Weil der Stadt

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Peter and Paul church

Weil der Stadt is a small town with approximately 19,200 inhabitants, located in the Stuttgart Region of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is about 30 km west of the Stuttgart city center, and is often called "Gate to the Black Forest".

Weil der Stadt became an Imperial Free City in the 13th century, but had existed for centuries before as an important trading place.

It was completely destroyed during the 30-years' War but was subsequently rebuilt, and the centre is still dominated by buildings from this period. The city fortifications are still nearly intact.

Weil der Stadt is best known for being the birth place of both the astronomer Johannes Kepler and the Protestant reformer Johannes Brenz of Württemberg. The association with Kepler is the reason for the town's unofficial tile ('The Kepler Town Weil der Stadt'). Due to its surroundings and attractive cityscape, Weil der Stadt is a popular destination for excursions in the Stuttgart region.

[edit] Name

The original settlement was named Vila, from the Latin vil, or town. This evolved into Weil. Later the suffix "die Stadt" (the town) was added to distinguish the town from other villages of the same name. The unusual grammar in the current form of the name derives from the German dative case. The place of issue in official documents was usually given as "gegeben zu Weil, der Stadt" ("issued in Weil, the town").

[edit] Events

Weil der Stadt is a stronghold of traditional carnival. In contrast to the carnival in Cologne, the carnival in Weil der Stadt is more subdued due to the authorities in the Stuttgart area restricting excessive public festivals.

Weil escaped destruction in World War II when an French artillery barrage was called off in honor of its being Kepler's birthplace.