Kempten im Allgäu
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| Country | Germany |
| State | Bavaria |
| Administrative region | Swabia |
| District | urban district |
| Population | 68,974 (2005) |
| Area | 63.29 km² |
| Population density | 1,090 /km² |
| Elevation | 665 m |
| Coordinates | 47.00001°44.0′ N 10°19′ E |
| Postal code | 87401-87439 |
| Area code | 0831 |
| Licence plate code | KE |
| Mayor | Ulrich Netzer |
| Website | kempten.de |
Kempten (Allgäu) is the largest city in Allgäu, a region in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is located at . Population was 63,513 in 2004. The area was possibly settled originally by Celts, but was later overtaken by the Romans, who called the town Cambodunum. Archaeologists consider Kempten one of the oldest urban settlements in Germany.
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[edit] Pre-Roman History
The Greek geographer Strabon mentions in 50BC a town of the Celtic Estiones named “Kambodunon”. This is considered the oldest written reference of any German city. So far no archaeological evidence could be found that this Celtic settlement really existed.
[edit] Roman History
In 15BC Roman troops lead by Nero Claudius Drusus and his brother Tiberius conquer and destroy an existing Celtic city. Later the settlement was named Cambodunum. In the consecutive years the city was rebuilt modeled on a classical Roman city with Roman Baths, forum and temples. Initially built in wood, the city again was rebuilt in stone after a devastating fire that destroyed almost the entire city in the year 69. Extensive archeological excavations at the end of the 19th century and again during the 1950s at what were then the outskirts of Kempten unearthed the extensive stuctural foundations. The city is again destroyed in 233 by Alemans, a Suebic tribe, who invaded the Western part of the Roman Empire. The original site of Cambodunum then was abandoned and was moved to a strategically safer location on the Burghalde hill overlooking the river Iller. Only in 488 the last Roman troops leave the area and the city was entirely overtaken by the Alemans.
[edit] Medieval Times
After the Romans left the settlement is moved from the hill down to the plains located next to the river Iller. Written sources now call the city Cambidano. Being still predominantly Alemanic, the town once more is destroyed by the Germanic tribe of the Francs in 683 as a consequence of the city’s support of an uprising against the Francs. Around 747 AD a first missionary cell is founded by the Irish monks Magnus and Theodore sent from St. Gall in Switzerland to evangelise the area. In the following years a monastery is built which would become the first in the Allgäu region. Audogar is the first abbot of the new Benedictine monastery. Through the financial and lobbyist support of Charlemagne’s wife Hildegard, an Allemanic princes, the monastery manages to become one of the most privileged monasteries of the Franc Empire.
After several destructions through the invading Hungarians, Ulrich of Augsburg, the bishop of Augsburg and also abbot of Kempten initiates the rebuilding of the monastery and the city in 941. In 1213 King Friedrich II declares the abbots members of the Dukes of the German Empire and grants the right to bear a Dukes’ title. However in 1289 King Rudolf of Habsburg also grants special privileges to the urban settlement in the river valley making it an Imperial City. But only in 1525 last property rights of the abbots in the Imperial City are sold in the so-called “Great Purchase” marking the start of the coexistence of two independent cities bearing the same name next to each other. More conflict arises after the now Free Imperial City converts to Protestantism in direct opposition to the Catholic monastery in 1527.
[edit] Renaissance and Baroque to Modern Times
During the commotions of the 30-years’-War 1632/33 both cities were destroyed with either help of the imperial forces or the Swedish troops respectively who fought over supremacy in Kempten.
Only shortly after the war the Duke Abbot Roman Giel of Gielsberg commissioned the two architects Michael Beer and Johann Serro from Graubünden with the plans to build a new parish church and monastery church including a representative Residence for the Duke Abbots. This church is acknowledged as the first major church construction in Germany after the 30-years’-War.
During the Napoleonic Wars the Duke Abbey and Imperial City come under Bavarian rule in 1802/03. Finally in 1819 the two rivaling cities are united as one communal entity.
[edit] Places of Interest
- The St. Lorenz Basilica
- The St. Mang Church
- The Burghalde Castle
- The Duke Abbots Residence
- The Archaeological Park Cambodunum
- The City Hall and Square
- The medieval Keck Chapel
[edit] Sister Cities
- Sligo, Ireland
- Bad Dürkheim, Germany
- Quiberon, France
- Sopron, Hungary
- Trento, Italy, since 1987
[edit] Travelling and Transport
Kempten is well connected with the region through the A7 Autobahn(Würzburg-Ulm-Füssen). National Highway No. 12 (partly as A980 Autobahn), 19 and 309 are also intersecting in Kempten.
The city is also easily accessible by rail and has Intercity and Eurocity connections.
[edit] Education
The University of Applied Sciences Kempten (Fachhochschule Kempten) started in the winter semester of 1978/79 with 89 students and since then expanded and now accommodates more than 2800 students in eight degree courses:
- Business Administration
- Tourism and Hospitality Management
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Industrial Engineering – Electronic and Information Technology
- Industrial Engineering – Mechanical Engineering with Distribution Management or Information Technology
- Computer Science
- Social Management
There are also three Grammar Schools offering education to the entire region of the Allgäu.
[edit] Famous People
Famous people from Kempten include:
- Ernst Mayr, Biologist
- Claudius Dornier, Plane Constructor
- Friedrich Ferdinand Schnitzer, famous U.S. architect
- Ignaz Kiechle, Politician
- İlhan Mansız,Turkish footballer
- Suzie Candell, Country-singer
