Elztal
Elztal | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Elztal  | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | Baden-Württemberg |
| Admin. region | Karlsruhe |
| District | Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis |
| Subdivisions | 5 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Wilhelm Götz (SPD) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 46.63 km2 (18.00 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 198 m (650 ft) |
| Population (2022-12-31)[1] | |
| • Total | 5,870 |
| • Density | 130/km2 (330/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 74834 |
| Dialling codes | 06261 + 06293 + 06267 |
| Vehicle registration | MOS |
| Website | www.elztal.de |
Elztal (translated: Elz Valley; Official Municipality Key: 08 2 25 117) is a municipality in the Neckar-Odenwald district, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Geography
The municipality Elz Valley is located in the southern part of the Ode Forest (Odenwald), close to Mossbrooks (Baden) (Mosbach, Baden) at the B27, B292 and L615. The next district cities are Redeeming Fountain (HN; Heilbronn) in the South and Heather Hill (HD; Heidelberg) in the North. The local river Elz or sometimes called Elzbach is flowing through Knightbrooks, Valley Home and Neckarborough and ends at Mossbrooks-Neckarelz into the Neckar river. The highest point of Elz Valley is located in Valley Home (Dallau) at the Hill of urns (Urnberg). At the moment there's a part of a former N.A.T.O. base (Nike-Stellung D 1/67; later: A 3/71); today a cattle farm (Cattle-Horse-Ranch). The former living complex in the valley near the animal shelter (Tierheim) and quarry (Steinbruch) was demolished in 2007.
Municipality structure
The municipality contains the five districts of Auerbach, Dallau, Muckental, Neckarburken and Ritterbach. The combined population amounted to 6100.
Auerbach district (Au) => Auerbach bei Mosbach (translated: Meadow Brooks near to Mossbrooks), Dännigsiedlung (translated: Dännig settlements)
Dallau district (Dal) => Dallau (translated: Valley Home), Mariental (translated: Ladybirds Valley)
Muckental district (Muc) => Muckental (translated: Fly Valley), Gehöft Rineck (translated: Rineck Grange)
Neckarburken district (Nbu) => Neckarburken (translated: Neckarborough)
Rittersbach district (Ri) => Rittersbach (translated: Knightbrooks), Heidersbacher Mühle (translated: Heathbrooks Mill), Zinken-Hütte (translated: Dovetail Hut)
In all five districts are local governments in the sense of the Baden-Württembergs municipality order (Gemeindeordnung), each with its own town council (Ortschaftsrat) and mayor (Ortsvorsteher) as its chairman.
From 1788 to 1850 there was an older village between Valley Home and Fly Valley with the name Rineck. Today the only certificate and remaining of this time is the Rineck Grange. Since 1850 the Rineck Grange is famous for its strawberry plantation.
official village crests
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Dallau
Valley Home -
Muckental
Fly Valley -
Neckarburken
Neckarborough -
Rittersbach
Knightbrooks
The crest of Valley Home and the municipality of Elz Valley contains on a white or silver background Saint Michael (hl. Michael) with blue wings. In his right hand he raises a golden sword and in his lefts he holds a Libra to illustrate the balance of good and evil. Bottom right, there's an oval escutcheon/shield with the Teutonic Cross on a white background on the right side. On the left side there's the Palatinate-Wittelsbach rhombus flag of the Free State of Bavaria (Freistaat Bayern). Saint Michael was the former patron of the former catholic Monastery on the Urnberg (translated: Hill of urns) in Valley Home.
The Meadow Brooks crest symbolizes the former status of Meadow Brooks as wine region. Fly Valley and Neckarborough's crest are symbolizing only their toponyms. The Knightbrooks crest shows their patron Saint George (hl. Georg) in a battle with a dragon.
History
Colonization
The current area of the Elz Valley was populated by Germanic peoples in its prehistoric time. Today there are 14 burial mounds which witnesses it. The emergence of this burial mounds are dated on the middle of the 1st Millennium BC. At the time of the Romans ran the Limes through the Elz Village. The Limes was strengthened from the Romans with a fort (today known as: Fort of Neckarbourough). The Germanic settlers in Elz Valley were shocked from this changes and relied into the security of the forests and woods of their home area. In addition, the Romans strengthened their fort with nearby inns (Villa rustica) and a separated Vicus (camp village) for its military troops. The Romans in the Elz Valley were eliminated in 260 AD by the Alemannic Germans. In 497 AD, the Franken conquered the territorium and founded the villages Aue amnis (Meadow Brooks), Valley Home, Neckar Castellum (Neckarborough) and Miles Militis Flumen (Knightbrooks). On the occasion of foundations of Frankish noblemans to the monastery Lorsch are the first written references of the four settlements in the Franconian Lorsch Codex (Lorscher Codex). In this Codex, the villages are named:
Valley Home (772 AD) => Dalaheim (Talheim; translated: Valley Home)
Neckarborough (774 AD) => Borocheim (Burgheim; translated: Home Castle)
Knightbrooks (783 AD) => Rodinsburon (Ruodis Bure; translated: Red Hills)
Meadow Brooks (791 AD) => Urbach (translated: Old Brooks)
In the 9th Century AD, the villages has connections to the catholic Cyriak Monastery (Cyriaksstift) in Worms-Neuhausen and the Diocese of Worms which enlarged it influence after a gift of Emperor Otto II. So the Diocese of Worms possessed the Mosbach Abbey with possession in 23 cities and villages.
Medieval
In the Medieval divided the society in different classes. In these time ascents some of the Elz Valley peoples into the 1st society class. One of them was Herr von Heinriet (1336 AD) who owned the Festivals of Valley Home and a lot of land. After any years the Herr von Heinriet impoverished and developed to robber barons. In the extermination campaign 1356 AD of the Mainzer Archbishop Gerlach von Nassau against Albrecht Schenk von Limpurg in Lohrbach was the water castle (Wasserschloß) of Valley Home in order of Karl IV conquered. In this campaign Valley Home was devastated and its settlers and peoples murdered by the order from Karl IV. Gerlach von Nassau got the rights to reestablishment of a new city on the Valley Home territory. But he never realized this right. After the Death of Gerlach in 1371 AD, the Herr von Heinriets owned now the Possessions of the Elz Valley villages again. These were sold to Cunz Münch von Rosenberg in 1380 AD. During this sale was Fly Valley in its first time mentioned. In the 14th and early 15th Century was the Elz Valley owned by Herren von Weinsberg, Herren von Hirschhorn and Albrecht Schenk von Limpurg. The Rineck Farm between Valley Home and Fly Valley got 1726 AD a bad reputation and was now known as an infertile farm territory. In the Lohrbach basement office it got nicknames like Wild Plants (lauther Wildnus), Bad Ode Forest Field (schlecht Odenwäldisch Feld) and Desert Territory (Wüsteney). The farm included an area of 200 Morgen for sheep grazing. The Royal Palatinate hereditary of Man's Home (Königlich-pfälzische Hofamt Mannheims) prompted the reclamation of the barren land of the Rineck Farm. Fifty years later, the territory of the farm was issued to settle. The settlers received some own land and had to submit their natural produces and yields to the Lohrbach basement office. The old farm was now unnamed in Old Rineck (Altrineck). New nicknames were Old Farm (Althof) and Rühlinger Farm/(Rühlingerhof). The settlement of Rineck was 1784 AD unnamed into New Rineck (Neurineck). The Settlers of this new settlement consisted of tinkers, brooms binders, basket makers, itinerant entertainers, musicians and mole catchers. A lot of them were deported from their former municipalities; they were known as Rielingers (Rielinger). The first mayor of the municipality was Franz Holzschuh (29th August 1788).
Leiningen and Baden
Through contributions and accommodation in the time of the French Wars and the losing of the left-side-territories of the Rhine, the Elz Valley villages are hard burdened. So the nobles led a political realignment for southwestern territories within the Holy Roman Empire (Heiliges Römisches Reich Deutscher Nation). In this way the Elz Valley villages were 1803 AD incorporated into the Principality of Leiningen. In 1806 the Principality dissolved and was now a part of Baden.
1803 confirmed the former reputation from the Rineck Farm. Infertile soil and negligent field orders caused a famine. Begging, thefts, poaching and armed raids were now on the agenda and shifted the whole area into fear and turmoil. All surrounding villages complained of the many robberies and thefts at the courts. But nothing was done. Until 1838, the first complaint of the Mossbrooks supreme court reached the Baden District Government. In this, the settlers of the municipality New Rineck were accused of being thieves, crooks, arsonists and vagabonds because they refused to work. From the people there were already claims to urge the settlers of New Rineck to emigrate to the USA. After lengthy negotiations with the surrounding municipalities this demand was realized. The first transport with 168 involuntary emigrants left New Rineck on the 3rd October 1849. The second Group left New Rineck on the 11th May 1850 with 200 emigrants and the third Group left the municipality on the 13th May 1850 with a group of 235 emigrants. On 2nd December 1850, the municipality New Rineck dissolved. Ferdinand Scipio acquired the land in 1856 and created a farm with an area of 500 Morgen. Currently is the Rineck Grange owned by the Baron of Gemmingen-Hornberg.
The road (today's B27) through the Elz Valley were expanded in 1847 AD to improve the local market conditions. Another important prpoject was the Railway Mossbrooks-Neckarelz to Eastern Borough (Osterburken) which is today very frequented by students, travelers and not mobile persons.
But there were no big changes after the realizing the projects. So the villages was remained agriculturally.
World Wars & post-war years
Within the time of the World War I, there was no changes and no happenings within the Elz Valley villages. The 2nd World War caused a lot of suffering and deaths in most of the settled families. A tombstone in the center of Valley Home near to People's Bank (Volksbank) and the water castle testifies the shocking happening of an inevitable war.
The first structural changes occurred during the last three war years and in the immediate postwar period of the transitional government. by the inclusion of refugees from the destroyed cities, the population of the villages rose. In the post-war years settled again a number of displaced from the eastern territories in the Elz Valley villages. New development zones and industrial estates have now been expelled and contributed to structural change.
Federal Republic and RGN
It needed a long time to recover from the impacts of the recent World War. Every village of today's Elz Village is self-governed municipalities within the Mossbrooks district (Landkreis Mosbach) of the North Baden county (Nordbaden).
The first sports facilities were build in the late 1960s:
1967 => Sportzentrum Dallau (sports center)
1968 => Elzbergstadion and Elzberghalle (Elzberg stadium and Elzberg gym)
As part of the district reform on the 1st January 1973; Meadow Brooks, Valley Home, Fly Valley and Neckarborough founded the new municipality Elztal (Elz Valley) with Valley Home as district office.
Another changing happened on the 1st February 2006 as the Busse family (Valley Home) declared their political independence and their land as a separated and self-governed country outsourced from the Federal Republic of Germany, called Republic of Germanic Nation (RGN). Within the municipality this happening is unknown and mostly controversial. Although the self-Republic got two recognition letters from the Federal Republic, the project is ignored from most of the Elz Valley setllers.
Educational facilities
Meadow Brooks, Knightbrooks, Neckarborough and Valley Home have their own primary schools called Grundschule. The secondary school (Hauptschule) of Elztal is in Valley Home behind the official municipality town hall (Rathaus). The secondary school in the Elz Valley (Hauptschule mit Werkrealschule; translated: secondary school with modern secondary handicraft workshop) is coupled with a handicraft workshop to learn the practical part in manual work (compulsory), technology (compulsory; election in the last year because compulsory), art (compulsory), home economics (election in the last year) and cooking (compulsory; election in the last year because compulsory). This is incidentally not a standard on German secondary schools.
Within the municipality are three evangelical and two catholic nursery schools called Kindergarten.
Important firms of Elz Valley
Fly Valley (Muckental)
August Mackmull GmbH (builders)
Knightbrooks (Rittersbach)
OWR (manufacturer of decontamination equipment)
Meadow Brooks near to Mossbrooks (Auerbach bei Mosbach)
Schneider-Reisen (Tour operator Schneider)
Strauss Erika Einzelhandel (Toy store)
Valley Home (Dallau)
Blechnerei Mack (Tinsmiths Mack)
Finkenrath (former firm; famous as a tax fraudster)
Glaserei Kaufmann (Glazier Kaufmann)
Spitzer Silo-Fahrzeugwerke GmbH (Europeans greatest silo vehicles manufacturer)
Sights & special features
The water castle of Elz Valley
The water castle of Valley Home was bought up by the municipality Elz Valley in 1974 AD. It is the only remnant of a former and much larger water castle. The water castle was built in the earlier 12th Century AD from knights of the Teutonic Order. Particularly striking are the circular tower and the palace room with a medieval staircase gable. The both fountains near the water castle are build in the 16th century AD from farmers. On the Christmas time, it is possible to go inside the water castle for the annual flu issue of the municipality.
Religious institutions
In Valley Home is the evangelical and the catholic church side by side. The churches are surrounded by other historical buildings as for example the catholic parish office and the Protestant schoolhouse.
The Protestant church was built in 1750 AD and expanded 1857 AD.
The Catholic Church St. Maria Immaculate was on consecrated on the 9th May 1737. In 1985, the transverse building (Querbau) was complemented and the old choir renewed. Because the historic stained glass window in the old building had no Marie reference, the newly parts was built with a baroque statue of Marie and other Marie symbols. The re-consecration of the church was held on the 10th May 1987.
In Neckarborough are forming the local church (built 1775) with its church tower (built 1811) and the surrounded half-timbered houses a beautiful a historic ensemble. Opposite is the former rectory which was built in 1818. In addition, you will find one of the very rare historical bread-back positions (from 1809) and a historic lime kiln, which was restored in 2006.
In Meadow Brooks are a Protestant church which was renewed 1789, a catholic church and several historic half-timbered buildings. These include the historic Lamb Inn (Gasthaus Lamm), the old railway station (today a S-Bahn station) and the old schoolhouse.
In 1886 the new George Church (Georgskirche) designed by Ludwig Maier replaced the former one. The predecessor was built in the 14th century AD and was made of wood. The newer one is in the New Romanized Style from Ludwig Maier consists mainly of sandstones from the surrounding mountains. In the case of a renovation 1969/1970 AD inside the church were simplified the frescoes simplified. Another renovation held in 2002.
On the Hill of Urns there was a great monastery in medieval times. Certificates for this are easy to find. So there are a lot of remains in the Greater Kappel (Große Kappel) and in the Smaller Kappel (Kleine Kappel). More of the wall remains are inside the Nature Reserve between the Hill of urns street (Urnbergstraße) and the underlying track.
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St. Maria Immaculata in Valley Home -
Protestant church of Neckarborough -
Protestant church of Meadow Brooks -
Catholic church of Meadow Brooks -
Old railway station of Meadow Brooks -
Historical bread-back positions of Neckarborough -
Foundation of a Romanbath house
The Limes
Another historical place is the Fort in Neckarborough and the Elantia Museum (Museum Elantia / Museum am Odenwaldlimes).
Walking, hiking
The municipality Elz Valley offers a lot of interesting routes for walking and to rest. One favorite route is the small circuit in Valley Home. It is especially nice in spring and summer. Parking is available at Crow Forest Parking (Krähenwaldparkplatz) near to the Fairy TaleForest (Märchenwald).
On the circuit there are a lot of branchings and inconspicuous forest paths. The first peculiarity on the circuit is a hidden Tulip tree on the right side of the way. A few hundred meters along is a three-compartment crossing on the left side. The first way is only a path and leads to the oldest tree of the municipality. The second leads to an old and small chapel which is on a brook and a little bridge over it. On the other side you have the choice to go inside the Ladybirds Valley (Mariental) on the left or the rest of the circuit on the right. From the main road you'll reach a Y-crossing. So you have the choice to go to the right or to the left, but as it is circular you can go either way.
One can then walk through Ladybirds Valley. There are a lot of rare grasses, plants and bird species. In this valley you can see the power of a volcano. You'll find a lot of big hurled magma lumps coming from the Cat's Hunched Back (Katzenbuckel).
Other popular routes for walking are the hiking:
- Valley Home (Dallau) - Meadow Brooks (Auerbach)
- Forest street parallel to B292 and then arount the Cattle-Horse-Ranch (former Nike-Stellung / Missile defense base) along the streets
- Valley route passing the shelter and the Cattle-Horse-Ranch (former Nike-Stellung / Missile defense base)
- Valley Home to Lower Schfflenz
- Valley route passing the shelter and the Cattle-Horse-Ranch (former Nike-Stellung / Missile defense base) and then passing the barbecue place
For biking there is the old Roman road between the Elz Valley and the Schefflenz Valley recommended. You can start in Mossbrooks and ends in Walldürn. Those preferring valley routes can use the signposted standard route from Mossbrooks through the Elz Valley up to Walldürn or Eastern Borough (Osterburken).
Municipal Elections
2004
| CDU | 41,8 % | + 3,0 | 9 Sitze | ± 0 |
| FWV | 32,9 % | – 1,1 | 7 Sitze | ± 0 |
| SPD | 17,2 % | - 5,0 | 3 Sitze | - 2 |
| GAL | 8,0 % | + 3,0 | 1 Sitz | ± 0 |
2009
| CDU | 43,1 % | + 1,3 | 9 Sitze | ± 0 |
| FWG | 30,3 % | – 2,6 | 6 Sitze | – 1 |
| SPD | 17,9 % | + 0,7 | 3 Sitze | ± 0 |
| GAL | 8,7 % | + 0,7 | 1 Sitz | ± 0 |
Mayor List
coming soon
Twin towns
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References & Sources
- Elz Village/Village Home Official Web site
- Knightsborough Web Site
- Gemeindeverwaltung Elztal (Local administration of Elz Valley)
- Animal shelter of Valley Home
- Cattle-Horse-Ranch website
- Bruno König: 1200 Jahre Elztal (1975)
- Karl Wilhelm Beichert: Muckental und Rineck (1995)
- Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg: Population status
- Das Land Baden-Württemberg: Amtliche Beschreibung nach Kreisen und Gemeinden. Band V: Regierungsbezirk Karlsruhe Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 1976, ISBN 3-17-002542-2. S. 295–298
- Stadtarchiv Heilbronn
Towns and municipalities in Neckar-Odenwald (district) | ||
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- ^ "Bevölkerung nach Nationalität und Geschlecht am 31. Dezember 2022" [Population by nationality and sex as of December 31, 2022] (CSV) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg. June 2023.