Donauwörth

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The title of this article contains the character ö. Where it is unavailable or not desired, the name may be represented as Donauwoerth.

Coordinates: 48°42′N 10°48′E

Donauwörth
Coat of arms of Donauwörth Location of Donauwörth in Germany

Country Germany
State Bavaria
Administrative region Swabia
District Donau-Ries
Population 18,296 (2003)
Area 77.02 km²
Population density 238 /km²
Elevation 401 m
Coordinates 48°42′ N 10°48′ E
Postal code 86609
Area code 0906
Licence plate code DON
Mayor Armin Neudert (CSU)
Website donauwoerth.de

Known as Nordschwabens freundliche Mitte (North Swabia's Friendly Center), Donauwörth is a city in the German State of Bavaria (Bayern), in the region of Swabia (Schwabenland). It is said to have been founded by two fisherman where the Danube (Donau) and Wörnitz rivers meet.

It is historically important to Germany as the site of one of the incidents which led to the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). In 1606, the Lutheran majority barred the Catholic residents of the town from holding a procession, causing a violent riot to break out.

Donauwörth was again the scene of war in 1704, the War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713). The Duke of Marlborough was marching from Flanders to Bavaria and came to the Danube river. The French decided to make a crossing of the Danube at Donauwörth, where they were surprised by Marlborough's troops and after heavy fighting pulled back. This allowed Marlborough to capture Donauwörth and cross the Danube without problems.

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