Weingarten History, Germany
The place was already settled in the late 5th century by the "Alamannen". Even before the this tribe was around the later city ground. From the late time of the Merowingians date sthe grave field, which is totally preserved and can be seen in the local museum. The archaeologist say, that an more important place must have been located here.
In the 8th century the city, perhaps already called "Altdorf" was put to the frankish empire. In the middle of the 9th century the "Schussental" came as the county "Schussengau" in the property of the Welfs, who built an new castle at "Altdorf", as their family´s headquarter.
At about 935, the Welfs founded a womens monastery, that should also be the graveplace of the Welfs. It was destructed with fire in 1053 and the nuns were relocated at the "Martinsberg", a local hill.
1056, Welf IV. founded a new moastery on the "Martinsberg", after the Welfs had moved their castle to Ravensburg. It was a pure monks monastery, whose name "Monastery Weingarten" is documentedsince 1123. The monks worked among other things on. Their most famous work from 1217, the "Bethold Sakramentar"is now located in the Pierpont Morgan library at New York)
In the 13th century "Weingarten" developed to a market place and in 1377, it was also granted the market right by the emperor1274, the monastery was granted to be realms abbey. They were rich and collected land that was at it´s best at about 306 km² and ranged from the "Allgäu" till the lake of constance. Weingarten was one of the biggest monastery in the south. In 1715 the little romanic church from 1124- 1182 was tared down. At this place on of the biggest baroque Basilikas was built. In 1803, after Secularization, the monastery was dissolved, their property was put to the house of Oranien-Nassau.
The city ALtdorf itself was already from 1452 part of the so called Vorderösterreich (Austria). In 1805 it was put to the Kingdom Württemberg. In 1806 Napoleon gave the monastery also to Württemberg.
1810 Altdorf and Weingarten were put to the administrative district of Ravensburg.
In the 19th century Weingarten developed to a military place whose last barracks have been closed in the late 20th century. Also a big machine industry developed, still existing nowadays as the "Maschinenfabrik Weingarten".
1865 Altdorf was renamed with the monastery name Weingarten and finally became a city. In 1922 a new "Benediktiner" monastery was founded in a part of the old monastery.
During wolrd war second Weingarten was put to the municipality Ravensburg, but they were separated again in 1946.
In that days the city got an university, for teachers training, thats a important place now.
In the 1970´s a during a municipality reform, Weingarten should have been put to Ravensburg again, but massive protest avoided that. In 1974 Weingarten also became a so called big district city.Things about Weingarten you may be interested in
Read our members' reviews about Weingarten
- What to visit in Weingarten
review by asterix posted more then 30 days ago
Weingarten it is a small town linked to Ravensburg, it is so near that you can't even see when you are in Ravenburg or Weingarten. Here is situated the famous basilica of St. Martin and Oswald, one of the greatest barroc basilica of the world. You can take pictures only if no praise so we had... - Quick facts about Weingarten
review by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
Weingarten is a small town in the South of Germany. It's rather quiet there as it is located next to another small town called Ravensburg and most people hang out there. Social life is also not quite interesting there, but then there are plenty of places around town to spend a nice evening. The... - The baroque palace of Weintgarten is great
review by Wazling posted more then 30 days ago
Weingarten is a nice city, middle size and well positioned in the south of germany. It's a quiet town with a nice inner city, some of it's medieval buildings still preserved. There you can also find one of the biggest baroque churches of germany, the'Basilika of Weingarten'. If you are interested...
Read our members' travel tips about Weingarten
- Fasnetsmuseum
travel tip by Wazling posted more then 30 days ago
In a former property of the monastery of Weingarten, there is the new Fasnetsmuseum. It was founded on 2003 and shows you the rich culture and developement of the Altdorfer (old name of Weingarten) Fasnet. Over 50 lifesize figures and... - The Alamannen museum
travel tip by Wazling posted more then 30 days ago
This small museum is worth a look, if you are in the city center of Weingarten. It contains the history of the Alamannen, a tribe living in that area over 1700 years before. Also findings are exhibited there, even some burrial places... - The Basilika
travel tip by Wazling posted more then 30 days ago
If you are at Weingarten you really should visit it´s baroque church, one of the biggest in germany.