Pfullendorf

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pfullendorf


Country	Germany
State	Baden-Württemberg
Administrative region	Tübingen
District	Sigmaringen
Population	13,110 (2005)
Area	90.56 km²
Population density	145 /km²
Elevation	602-714 m
Coordinates	47°55′ N 9°15′ E
Postal code	88617-88630
Area code	07552
Licence plate code	SIG
Mayor	Thomas Kugler
Website	pfullendorf.de

Pfullendorf/Baden is a small historic city in the district of Sigmaringen in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.

[edit] Geography

It lies in the district of Sigmaringen, 25 km north of Lake Constance and south of the Danube valley. The area is known as the Linzgau.

The surrounding towns are Wald, Herdwangen-Schönach, Meßkirch, Ostrach, Illmensee, Krauchenwies, Heiligenberg, and Deggenhausertal.

[edit] History

Pfullendorf has a long and illustrious history.

It was founded by the Alamanni tribe and named Dorf am Phoul (Pfuol), meaning village on the Phoul.

It was was made a freie Reichstadt in the Holy Roman Empire on June 2, 1220 by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor.

Starting in 1383, Pfullendorf governed itself with a democratic guild constitution, with annual election of the mayor. With brief interruptions, this guild constitution remained in force until 1803 and was a model for other cities.

At the Council of Constance in 1415, King Sigismund gave the city the right of higher judgment, that is, the right of execution. This meant that Pfullendorf was answerable only to God and the Emperor.

Although the Reformation, the Peasants' War, the 30 Years' War, the French Revolution, and the plague left their marks on the region, Pfullendorf was able to avoid major destruction.

In 1803, Pfullendorf became part of Baden, and it remained an administrative center in the upper Linzgau until 1936. It then became part of the district of Überlingen, and it has belonged to the district of Sigmaringen since 1973.

From 1972 to 1976, the neighboring villages of Aach-Linz, Denkingen, Gaisweiler, Tautenbronn, Großstadelhofen, Mottschieß, Otterswang, and Zell-Schwäblishausen became part of Pfullendorf.