wald
from:22.5 till:63.4 color:Land
from:63.4 till:66.4 color:Wass
from:66.4 till:69.7 color:Erho
from:69.7 till:85.7 color:Geba
from:85.7 till:95.9 color:Verk
from:95.9 till:99.8 color:Sons
Dark green: Forest 22.5%,
Yellow: Agriculture 40.9%,
Blue: Water surface 3.0%,
Lighter green: Recreational areas 3.3%,
Red: Buildings and open areas 16.0%,
Beige: Transportation surfaces 10.2%,
Purple: Other
According to data from the
Statistischen Landesamtes, as of 2014.
History
![Steinbach,_Wernau_(Neckar),_Andreas_Kieser](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Steinbach%2C_Wernau_%28Neckar%29%2C_Andreas_Kieser.png)
Wernau was established in 1938 by the joining of the two communities Pfauhausen and Steinbach. These communities tried to unite in 1384 and again in 1681. While the first attempt lasted a few decades, the 1681 union by Franz Josef von Wernau did not last seven years.
[Eine junge Stadt mit bemerkenswerter Geschichte](_blank)
/ref>
Up until Wernau's establishment
In 1384 and again in 1681 an attempt was made to establish a community out of Pfauhausen and Steinbach, but these attempts failed after a short period of time. Up until 1769 Pfauhausen belonged to the sovereignty of Neuhausen from Anterior Austria. It then belonged to the Prince-Bishopric of Speyer
The Prince-Bishopric of Speyer, formerly known as Spires in English, (German: ''Hochstift Speyer, Fürstbistum Speyer, Bistum Speyer'') was an ecclesiastical principality in what are today the German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Würt ...
up to 1802 and was therefore a catholic community. Steinbach also remained catholic through the Protestant Reformation
The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...
under the sovereignty of the Speth von Sulzburg. This made both communities an enclave of the Catholics in the predominately Protestant land 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 ...
. Pfauhausen and Steinbach were assigned to Oberamt Esslingen in 1808 as part of the implementation of the District Reformation of Württemberg in the Kingdom of Württemberg
The Kingdom of Württemberg (german: Königreich Württemberg ) was a German state that existed from 1805 to 1918, located within the area that is now Baden-Württemberg. The kingdom was a continuation of the Duchy of Württemberg, which exist ...
. During NAZI-Germany both communities were fused together to form Wernau in 1938 and were assigned, as part of the NAZI District Reformation, to Esslingen.
After WWII until Present
After World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
Wernau became a part of the American Zone of Occupation
Germany was already de facto occupied by the Allies from the real fall of Nazi Germany in World War II on 8 May 1945 to the establishment of the East Germany on 7 October 1949. The Allies (United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and Fran ...
in the German state of Württemberg-Baden
Württemberg-Baden was a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It was created in 1945 by the United States occupation forces, after the previous states of Baden and Württemberg had been split up between the US and French occupation zones. I ...
which was later reformed into the current German state of 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 ...
in 1952. After WWII
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
many refugees from Hungary moved to Wernau. And on On April 1, 1968, Wernau received its charter as an official city.
Demographics
Economy an Infrastructure
Wernau is an attractive economic location. Famous companies like Bosch-Thermotechnik; the Japanese company Mori Seiki
(formerly Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.) is a Japanese company, headquartered in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, engaged primarily in the manufacture and sale of machine tools.
Since its establishment in 1948, it has grown into one of the largest machine tool ...
; the manufacturer of electrical component systems, 2E mechatronic; and the producer of folk costumes, Perry have settled here. Handcraft companies and wholesale businesses have also found a home in the city.[Stuttgart Marketing GmbH](_blank)
/ref>
A Convention Center is located in the "Quadrium" with an indoor pool and spa. Wernau also has a public outdoor pool and an ice rink.
A public library was opened in 1971. As of 1996 it is located in a building right across from the train station. It houses 24,000 books and other printed and electronic media and in 2012 loaned out 90,000 items.
Transportation
Wernau is connected by the Plochingen-Tübingen railway (Neckar-Alb-Bahn) to the national rail network. Since December 12, 2009 Wernau is a stop on S1 line of the S-Bahn Stuttgart
The Stuttgart S-Bahn is a suburban railway system (S-Bahn) serving the Stuttgart Region, an urban agglomeration of around 2.7 million people, consisting of the city of Stuttgart and the adjacent districts of Esslingen, Böblingen, Ludwig ...
. The S1 line ends in Kirchheim unter Teck.
Wernau is connected by the B 313 to the Bundesautobahn 8 and to the Bundesstraße 10
The Bundesstraße 10 (abbr. B10) is a German federal highway. It leads from Eppelborn, near the city of Lebach in Saarland, eastward to Neusäß near Augsburg in Bavaria. The Bundesautobahn 8 mostly runs in parallel to the Bundesstraße 10.
Afte ...
, that leads to Stuttgart.
Companies based in Wernau
* DEWETRON Elektronische Messgeräte GmbH
* Eurotubes Thomas Klein Präzisionsdrahtführer und Löttechnik
* Junkers Gasgeräte ( Bosch Gruppe) / BBT Thermotechnik BBT may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''The Big Bang Theory'', an American sitcom
* The Big Bang Theory (Family Guy), "The Big Bang Theory" (''Family Guy''), an episode of ''Family Guy''
* ''Big Biz Tycoon'', a business simulation game by Anim ...
* Krüger Dirndl GmbH, manufacturer of high-end traditional garments for men and women[Krüger Dirndl Manufaktur website]
/ref>
* Prakesch Zerspanungstechnik GmbH, precision machined automotive and other parts,[Prakesch Zerspanungstechnik website]
/ref>
* Steinpilz GmbH Softwareentwicklung[Steinpilz GmbH website]
/ref>
* DMG Mori AG manufacturer of cutting machine tools ( DMG Mori AG)[DMG Mori AG website]
/ref>
Arts and culture
* Maria-Hilf-Kapelle (Maria Help Chapel) from 1667, is the oldest building in Wernau
* The castle from the Baron von Palm (18th century)
* Castle of the lords of Wernau
* Old church tower of St. Erasmus with its Roman elements
* Stadtbücherei am Bahnhofsplatz (public library)
* Theater
Parks and outdoor recreation
* Nature conservation area Wernau Quarry Ponds, bird paradise
* Natural conservation area Wernau Clay Pit
* Forest teaching path
Government
Town Council
The Town Council has 22 seats. The Council Elections on May 26, 2019, reported the following preliminary results. The Town Council consist of elected officials (unpaid posts) and the Mayor as head of the government. The Mayor has voting power in the town council.
Old town hall of Wernau (photo at right)
Mayor
*1945–1964 Friedrich Schönherr
*1964–1984 Hans Wagner
*1984–2007 Roger Kehle
*since 2007 Armin Elbl
On October 11, 2015, Elbl was re-elected with 93.43% of the votes.
Coat of arms
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The vis ...
: "In silver, a black diagonal stripe with three golden balls."
The coat of arms stems from the Herren von Wernau (Lord of Wernau), whose name is also the origin of the city's name. The three balls symbolize the legend of Nicolaus, according to which, the Bishop of Nikolaus from Myra threw three bags of gold through the window of a house where three poor girls lived, so that they could pay for their weddings.
Notable people from Wernau
* Julius Denzel (1852–1915), German chemist
International relations
Bibliography
*Baumann, Michael: Wernau am Neckar, 1938–1988 aus der Reihe Archivbilder, Sutton Verlag, Erfurt 2010, .
*Ferdinand Schaller: Pfauhausen und Steinbach: Wernau am Neckar in alten Tagen. Sutton Verlag, Erfurt 2009, .
*Der Landkreis Esslingen – hrsg. vom Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg i. V. mit dem Landkreis Esslingen, Jan Thorbecke Verlag, Ostfildern 2009, Band 2, Seite 477, .
*Anton Denzinger, Diether Hauber: Wernau: 700 Jahre Pfauhausen und Steinbach 1276–1976. Gottlieb & Osswald, Kirchheim 1976.
Wernau is twinned with:
* Bonyhád
Bonyhád (german: Bonnhard) is a town in Tolna County in Southwestern Hungary.
Government
It is governed by a city council and a mayor. The current mayor of Bonyhád is Filóné Ferencz Ibolya who has served in this capacity since 2014.
Populati ...
, Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...
External links
*
* Drawings of the town
Pfauhausen
an
Steinbach
which joined together to become Wernau. These are taken from the Forstlagerbuch (forestry stock book) from Andreas Kieser, 1685 (Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart).
Sources
{{Authority control
Esslingen (district)
Populated places on the Neckar basin
Populated riverside places in Germany
Württemberg