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Sonthofen

January 31, 2023

Sonthofen is the southernmost town of Germany, located in the Oberallgäu region of the Bavarian Alps. Neighbouring Oberstdorf is situated 14 km farther south but is not classified as a town. In 2005, Sonthofen was awarded "Alpenstadt des Jahres" (Alpine city of the year). The town has 21,300 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2015).

Sonthofen
Town
Sonthofen
Coat of arms
Location of Sonthofen within Oberallgäu district
AustriaBaden-WürttembergLindau (district)Kempten (Allgäu)UnterallgäuOstallgäuKempter WaldWildpoldsriedWiggensbachWertachWeitnauWaltenhofenSulzbergSonthofenRettenbergOfterschwangOberstdorfOberstaufenObermaiselsteinOy-MittelbergMissen-WilhamsLaubenImmenstadtBad HindelangHaldenwangFischenDurachDietmannsriedBurgberg im AllgäuBuchenbergBolsterlangBlaichachBetzigauBalderschwangAltusried
Sonthofen
Sonthofen
Coordinates: 47°30′57″N 10°16′52″E / 47.51583°N 10.28111°E / 47.51583; 10.28111Coordinates: 47°30′57″N 10°16′52″E / 47.51583°N 10.28111°E / 47.51583; 10.28111
CountryGermany
StateBavaria
Admin. regionSchwaben
DistrictOberallgäu
Government
 • Mayor (2020–26) Christian Wilhelm[1] (FW)
Area
 • Total20.982 km2 (8.101 sq mi)
Highest elevation
1,100 m (3,600 ft)
Lowest elevation
750 m (2,460 ft)
Population
 (2021-12-31)[2]
 • Total21,589
 • Density1,000/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
87527
Dialling codes08321
Vehicle registrationOA
Websitewww.stadt-sonthofen.de
Sonthofen
Marktstraße (main street downtown)

Sonthofen is widely known for its milk and cheese products and as a tourist destination.

History

Findings show that the Sonthofen area was already inhabited from the Stone Age to the Roman Empire. In the 6th/7th century, Germanic Alamans settled in the area at the foot of the Kalvarienberg. On the top of the hill, one suspects an old Thing site.[3]

Sonthofen was first mentioned in a document in 1145. It had held the market right with important proprietary rights since 1429.

In 1803, when the Prince-Bishopric of Augsburg was mediatised, Sonthofen came to Bavaria. In 1804 Sonthof Castle becomes the seat of a Bavarian Landgericht (regional court) responsible for justice and administration.

In 1963 the previous market town of Sonthofen is given the town charter. In 1972 Sonthofen becomes the county seat of the newly formed district of Oberallgäu.

In World War II Sonthofen was bombed twice because Adolf Hitler had built the Ordensburg Sonthofen, where young boys were trained for service in Nazi Party organizations. The "Ordensburg" was not destroyed in the war. From 1946 to 1948 it was home to the United States Constabulary school, from May 1951 through February 1952, was used by the United States Air Force in Europe as a basic training center,[4] and from 1956-2009 the German Bundeswehr located its Military Police (Feldjäger) and Staff Service School there. The German Army's NBC Defence School (ABC-Abwehr- und Selbstschutzschule) is located in another barracks in Sonthofen.

Main sights

Green areas
  • Ökokurpark (ecological spa park): Next to the Kalvarienberg is the ecological spa park on a steep terrain. It houses a wetland biotope, native plants and information boards on flora and fauna.
  • Another park is located in the so-called G'hau an der Iller, where there is also a miniature golf course and a playground.
Buildings
  • Burgruine Fluhenstein (castle ruin), 1361 and around 1500/01
  • The Catholic church St. Michael is located below the Kalvarienberg. Predecessor buildings probably already existed in the 9th century.
  • The Old School was turned into a town hall by the prince-bishop of Augsburg in 1472. Today it is used as a music school and public library.
Natural monuments
  • The Starzlachklamm (a gorge) near the district Winkel, since 1932 accessible for hikers
Museum
  • Heimathaus Sonthofen: history and culture of the region

Gallery

  •  

    Ökokurpark

  •  

    Burgruine Fluhenstein

  •  

    Catholic church St. Michael

  •  

    The Old School

  •  

    The Starzachklamm

  •  

    Heimathaus Sonthofen

Notable people

Awards and associations

With other Alpine towns, Sonthofen engages in the Alpine Town of the Year Association for the implementation of the Alpine Convention to achieve sustainable development in the Alpine Arc. Sonthofen was awarded Alpine Town of the Year 2005.

References

  1. ^ Liste der ersten Bürgermeister/Oberbürgermeister in kreisangehörigen Gemeinden, Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik, 15 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Tabelle 12411-003r Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes: Gemeinden, Stichtag" (in German). Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik. June 2022.
  3. ^ Official website of Sonthofen
  4. ^ Ralph A. Lurvey (MSGT, USAF (Ret)), "Air Force Basic Training in Europe 1951-1953", March 2013.
  5. ^ Rößle, Alex. "Der Schriftsteller Winfried G. Sebald". Oberstdorfs Online-Führer (in German). Retrieved 2013-08-28.

External links

  •   Media related to Sonthofen at Wikimedia Commons
  •   Sonthofen travel guide from Wikivoyage
  • Official Sonthofen website
  • History of Sonthofen, in German
  • Alpine city of the year, Sonthofen, 2005

January 31, 2023
sonthofen, southernmost, town, germany, located, oberallgäu, region, bavarian, alps, neighbouring, oberstdorf, situated, farther, south, classified, town, 2005, awarded, alpenstadt, jahres, alpine, city, year, town, inhabitants, december, 2015, towncoat, armsl. Sonthofen is the southernmost town of Germany located in the Oberallgau region of the Bavarian Alps Neighbouring Oberstdorf is situated 14 km farther south but is not classified as a town In 2005 Sonthofen was awarded Alpenstadt des Jahres Alpine city of the year The town has 21 300 inhabitants as of 31 December 2015 SonthofenTownSonthofenCoat of armsLocation of Sonthofen within Oberallgau districtSonthofenShow map of GermanySonthofenShow map of BavariaCoordinates 47 30 57 N 10 16 52 E 47 51583 N 10 28111 E 47 51583 10 28111 Coordinates 47 30 57 N 10 16 52 E 47 51583 N 10 28111 E 47 51583 10 28111CountryGermanyStateBavariaAdmin regionSchwabenDistrictOberallgauGovernment Mayor 2020 26 Christian Wilhelm 1 FW Area Total20 982 km2 8 101 sq mi Highest elevation1 100 m 3 600 ft Lowest elevation750 m 2 460 ft Population 2021 12 31 2 Total21 589 Density1 000 km2 2 700 sq mi Time zoneUTC 01 00 CET Summer DST UTC 02 00 CEST Postal codes87527Dialling codes08321Vehicle registrationOAWebsitewww wbr stadt sonthofen wbr deSonthofen Marktstrasse main street downtown Sonthofen is widely known for its milk and cheese products and as a tourist destination Contents 1 History 2 Main sights 2 1 Gallery 3 Notable people 4 Awards and associations 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditFindings show that the Sonthofen area was already inhabited from the Stone Age to the Roman Empire In the 6th 7th century Germanic Alamans settled in the area at the foot of the Kalvarienberg On the top of the hill one suspects an old Thing site 3 Sonthofen was first mentioned in a document in 1145 It had held the market right with important proprietary rights since 1429 In 1803 when the Prince Bishopric of Augsburg was mediatised Sonthofen came to Bavaria In 1804 Sonthof Castle becomes the seat of a Bavarian Landgericht regional court responsible for justice and administration In 1963 the previous market town of Sonthofen is given the town charter In 1972 Sonthofen becomes the county seat of the newly formed district of Oberallgau In World War II Sonthofen was bombed twice because Adolf Hitler had built the Ordensburg Sonthofen where young boys were trained for service in Nazi Party organizations The Ordensburg was not destroyed in the war From 1946 to 1948 it was home to the United States Constabulary school from May 1951 through February 1952 was used by the United States Air Force in Europe as a basic training center 4 and from 1956 2009 the German Bundeswehr located its Military Police Feldjager and Staff Service School there The German Army s NBC Defence School ABC Abwehr und Selbstschutzschule is located in another barracks in Sonthofen Main sights EditGreen areasOkokurpark ecological spa park Next to the Kalvarienberg is the ecological spa park on a steep terrain It houses a wetland biotope native plants and information boards on flora and fauna Another park is located in the so called G hau an der Iller where there is also a miniature golf course and a playground BuildingsBurgruine Fluhenstein castle ruin 1361 and around 1500 01 The Catholic church St Michael is located below the Kalvarienberg Predecessor buildings probably already existed in the 9th century The Old School was turned into a town hall by the prince bishop of Augsburg in 1472 Today it is used as a music school and public library Natural monumentsThe Starzlachklamm a gorge near the district Winkel since 1932 accessible for hikersMuseumHeimathaus Sonthofen history and culture of the regionGallery Edit Okokurpark Burgruine Fluhenstein Catholic church St Michael The Old School The Starzachklamm Heimathaus SonthofenNotable people EditEugen Albrecht 1872 1908 pathologist Philip Bester Canadian tennis player born in Sonthofen Michael Buthe artist Michael Endres pianist Josef Enzensberger 1914 1975 Luftwaffe Fighter Ace 1939 1945 born in Sonthofen Herbert Knaup actor born in Sonthofen Hardy Kruger actor spent his childhood in Sonthofen Winfried G Sebald writer lived in Sonthofen from 1948 to 1963 5 Awards and associations EditWith other Alpine towns Sonthofen engages in the Alpine Town of the Year Association for the implementation of the Alpine Convention to achieve sustainable development in the Alpine Arc Sonthofen was awarded Alpine Town of the Year 2005 References Edit Liste der ersten Burgermeister Oberburgermeister in kreisangehorigen Gemeinden Bayerisches Landesamt fur Statistik 15 July 2021 Tabelle 12411 003r Fortschreibung des Bevolkerungsstandes Gemeinden Stichtag in German Bayerisches Landesamt fur Statistik June 2022 Official website of Sonthofen Ralph A Lurvey MSGT USAF Ret Air Force Basic Training in Europe 1951 1953 March 2013 Rossle Alex Der Schriftsteller Winfried G Sebald Oberstdorfs Online Fuhrer in German Retrieved 2013 08 28 External links Edit Media related to Sonthofen at Wikimedia Commons Sonthofen travel guide from Wikivoyage Official Sonthofen website Postal History of Sonthofen History of Sonthofen in German Alpine city of the year Sonthofen 2005 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sonthofen amp oldid 1134011210, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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