Villingen-Schwenningen

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Villingen-Schwenningen


Country	Germany
State	Baden-Württemberg
Administrative region	Freiburg
District	Schwarzwald-Baar
Population	81,520 (2005)
Area	165.47 km²
Population density	495 /km²
Elevation	705 m
Coordinates	48°4′ N 8°28′ E
Postal code	78001-78056
Area code	07721, 07720, 07425, 07705
Licence plate code	VS
Mayor	Dr. Rupert Kubon (SPD)
Website	villingen-schwenningen.de

Villingen-Schwenningen is the largest city of the Schwarzwald-Baar district located in the south of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It has 81,520 inhabitants (as of 2005).

1 History
2 Geography
3 Places of interest
4 External links

[edit] History

In the Middle Ages, Villingen was a town under Austrian lordship. During the Protestant Reformation it remained Catholic. Villingen came in the center of international attention when it was besieged by marshal Tallard in 1704. Colonel Von Wilstorff put up a stout defence of the outdated fortifications and after six days the siege failed.

Schwenningen remained a village until the 19th century. In 1858 the first watch factory was established, from which time on watch making and precision mechanics have been important industries.

As part of the Baden-Württemberg territorial reform of 1972, Villingen and Schwenningen were merged with a number of surrounding villages to form the city of Villingen-Schwenningen. Nevertheless, the two halves of the city are separated by a plateau and remain distinct.

Villingen is a big center of the German Carneval. The traditional Narros represent the old citizens of Villingen: Alt Villingere, Morbili, Hansele, Suribbel.

[edit] Geography

Watershed of the Neckar River

Watershed of the Rhine River

Villingen-Schwenningen lies on the eastern edge of the Black Forest about 700 meters above sea level. The source of the River Neckar is in Schwenningen (Schwenninger Moos).