Walldorf

Walldorf
Astorhaus

Coat of arms
Walldorf
Location of Walldorf within Rhein-Neckar-Kreis district
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Coordinates: 49°18′0″N 08°39′0″E / 49.30000°N 8.65000°E / 49.30000; 8.65000Coordinates: 49°18′0″N 08°39′0″E / 49.30000°N 8.65000°E / 49.30000; 8.65000
Country Germany
State Baden-Württemberg
Admin. region Karlsruhe
District Rhein-Neckar-Kreis
Government
 • Mayor Christiane Staab (CDU)
Area
 • Total 19.91 km2 (7.69 sq mi)
Elevation 110 m (360 ft)
Population (2017-12-31)[1]
 • Total 15,565
 • Density 780/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 69190
Dialling codes 06227
Vehicle registration HD
Website www.walldorf.de

Walldorf is a town in the Rhein-Neckar-Kreis district in the state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany.

Walldorf is home to the world's seventh largest software company SAP,[2] and the birthplace of the entrepreneur John Jacob Astor, of the Astor family.

The town is referred to, though not actually named, in John le Carré's novel Absolute Friends (2003), much of which is set in Heidelberg.

Geography

The neighbouring town to the east is Wiesloch. Both towns are strongly linked economically. Adjacent municipalities are Sandhausen, Leimen, Nußloch, St. Leon-Rot and Reilingen. The train station, named Wiesloch-Walldorf, is located between the two towns.

History

A group of pre-historic Hallstatt culture barrows stands in the Hochholz woods, near the offices of SAP Deutschland.[3] The earliest documentary mention of the settlement occurs as Waltorf in a 770 deed issued by the Abbey of Lorsch. The Electorate of the Palatinate received Walldorf as an Imperial fief in 1230. The town suffered much during the Thirty Years' War of 1618-1648, and in 1689 was completely destroyed in the course of the French invasion during Nine Years' War. The area was settled anew by religious refugees, among them the predecessors of John Jacob Astor, Waldensians from Piedmont. With the 1803 German Mediatisation Walldorf fell to Baden. 1843 saw the building of the Rheintalbahn: this railway decisively promoted economic development. In 1901 Grand Duke Frederick I of Baden granted Walldorf town privileges. After World War II, the establishment of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen (founded 1850) and of SAP (founded 1972; moved to Walldorf in 1977) made Walldorf one of the most prosperous towns of Germany.

Politics

Town hall

Seats in the municipal assembly (Gemeinderat) as of 2009 elections:[4]

  • Christian Democratic Union: 7 (33,0%)
  • Free Democratic Party: 6 (25,1%)
  • Social Democratic Party of Germany: 5 (23,4%)
  • Alliance '90/The Greens: 4 (18,5%)

Economy

SAP SE head office

SAP SE has its headquarters in the city.[5]

Waldorf is famous for its “Rheine Kulture” meaning that visitors to either Heilderberger or SAP are usually billeted with local families so as to better absorb German culture.

Twin cities

Sights

The Astorhaus was built in 1854, from a pecuniary legacy of the deceased John Jacob Astor to his hometown. For decades, it served as an almshouse, and now hosts the register office and a museum.

The 19th century synagogue was devastated in the 1938 Kristallnacht, and is now in use as a New Apostolic church.[6]

Walldorf is most famous for its white asparagus, which one may enjoy in the months of April through June.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "Bevölkerung nach Nationalität und Geschlecht am 31. Dezember 2017". Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg (in German). 2018.
  2. ↑ "Forbes 2000 The World's Biggest Public Companies: Software and Programming". Wikipedia. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  3. ↑ http://www.walldorf.de/2010/?seite=123
  4. ↑ http://www.walldorf.de/2010/index.php?seite=57#Gemeinderat
  5. ↑ "Legal disclosure." SAP SE. Retrieved on 10 April 2014. "Dietmar-Hopp-Allee 16 69190 Walldorf"
  6. ↑ Die Synagoge in Walldorf (Rhein-Neckar-Kreis). Alemannia-judaica.de. Retrieved on 2013-07-26.
  7. ↑ "Dietmar Hopp". Forbes. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
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