Holzgerlingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

🇩🇪 Holzgerlingen is a municipality in the German Federal State of Baden-Württemberg. It is located in district of Böblingen.

Geography Holzgerlingen lies in a clearing in the Schönbuch, a large forest in the state of Baden-Württemberg. It is 6 km (3.7 mi) south of the city of Böblingen. The old city centre lies about 475 m (1560 ft) above mean sea level on a watershed. The source of the Aich River is located in the south-east of Holzgerlingen, the Aich is flowing east and feeding the Neckar River at Nürtingen. The source of the Würm River is located west of the city on administrative area of Altdorf, the Würm is flowing westwards merging with the Nagold River and Enz River in Pforzheim.

History The history of the settlement goes back to Neolithic times, and it is thought that the city was founded by Celts sometime in the period between 550 BC and 50 BC. Sometime around 100 AD, the Romans conquered the area around the city, although they were in turn overthrown by Alemannic tribes in the vicinity of 300 AD.

In Germany, because many cities are extremely old and dating is inexact, a city's official history is considered to begin at the first time it is mentioned in writing. Holzgerlingen was first mentioned in the year 1007 in a history written by the Bishop of Bamberg during the reign of Henry II of the Holy Roman Empire. The city was in the possession of the Palatinate of Tübingen from approximately 1100 until 1348, when the city was sold to the state of Württemberg.

The city was deeply affected by the German Peasants' War, a popular revolt which took place in 1525. The Protestant Reformation reached the city in 1534, and the city has remained Lutheran ever since. In 1735, during the War of the Polish Succession, Russian troops were quartered in the city as they marched on France. Just eight years later, in 1743, the city was used to quarter troops for Franz Freiherr von der Trenck during the War of the Austrian Succession.

In 1812 fifteen people from Holzgerlingen joined the troops of Napoleon for his war against Russia so their families would be guaranteed safety, but never returned. The first post office was constructed in 1865, and in 1907, the city was connected to the electric power grid. In 1945, during World War II, French troops burned down the city hall. It was rebuilt in 1950. The city obtained home-rule rights from the German government in 1993.

Religion The Protestant Reformation reached the city in 1534. In 1635, since then the town has been influenced by Protestantism.

Traffic In December 1996, the Schönbuchbahn (Schönbuch train line), which runs between Böblingen and the town of Dettenhausen, was brought back to Holzgerlingen after a long period of unused railroad tracks. The train line has three stops in the city. The train is also part of the Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund Stuttgart and is connected to the Stuttgart S-Bahn line S1 at Böblingen. The largest highway in Holzgerlingen is Bundesstraße (Federal Highway) B464, which connects Böblingen and Reutlingen.

Civic institutions Holzgerlingen has a 700-seat civic and conference centre, which also provides services such as an internet café and a nursing home.

Education Holzgerlingen presides over its own modern school system, with elementary through high school provided all within the same city, including seven Kindergartens and a boarding school for the mentally and physically challenged. Also, the city library offers free internet access to residents.

Sport In the city of Holzgerlingen, there is a stadium complex with both natural and artificial soccer and American football fields, four sport halls, and a spacious public swimming complex with multiple pools.

Holzgerlingen is the home of the Holzgerlingen Twister, an American football team. The Holzgerlingen Twister met with considerable success in 2008 and 2009, and, having moved up two divisions in two years, began playing in the German Football League in the 2010 season. The Twister tied for second place in the GFL 2 Süd in 2011. The YMCA Holzgerlingen do Handball, Volleyball, Soccer, Dance, Fitness, Aerobic and natural sports in Halls and the Sportgelände Seebrücke YMCA.

Museums A museum of local history is located in Holzgerlingen.

Architecture • The Mauritius Church, which possesses a tower dating from the eleventh century, is currently a legally protected historical landmark. • Burg Kalteneck ("Castle Kalteneck") is a moated castle first mentioned 1002. Today's castle is built on a foundation dating back in the 14th century. It can be rented for private or public events.

Youth The city possesses a youth centre which hosts youth-oriented events, such as midnight sports.