Brenz an der Brenz
Brenz is a district of Sontheim in the district of Heidenheim in Baden- Württemberg.
Geography
Brenz is located on the eponymous river, and at the transition of the Swabian Alb to the Danube Valley.
History
On the dominant Kirchberg in Brenz was in 2nd / 3rd Century AD, a villa rustica; also have finds of parts of monumental buildings point to another Roman settlement. Brenz is located on the former Roman road to Heidenheim (Latin Aquileia ).
After the retreat of the Romans from about 260 AD due to the ongoing Alemanni storms this the strategically located Brenzer Kirchberg used as a settlement site. Excavations in the 1960s brought the remains of an early Christian wooden church, which has stood there for 650, including Alemannic burial ground revealed. This church is probably the oldest religious building in Brenztal, and it is likely that in addition to a rain establishing settlements activity ( Sontheim, Bächingen, Bergweiler ) was driven to spread Christianity in the region of Brenz from. To 680 the wooden church was replaced by a first stone.
Ins incipient High Middle Ages falls also the first documentary mention of the place: 875 on King Ludwig II, the Capella ad Prenza the monastery Faurndau. A few years later came the Brenzer church property to the monastery of St. Gall. After numerous new construction and renovation was in 1200 today Gallus church, a jewel of Romanesque architecture.
The domination of Brenz was in the Middle Ages in a place to be designated by the low noble family, whose members have repeatedly attested in the 12th and 13th centuries. In the Gallus church a grave plate of Sebolt of Brenz from the period around 1190 is obtained, which identifies him as a crusader. Around 1250, sat a jam fisches Ministerialengeschlecht, the Lords of castings mountain ( called castings ) at Schloss Brenz. As these fell into robber barons, it was destroyed in 1340, but soon after rebuilt.
During the Smalcald War related Emperor Charles V in 1546 quarters on the güssischen castle to Brenz.
The fonts noticeably impoverished and had to pledge their rule to the Duchy of Württemberg Brenz and 1613 eventually sell all. Württemberg led immediately the ( long overdue ) Reformation ( 1615). 1617 was Duke Julius Friedrich of Württemberg the reigns Brenz and Weiltingen as appanage; He was the founder of the short-lived line of Württemberg- Weiltingen who used Castle Brenz as a temporary second residence. After Schloss Brenz had been destroyed in 1634 after the Battle of Nördlingen, it Duke Friedrich Ferdinand from 1672 to rebuild in the Renaissance style.
After the extinction of the line of Württemberg- Weiltingen Brenz fell back to the main line of the ducal house. Duke Eberhard Ludwig donated it in 1721 to his mistress Wilhelmine of Grävenitz. After she had fallen out of favor, she had to leave Württemberg and their goods. Schloss Brenz has since remained largely unused; short lived a branch of the family of Racknitz it.
In the 19th century it acquired the lock and brought it under administration and school; 1906 is the oldest history museum Württemberg was founded.
The independence of Brenz ended in 1972 with the incorporation into the larger, originally founded by Brenz Sontheim.
Culture and sights
Museums
The castle houses the oldest history museum Württemberg.
Structures
- Gallus Church: The Late Romanesque columned basilica is one of the art-historically significant buildings in the district of Heidenheim and occupies a special position in the state of Baden -Württemberg. For a basic renovation 1964/66 efforts have been made to bring the three-aisled basilica style so closely as possible reasserted by removing Gothic, Baroque and neo-Gothic changes. In addition, Romanesque paintings were uncovered in the apse.
- Castle: Particularly noteworthy are the arcaded courtyard decorated and the knight's hall, where concerts take place regularly.
- Marketplace: a landmark ensemble of the historic facades of Gallus church, rectory, Schlossle (now Gasthof Hirsch), Gasthaus Krone and erstwhile district office building.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Andreas Althamer (* Brenz 1500), reformer and humanist
- Johann Friedrich von terminal (1793-1858), politician and chief official in Tettnang, Ellwangen and Esslingen