Kraichgau
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The Kraichgau is a hilly region in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Odenwald and the Neckar river to the North, the Black Forest to the South and the Upper Rhine River Plains to the West. In the east, it's boundary is consider to be Stromberg, Hardt, and Heuchelberg.
The largest cities of the Kraichgau are Sinsheim, Eppingen and Bretten. On the western end of the Kraichgau lies the city of Bruchsal, which is the portal into the Rheinland plains.
[edit] Origins of the name
The word "Kraich" apparently arises from the celtic word "Creuch," meaning "mud" or "loam." The word "gau" signifies an open area, free from woods, such as farm land or meadow land.
The area of Kraichgau was first mentioned in the early middle ages, in the Lorscher Codex as "Creichgowe" in the year 769. In 773 it is called "Chrehgauui", in 778 as "Craichgoia." By 1594 it is closer to its modern form, when it is named "Kreuchgau."
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