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Engen is a town in the district of Konstanz, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 12 km northwest of
Singen Singen (Low Alemannic German, Low Alemannic: ''Singe'') is an industrial city in the very south of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany and just north of the German-Swiss border. Location Singen is an industrial city situated in the very south ...
, and 15 km south of Tuttlingen.


City structure


History

Engen has been proved by documentary evidence in the 11th century for the first time, where it belonged to the
Baron of Höwen Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knigh ...
(also Hewen). In the city area of Engen, there has been a medieval castle, the
Burg Neuhausen The German word Burg means castle. Burg or Bürg may refer to: Places Placename element * ''-burg'', a combining form in Dutch, German and English placenames * Burg, a variant of burh, the fortified towns of Saxon England Settlements * Burg, Aar ...
, remaining unlocated however. In the 13th century, Engen received the city charter. From 1639, the city belonged to the
Count of Fürstenberg Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
, and thus to the Principality of Fürstenberg. In 1640, the area was devastated by Swedes and French in the context of the Thirty Years' War. During the War of the Second Coalition, on May 3, 1800, a battle between the Austrians, led by Paul Kray, and the French, commanded by
Jean Victor Marie Moreau Jean Victor Marie Moreau (, 14 February 1763 – 2 September 1813) was a French general who helped Napoleon Bonaparte to power, but later became a rival and was banished to the United States. Biography Rise to fame Moreau was born at Morla ...
, took place, resulting in a retreat of the Austrian troops. In 1806, Engen went to
Grand Duchy of Baden The Grand Duchy of Baden (german: Großherzogtum Baden) was a state in the southwest German Empire on the east bank of the Rhine. It existed between 1806 and 1918. It came into existence in the 12th century as the Margraviate of Baden and subs ...
. The city became a district authority in 1846, which however, has been centralized to the district authority of Konstanz in 1936.


Incorporations

As a consequence of the statewide
local government restructuring Local may refer to: Geography and transportation * Local (train), a train serving local traffic demand * Local, Missouri, a community in the United States * Local government, a form of public administration, usually the lowest tier of administrat ...
reforms in Baden-Württemberg during the early 1970s, the following hitherto independent municipalities have been incorporated into Engen: * 1971, July 1: Bargen * 1971, December, 1st: Biesendorf and Bittelbrunn * 1975, January 1: Anselfingen, Neuhausen, Stetten, Welschingen, Zimmerholz


Demographics

In January 2014, the official census reported a total population of 10,324 in the municipal area. Subsequently, Mayor Johannes Moser declared a long-term increase of inhabitants while other smaller municipalities in the direct vicinity had to suffer a demographic decline.


Religion

Engen is the seat of the deanship Hegau of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Freiburg. A vast majority of the inhabitants are of Roman Catholic confession, which is reflected in many Roman Catholic churches in every city district. However,
Protestants Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century against what its followers perceived to b ...
can attend masses in their own church in the city centre. Like everywhere in Europe, nowadays,
Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
immigrants from Balkan, Arabian and African countries add a further more or less larger confession group to the municipality.


Government

As a consequence of the local elections from May, 25th 2014 with a turnout of 49,1% (2009: 46,8%), the municipal council (18 seats in total) is made up as follows: Regarding electoral voting behaviour, Engen and particularly its city districts can be described as rather Christian democratic/conservative which is reflected in a share of 45–55% where the CDU gains votes above the nationwide average, proving to be similar to election results in Baden-Württemberg though. Following the state elections in 2016, the Greens significantly increased their support analogous to the state-wide trends and results.


Finances

The city of Engen proves to have a responsible governmental management in financial matters which is reflected in the fact of being free of debt since 1995. Moreover, the local budget shows to have a reserve above the average representing one of the few German municipalities being in a comfortable financial position.


Coat of arms

Blazon: "A silvery five pointed star"


Town twinning

* Pannonhalma, ( Hungary), since 1998 * Trilport, (Département Seine-et-Marne in France), since 2000 *
Moneglia Moneglia (; ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about southeast of Genoa. It is a tourist resort on the Riviera di Levante. In 2012 it was added to the list of I Borghi più b ...
, (close to Genoa, Liguria in Italy), since 2009


Culture and constructions

Engen is situated on the holiday road Römerstraße Neckar-Alb-Aare and the Freiburg-Lake Constance Black Forest Trail, a long-distance footpath. In the city area, there is the Old city park with the war memorial as well as the new city park with a little lake.


Museums

* The ''Municipal Museum Engen + gallery'' possesses an archaeological collection, sacral and modern art as well as historic-cultural exhibitions. * The ''Ice Age park Engen'', finished in spring 2003, is a reconstruction of a Stone Age camp, next to the Petersfels in the „Brudertal“. In order to visit the three hectare large area, a walk can be done by a 1,5 hour walk.


Places of interest

Engen possesses a renovated Old town. In that respect, worth seeing is the Catholic town church ''Mariä Himmelfahrt'' dating back to the 13th century (originally late
Romanesque art Romanesque art is the art of Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic Art, Gothic style in the 12th century, or later depending on region. The preceding period is known as the Pre-Romanesque period. The term was invented by 1 ...
, then modifications took place in Gothic art, which ended in
Baroque The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...
). Close to the church, several graves memorials can be found, amongst them, the
Count of Lupfen Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
and family members of the aristocratic Pappenheimer. Beside of the palace ''Krenkinger Schloss'' in the city centre, the ''Municipal Museum Engen with gallery'' can be visited in walking distance from there. The museum used to be a Dominican nunnery from 1333 to 1803 being called ''Nunnery St. Wolfgang''. Today, there are several exhibitions of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic times from the ''Brudertal'' (trans.: brother valley), like for instance, the ''Venus of Engen''. Regularly art exhibitions take place, which cause supraregional interest quite often. In the area of the market square, extensive façades in the Trompe-l'œil style are conspicuous. Dispersed over the entire Old town, fountains made by artists of different styles can be found whilst being designed with various artist statements. Along a marked and signposted walking path, visitors can go from fountain to fountain while looking at the attractive Old town. Originally, the palace ''Krenkinger Schloss'' probably was a building dating back to Staufer times and has been constructed around the 13th century. After the large brand in 1640 and renovations in 1892/93 in order to obtain space for the office of the district authority of Baden, the construction has been altered strongly.


Regular events

The ''Narrenzunft Engen'' runs the traditional local and native Swabian–Alemannic Fastnacht. The local carnival figure ''Hansele'' can be traced back historically, which oldest preserved costume dates back to the year 1850. Moreover, the traditional Old Town festival (''Altstadtfest'') regularly takes place in July. This local highlight usually attracts thousands of guests and visitors. In the centre of the event, one can find a jumble sale, a cabaret, music and dance into the night. In particular in the evening, every taste of music can be satisfied when listing to concerts of regional bands on an open-air theatre behind the town hall.


Economy and Infrastructure


Economy

From 1970, a variety of medium-sized companies established in Engen. For this purpose, the city provided a larger industrial area, the so-called ''Industriegebiet Grub''. Newer positive economic developments show the necessity of an extension of the former area and its realization while and a new industrial region has been created in the smaller city district Welschingen as well. Today, there are about 600 business enterprises and ca. 2500 employees liable to pay compulsory insurance in Engen.


Traffic and transport

The station of Engen is well connected by both, the
Gäu Railway (Stuttgart–Hattingen) In the south German language (of the Alemannic-speaking area, or in Switzerland), a ''gäu'' landscape (''gäulandschaft'') refers to an area of open, level countryside. These regions typically have fertile soils resulting from depositions of loess ...
and the Black Forest Railway (Baden) ( Offenburg- Konstanz). Furthermore, the suburban train Seehas connects the town with other lake-adjacent cities like
Singen Singen (Low Alemannic German, Low Alemannic: ''Singe'') is an industrial city in the very south of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany and just north of the German-Swiss border. Location Singen is an industrial city situated in the very south ...
,
Radolfzell Radolfzell am Bodensee is a town in Germany at the western end of Lake Constance approximately 18 km northwest of Konstanz. It is the third largest town, after Constance and Singen, in the district of Konstanz, in Baden-Württemberg. Rado ...
and Konstanz at half-hourly intervals. Other connections, in particular to the state capital
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 ...
, and/or to Karlsruhe with the Black Forest Railway (Baden), are available by the Regional-Express at two-hour intervals. Engen is part of the
Transport Association Hegau-Bodensee Transport (in British English), or transportation (in American English), is the intentional Motion, movement of humans, animals, and cargo, goods from one location to another. Mode of transport, Modes of transport include aviation, air, land ...
. The motorway Bundesautobahn 81 ( Würzburg
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 ...
Singen Singen (Low Alemannic German, Low Alemannic: ''Singe'') is an industrial city in the very south of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany and just north of the German-Swiss border. Location Singen is an industrial city situated in the very south ...
) and the federal highway
Bundesstraße 31 The Bundesstraße 31 (B 31) is a federal highway or ''Bundesstraße'' running from east to west in South Germany. It runs from Breisach on the border with France to the Sigmarszell junction on the Bundesautobahn 96 (A 96) near Lindau. B ...
( BreisachLindau) as well as the
Bundesstraße 491 ''Bundesstraße'' (German language, German for "federal highway"), abbreviated ''B'', is the denotation for Germany, German and Austrian national highways. Germany Germany's ''Bundesstraßen'' network has a total length of about 40,000 km. ...
(in the direction of Tuttlingen) connect Engen with the interstate road network.


Education

In 2006/07, the newly founded Gymnasium Engen started with three class sizes of fifth grade. Furthermore, the training centre of the town centre contains the Anne Frank- Realschule, a
Werkrealschule Werkrealschule is a relatively young branch of German secondary education (e.g. in Baden-Württemberg), which offers pupils additional lessons in grades 8 and 9 and allows them to qualify after ten years with a final exam which is equal to graduatio ...
and a Förderschule ("Hewenschule"). Additionally, there are two primary schools in Engen and Welschingen. The municipality has also seven kindergarten at its disposal. Moreover, a youth seminar can be found in the town district Anselfingen.


Notable inhabitants and residents


Honorary citizen

* 1862, September 7, (in Oensbach), Josef Weber, died January, 13th, 1937, town priest and dean, 1920 honorary citizen of Engen * 1882, March 13, (in Pforzheim), Viktor Kolb, died 1963, tailor, co-founder of the medical convoy ( German Red Cross) in Engen, 1953 honorary citizen * 1883 (in Welschingen), prelate Prof. Dr. theol. Alfred Wikenhauser, died 1960 honorary citizen of Welschingen * 1884 (in Stockach), Emil Dreher, died 1974, town priest and dean, 1948 honorary citizen of Engen * 1890, January 5, (in Oberndorf), Mathilde Nied (Sister Lukana), devoted occupation in the hospital Engen, 1962 honorary citizen of Engen * 1911, May 5, (in Freiburg), Dr. Hans Ludwig Steffen, died June 1, 1994 (in Engen), head doctor of the hospital Engen, 1976 honorary citizen of Engen * 1912, October 12, Hermann Graf, died November 4, 1988, in Rastatt, fighter pilot and recipient of the Knight's Cross, 1942 honorary citizen of Engen


Sons and daughters of the city

* 1548, Conrad Vetter, died October, 11th, 1622, jesuite pater, author during the
Counter-Reformation The Counter-Reformation (), also called the Catholic Reformation () or the Catholic Revival, was the period of Catholic resurgence that was initiated in response to the Protestant Reformation. It began with the Council of Trent (1545–1563) a ...
* 1636, November 17,
Romanus Vogler Romanus (Latin for "Roman"), hellenized as Romanos (Ῥωμανός) was a Roman cognomen and may refer to: People * Adrianus Romanus, Flemish mathematician (1561–1615) *Aquila Romanus, Latin grammarian *Giles of Rome, Aegidius Romanus, medieva ...
, abbot of
St. Blaise Abbey, Black Forest Saint Blaise Abbey (german: Kloster Sankt Blasien) was a Benedictine monastery in the village of St. Blasien in the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. History 9th–12th centuries The early history of the abbey is obscure. Its prede ...
* 1822, March 13,
Carl Eckhard Carl may refer to: *Carl, Georgia, city in USA *Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name *Carl², a TV series * "Carl", an episode of tel ...
, died August 30, 1910, jurist, entrepreneur and politician, Reichstag deputy * 1879, February 8,
Wilhelm Engelbert Oeftering Wilhelm may refer to: People and fictional characters * William Charles John Pitcher, costume designer known professionally as "Wilhelm" * Wilhelm (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or surname Other uses * Mount ...
, (also Engelbert Hegaur); died 3. März 1940, librarian, historian and literary specialist * 1880, August 13, (in Bargen), Frieda Hodapp, died September 14, 1949, in Bad Wiessee, pianist * 1898, February 24,
Hubert Schiel Hubert is a Germanic masculine given name, from ''hug'' "mind" and ''beraht'' "bright". It also occurs as a surname. Saint Hubertus or Hubert (c. 656 – 30 May 727) is the patron saint of hunters, mathematicians, opticians, and metalworkers. ...
, died 1983, theologian, author and librarian * 1900, August 4, (in Welschingen),
Ermin Hohlwegler Irmin may refer to: * Irmin Schmidt (born 1937), German composer and founding member of the band Can * A Germanic deity in some currents of Germanic neopaganism, especially in Irminism * The son of Mannus, a figure in the creation myths of the Ger ...
, died July 31, 1970, in Neuhausen, trade unionist and politician ( SPD), Employment Secretary of Baden-Württemberg,
MdL MDL may refer to: Computing * Fayyad & Irani's MDL method, a discretization method * MDL (programming language), derived from LISP * The extension for Valve's Source, Source 2 and ID Software's IDTech game engines proprietary model file format * ...
(Baden-Württemberg) * 1912, October 24, Hermann Graf, died November 4, 1988, colonel, later sales director * 1940, June 3, Klaus Saur, New Apostolic clergyman * 1945, December 11, Wilhelm Vossenkuhl, German
philosopher A philosopher is a person who practices or investigates philosophy. The term ''philosopher'' comes from the grc, φιλόσοφος, , translit=philosophos, meaning 'lover of wisdom'. The coining of the term has been attributed to the Greek th ...
* 1978, June 12,
Pascal Niggenkemper Pascal, Pascal's or PASCAL may refer to: People and fictional characters * Pascal (given name), including a list of people with the name * Pascal (surname), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name ** Blaise Pascal, Frenc ...
, jazz musician * 1990, May 29,
Oliver Sorg Oliver Sorg (born 29 May 1990) is a German professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Defender (association football)#Full-back, right back. He is currently without a club. A veteran of three relegations from and one promotion t ...
, football player * 1991, December 24, Timo Benitz, athlete Klaus Wunderlich - German organist 1980s to 1997


Gallery

Engen2.jpg, Old Town Engen3.jpg, Town with the mountain
Hohenhewen The Hohenhewen, also called the Hohenhöwen or, colloquially, Höwen, is the local mountain of the town of Engen, Germany, Engen in the Hegau region of southern Germany. Summit area The summit of the Hohenhewen lies at , rising above the surroun ...
in the background


References


External links

* {{Cities and towns in Konstanz (district) Towns in Baden-Württemberg Konstanz (district) Hegau Baden