Pfungstadt

Pfungstadt

Coat of arms
Pfungstadt

Coordinates: 49°48′20″N 8°36′16″E / 49.80556°N 8.60444°ECoordinates: 49°48′20″N 8°36′16″E / 49.80556°N 8.60444°E
Country Germany
State Hesse
Admin. region Darmstadt
District Darmstadt-Dieburg
Government
 • Mayor Horst Baier (SPD)
Area
 • Total 42.53 km2 (16.42 sq mi)
Population (2013-12-31)[1]
 • Total 24,002
 • Density 560/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 64310–64319
Dialling codes 06157
Vehicle registration DA
Website www.pfungstadt.de

Pfungstadt is a German town of 25,117 inhabitants, in the district of Darmstadt-Dieburg in the state of Hesse.

Aerial photography
Old Townhall

The town was first mentioned in 785 as property of the Monastery of Lorsch and got its town rights in 1886 due to its railway station. It is situated just west of the Odenwald hills, one of the closest being Frankenstein with its castle ruin of monstrous fame (Mary Shelley) on its summit. It is said, Shelley used the name after asking a sailor on a Rhine trip to tell her the name of "this yonder castle".

The historical town hall is the centre of the old part of the town, which in 1664 was being developed with a view to allowing the river Modau to flow above ground as basis for a promenade.

Pfungstadt is most famous today for its beer, Pfungstädter, which can be found all over Germany. The Brewery has a long history. Other aspects of the town: the swimming pool is known far and wide, with a modern wave generation feature which is loved by young and old.

In 1973, the town hosted the 13th Hessentag state festival.

Pfungstadt is also notable as being the birthplace of the great Anglo-Jewish synagogue composer Julius Mombach.

Transportation

Regional service of Pfungstadt Railway (Pfungstadtbahn) to Darmstadt Hauptbahnhof was reactivated at the beginning of 2012. It is served by the extension of services on the Odenwald Railway (Odenwaldbahn) from Darmstadt station to Pfungstadt as RB 66.

Buses (VIA25222, VIA25224, Bus P and Bus PE) also serve Pfungstadt. The Pfungstadt bus station is on Berliner Street. The Bundesautobahn 5 freeway is to the west of town. The main road near the town are to the east B3 and the Bundesautobahn 5 freeway. To the west of town is the Bundesautobahn 67 freeway.

Town twinnings

Pfungstadt is twinned with the towns of:

References

  1. ↑ "Die Bevölkerung der hessischen Gemeinden". Hessisches Statistisches Landesamt (in German). September 2014.

External links