Sonthofen

Sonthofen

Sonthofen

Coat of arms
Sonthofen

Coordinates: 47°30′57″N 10°16′52″E / 47.51583°N 10.28111°ECoordinates: 47°30′57″N 10°16′52″E / 47.51583°N 10.28111°E
Country Germany
State Bavaria
Admin. region Schwaben
District Oberallgäu
Government
  Mayor Hubert Buhl
Area
  Total 20.982 km2 (8.101 sq mi)
Population (2013-12-31)[1]
  Total 21,388
  Density 1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 87527
Dialling codes 08321
Vehicle registration OA
Website www.sonthofen.de
Sonthofen

Sonthofen is the most southerly town of Germany, located in the Oberallgäu region of the Bavarian Alps. Neighbouring Oberstdorf is situated 14 km farther south but is not classified as a town. Sonthofen is located at 47°30′57″N 10°16′52″E / 47.51583°N 10.28111°E. In 2005, Sonthofen was awarded "Alpenstadt des Jahres" (Alpine city of the year).

In World War II Sonthofen was bombed twice because Adolf Hitler had built the Ordensburg Sonthofen where young boys were trained for service in Nazi Party organizations. The "Ordensburg" was not destroyed in the war and from 1946 to 1948 it was home to the United States Constabulary school and from 1956-2009 the German Bundeswehr located its Military Police (Feldjäger) and Staff Service School there. The German Army's NBC Defence School (ABC-Abwehr- und Selbstschutzschule) is located in another barracks in Sonthofen.

Sonthofen was given town rights on 18 August 1963. Sonthofen has 20,990 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2008). It is widely known for its milk and cheese products and as a tourist destination.

Famous people

Awards and Associations

References

  1. "Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes". Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik und Datenverarbeitung (in German). 31 December 2013.
  2. Rößle, Alex. "Der Schriftsteller Winfried G. Sebald". Oberstdorfs Online-Führer (in German). Retrieved 2013-08-28.

External links