Gengenbach

Gengenbach

Coat of arms
Gengenbach
Location of Gengenbach within Ortenaukreis district
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Coordinates: 48°24′N 8°01′E / 48.400°N 8.017°E / 48.400; 8.017Coordinates: 48°24′N 8°01′E / 48.400°N 8.017°E / 48.400; 8.017
Country Germany
State Baden-Württemberg
Admin. region Freiburg
District Ortenaukreis
Government
 • Mayor Thorsten Erny
Area
 • Total 61.91 km2 (23.90 sq mi)
Elevation 175 m (574 ft)
Population (2017-12-31)[1]
 • Total 10,943
 • Density 180/km2 (460/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 77723
Dialling codes 07803
Vehicle registration OG
Website www.stadt-gengenbach.de

Gengenbach is a town in the district of Ortenau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany and a popular tourist destination on the western edge of the Black Forest with about 11,000 inhabitants. Gengenbach is well known for its traditional Alemanic "fasnacht", ("Fasend"), a kind of historically influenced celebration of carnival, where tradition is followed, from wearing costumes with carved wooden masks to clapping with a "Ratsche" (a traditional-classic wooden "sound-producing" toy). Gengenbach also boasts a picturesque, traditional, medieval town centre ("Altstadt"). The traditional town Gengenbach is the proud owner of the world's biggest advent calendar. The 24 windows of the 18th century town hall represent the 24 "windows" of an Advent calendar. The town also hosts a department of The Graduate School of Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, part of the University of Applied Sciences Offenburg. The nearest cities in the region are Offenburg, Freiburg, Karlsruhe, Baden-Baden and Strasbourg/France. Gengenbach is twinned with the town of Obernai, Alsace, France.

History

Gengenbach was founded in the 13th century and became an Imperial Free City in 1360.

Culture and landmarks

Gengenbach is the start point of Gengenbach–Alpirsbach Black Forest Trail and situated at the Kinzigtäler Jakobusweg (a pilgrim route) as well as the Kandelhöhenweg (a hiking path), passing by many landmarks. Furthermore, the city is located at the German Fachwerkstraße.

Museums

  • Flößerei- und Verkehrsmuseum
  • Museum Haus Löwenberg
  • Narrenmuseum im Niggelturm
  • Kunst- und Paramentenmuseum im Mutterhaus der Franziskanerinnen
  • Wehrgeschichtliches Museum im Kinzigtor

Sons and daughters of the town

Further regular events

  • Every year the city hall of Gengenbach is transformed in the worlds largest „Advent calendar house”
  • On the third September weekend the wine festival takes place – every year
  • The “Martinimarkt” is a funfair which takes place in November – for two days

References

  1. ↑ "Bevölkerung nach Nationalität und Geschlecht am 31. Dezember 2017". Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg (in German). 2018.
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