Heidenheim an der Brenz

Heidenheim an der Brenz, often simply called Heidenheim, is a town in the southern part of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. It is close to the border with Bavaria, about 17 kilometers south of Aalen and 33 kilometers north of Ulm. Heidenheim is the biggest town and the main center of the district of Heidenheim, and it is an important place for business in the area. Many people live there, with almost 50,000 people calling it home in 2021.

The town is well known as the home of the big industrial company Voith. People from Heidenheim and the nearby places speak a special way of saying words called the Swabian dialect. Heidenheim works together with the town of Nattheim for some of its local tasks.

Geography

Heidenheim is located in the northeast corner of the Swabian Alb, where the valley of the Brenz meets the Stubental near Hellenstein Mountain. The Brenz River starts in Königsbronn and flows through several areas before reaching Heidenheim.

Heidenheim shares borders with several nearby towns, including Aalen, Neresheim, Nattheim, Syrgenstein, Herbrechtingen, Steinheim am Albuch, and Königsbronn. The town includes several subdivisions such as Schnaitheim, Mergelstetten, Oggenhausen, and Großkuchen, which joined Heidenheim between 1910 and 1974.

Schnaitheim, the largest subdivision, has many shops and about 10,900 people. Mergelstetten, to the south, has factories and about 7,900 residents. Oggenhausen and Großkuchen, each with around 1,550 people, joined Heidenheim in the 1970s. Großkuchen is known for its hiking trails and small charcoal industry.

History

There is evidence that people lived in Heidenheim as far back as 8,000 years ago. A permanent settlement was not established until around 1300 BC. Many ruins from settlements between 1200 and 800 BC can still be found.

During the time of the Roman Empire, Heidenheim was home to a large castle called Aquileia, which had over 1,000 soldiers. The castle was later moved to Aalen. A civilian settlement grew up around the castle because it was located where five Roman roads met. This was the largest Roman city in what is now Baden-Württemberg. Later, the Alamanni attacked the Roman borders, and the Roman city eventually ended.

In the 8th century, Heidenheim was mentioned again in official documents. The city grew during the Middle Ages with the building of Hellenstein Castle and its city walls. Over time, Heidenheim changed rulers, belonging to different regions like the Duchy of Teck, Bavaria, and Ulm, before becoming part of Württemberg.

The city's economy was based on ores mined since Roman times and later on textiles. After World War II, Heidenheim helped relocate people who had been displaced during the war.

Religion

Heidenheim's people have mostly followed the Protestant faith since the Reformation came to the city in 1524. Over the years, many Protestant churches have been built, including Peter's Church, Michael's Church, and Paul's Church.

In the 19th century, Catholic churches also appeared, such as St. Mary's Church and Trinity Church. Today, Heidenheim has many different churches, including Protestant, Catholic, and other Christian groups like the Methodist and New Apostolic Churches.

Demographics

Heidenheim an der Brenz has population numbers that change over time. These numbers come from different sources, like official counts or estimates based on where people live.

¹ These numbers are from official counts.

Government

In the 1970s, the rules in Baden-Württemberg were changed so that some areas could have their own small councils. People in these areas choose members for these councils, and the councils help make important decisions for their area. The leader of the council also helps lead the bigger city council.

Since 2019, Heidenheim’s city council has 33 members, each serving for five years. They come from different political groups.

In the past, leaders of Heidenheim had many different titles. Since 1907, the leader has been called the Mayor. Mayors are now chosen by people voting and serve for eight years. The mayor also leads the city council and has a main helper called the First Councilperson.

The city's coat of arms shows a bearded figure wearing a red cap with a blue edge and a red shirt with a blue collar, set against a golden background. The city’s colors are red and blue. The symbol has been used since the 15th century.

Music

Heidenheim is home to the Neuer Kammerchor Heidenheim, a talented youth choir in Germany. It was started in 2005 by Thomas Kammel, who has led it ever since. The choir travels to many places around the world and has received praise for its performances. In January 2017, the choir received an award from the City of Heidenheim for its work as a cultural ambassador.

People, culture, and architecture

Schnaitheim is home to the Sasse Theater company.

The State Museum of Württemberg operates a branch in Hellenstein Castle, where it has its Carriage and Chaise Museum. The Museum in the Roman Baths shows items from ancient Roman times. The Art Museum, in a beautiful old bath building, has special art shows and a big collection of Picasso posters.

Hellenstein Castle, sitting high on a mountain and looking over the city, is the most important building in Heidenheim.

Important places in the city center include the Protestant Michaels' Church, the Elmar-Doch-House, the Crown Inn and Pub, the Lower Gate, Villa Waldemaier, the burgher tower Türmle, the Castle Pharmacy, the weavers’ settlement, the Heathland smithy, the Old mint, and the old Peters' Church, which is now used as a cemetery chapel.

A big building from 1924 where large turbines were made for the local Voith company is an important industrial landmark.

The small castle in Schnaitheim sits right by the Brenz river and is a nice place to visit. Nearby is the Schnaitheim Mill with its large wheel, although the mill is no longer in operation.

In Mergelstetten, an old church was torn down in 1841 and replaced with a new Protestant church in neo-gothic style. It was built using wood because the community did not have much money. The church tower was also not as tall as planned. Even so, this church is very popular and often appears on postcards.

Events

Every two years, the Shepherd Run happens in Heidenheim. It started in 1723 and brings together shepherds from the area. Part of the event is choosing a new shepherd king and queen. The Run stopped for a while but started again in 1972 and is now a regular part of Heidenheim’s cultural events.

In 2006, Heidenheim was host to the bi-annual Baden-Württemberg State Botanical Show.

Heidenheim holds an annual World Cup fencing tournament. Because of the quality of the competition, this event is considered one of the strongest in the world.

Opera Festival

Every year, Heidenheim holds the Opera Festival "Opernfestspiele Heidenheim" at Hellenstein Castle. The festival began from concerts held there and has grown to be very famous. In recent years, it has been led by conductor Marco-Maria Canonica. In 2009, the festival performed Marschner’s opera "Der Vampyr", which was the second part of a series of three operas called "Romantik im Rittersaal". The first part was von Weber’s "Der Freischütz" in 2008, and the third was Wagner’s "Der fliegende Holländer" in 2010. In 2010, all three operas were performed together. The Opera Festival brings visitors from all over Europe and beyond, and has helped make Heidenheim well-known as a cultural place. Residents also enjoy an annual theater festival held in the outdoor Nature Theater.

Sport

The main sports club in Heidenheim is Heidenheimer Sportbund (SB), which offers many different sports. Its football team, FC Heidenheim 1846, plays at the Voith-Arena. The team has done well recently, moving up two levels in the German football league system after winning the Regionalliga Süd in 2009. Starting from the 2023–24 season, it will compete in the Bundesliga.

Heidenheimer SB also has a baseball team called Heidenheim Heideköpfe. They play in the top division of the Baseball Bundesliga. Since reaching the first division in 2001, the team has almost always made the playoffs and even won the championship in 2009.

Economy and industry

Heidenheim is well known for being the home of a big company called Voith. This company makes special machines and tools for factories, especially for making paper. It is the biggest employer in Heidenheim, with many people working there.

The town also has good ways to travel. Trains stop in Heidenheim as they go from Aalen to Ulm. There are also buses that help people get around the town. Cars can reach Heidenheim easily using major roads nearby.

Local newspapers such as "Heidenheimer Zeitung" and "Heidenheimer Neue Presse" share news with the community. Radio and TV stations also broadcast from the area.

Notable people

Heidenheim an der Brenz has been home to many interesting people throughout history. Some of these include Friedrich Christoph Oetinger, a Lutheran theologian who worked in Heidenheim from 1743 to 1746, and Erwin Rommel, a famous German Field Marshal who served in both World War I and World War II.

Other notable individuals from Heidenheim include Helmut Bornefeld, a church musician and composer, and Vera Simons, an inventor known for her work with balloons. The town has also produced athletes like Horst Blankenburg, a footballer who won the European Cup three times in a row with Ajax.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Heidenheim an der Brenz has special friendships with cities in other countries. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities." Some of these friends include:

• Clichy in France since 1958
• Sankt Pölten in Austria since 1968
• Newport in the United Kingdom since 1981
• Sisak in Croatia since 1988
• Döbeln in Germany since 1991
• Jihlava in the Czech Republic since 2002

Friendly cities

Heidenheim also has friendly ties with:

• Qianjiang in China since 1994
• Papeete in French Polynesia, France since 2022