Ostheim

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For the town in France, see Ostheim, Haut-Rhin.
Ostheim
Coat of arms Location
Coat of arms of Ostheim
Ostheim (Germany)
Ostheim
Administration
Country Flag of Germany Germany
State Bavaria
Admin. region Lower Franconia
District Rhön-Grabfeld
Municipal assoc. Ostheim vor der Rhön
Mayor Adolf Büttner (CSU)
Basic statistics
Area 40.73 km² (15.7 sq mi)
Elevation 300 m  (984 ft)
Population 3,590  (31/12/2006)
 - Density 88 /km² (228 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate NES
Postal code 97645
Area code 09777
Website www.ostheim-vgem.de

Coordinates: 50°28′00″N 10°13′00″E / 50.466667, 10.216667

Ostheim vor der Rhön is a town situated in Bavaria (although historically part of Thuringia), in the district of Rhön-Grabfeld.


[edit] History

Ostheim was founded for the first time in 804. From 1920 until 1945 Ostheim vor der Rhön was an exclave of Thuringia. In 1945 Ostheim became part of the American controlled zone, in the Free State of Bavaria. Apparently until reunification it had the unusual status of being part of Thuringia in eastern Germany but administered by the Free State of Bavaria (West Germany). About 1972, the Evangelical (Lutheran) church administration of this enclave inside of Bavaria was switched to Bavaria from Thuringia. The Catholic administration switched to Bavaria from the Diocese of Fulda (Hesse) apparently in 1945.

Map showing the enclave/exclave relationship
Map showing the enclave/exclave relationship

Ostheim is one of the stops in Wim Wenders' 1976 road trip film Kings of the Road.

[edit] Landmarks

  • Church tower
  • Light tower with guest hall
  • Historic Old Town with mills and half-timbered houses
  • Organ museum in Hanstein (with musical guidance when desired)
  • Hill Graves

[edit] External links