Württemberg (mountain)

The Württemberg (official name until 1907: Rotenberg) is a mountain on the territory of the German city of Stuttgart, capital of Baden-Württemberg. Its peak lies atop of vineyards at 411 m above sea level, on the eastern edge of the Stuttgart cauldron valley, in the Rotenberg quarter of the district of Untertürkheim, overlooking the Neckar valley.

It is homonymous to the name of the area and historic territory of Württemberg, which is now a part of the state of Baden-Württemberg.

Short history

In 1083, Burg Wirtemberg was erected on the mountain, family seat of the rulers of Württemberg.

In 1824, Württemberg Mausoleum was built on the site of the former castle by King Wilhelm I of Württemberg for his second wife, Catherine Pavlovna of Russia, who had died in 1819 at the early age of 30.

The mountain was renamed Württemberg from Rotenberg in 1907 by Wilhelm II, the last King of Württemberg.

Etymology

The name of the mountain is probably derived from Wirdeberg, a mountain in Luxembourg, the possible origin of the Württemberg family. Other theories claim it came from Celto-Romanic sources (Wirodunum).