Wertheim (East Franconian: Wärde) is a town in southwestern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg with a population of around 23,400. It is located on the confluence of the rivers Tauber and Main. Wertheim is best known for its landmark castle and medieval town centre.
Geography
Wertheim is the most northerly town in the state of Baden-Württemberg. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Tauber and Main, on the Main's left bank. It borders on the Odenwald hills and the Spessart range to the north across the river Main. Wertheim is located in the Main-Tauber district.
Wertheim was founded between the 7th and 8th century. However, the first settlement was a town called Kreuzwertheim on the right bank of the river Main. From the early 12th century onwards, a branch of the noble family of the Reginbodons called themselves after the town. After the family of the Counts of Wertheim [de] had built a castle on the left bank of the river Main, a settlement developed at the foot of this dominating structure that was called Wertheim. It was mentioned for the first time in 779. In 1192, it was referred to as Suburbium castri Wertheim and in 1200 the town was referred to as an oppidum and in 1244 as a civitas.
CountEberhard of Wertheim reigned from the year 1355 to 1373. In 1363 Emperor Charles IV granted him by degree the right to mint coins. The last Count of Wertheim was Michael III. He married Katharina, the oldest daughter of Ludwig of Stolberg. Michael died without producing a male heir and consequently the county passed to Ludwig of Stolberg. In 1574, after the death of Ludwig, the county passed on to his son-in-law Count Ludwig of Löwenstein.
The town developed into the center of the County of Wertheim. The county was governed by the House of Löwenstein-Wertheim. In 1630, the house split into two lines: the older Protestant line Löwenstein-Wertheim-Virneburg and the Catholic line Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rochefort. The county existed until 1806 when it was divided as a consequence of the German mediatization (Reichsdeputationshauptschluss). The area left of the Main river was given to the Grand Duchy of Baden, while the territories right of the Main were given to the Kingdom of Bavaria.
Established in 1406, the cemetery of the former Jewish community is one of the oldest in Germany. In use up until the 20th century, it is the oldest existing Jewish cemetery in Baden-Württemberg.[citation needed]
For many years Wertheim was home to Peden Barracks, a US Army installation. The US Army left Peden Barracks in the early 1990s as part of the post Cold War reorganization of US armed forces in Germany.
In 1938, Wertheim was merged with Tauberbischofsheim into the newly created district Landkreis Tauberbischofsheim. From 1972 onwards, 15 communities were incorporated with Wertheim. These 15 communities are: Bettingen, Dertingen, Dietenhan, Dörlesberg, Grünenwört, Höhefeld, Kembach, Lindelbach, Mondfeld, Nassig, Reicholzheim, Sachsenhausen, Sonderriet, Urphar and Waldenhausen. As of 1 January 1973 the Landkreis Tauberbischofsheim was merged into the new Main-Tauber-Kreis. Due to the incorporation of surrounding communities, Wertheim reached the 20,000 population mark in 1975. Wertheim became a Große Kreisstadt (district town) on 1 January 1976.
Demographics
Year
Number of Residents
1617
3,670
1792
3,373
1810
3,154
1833
3,633
1 December 1871
3,328
1 December 1880 ¹
4,567
1 December 1890 ¹
3,535
1 December 1900 ¹
3,670
1 December 1910 ¹
3,648
16 June 1925 ¹
3,673
16 June 1933 ¹
3,679
17 May 1939 ¹
5,434
December 1945
5,534
13 September 1950 ¹
9,789
Year
Number of Residents
6 June 1961 ¹
11,329
27 May 1970 ¹
12,029
31 December 1975
20,942
31 December 1980
19,972
27 May 1987 ¹
20,377
31 December 1990
21,627
31 December 1995
24,432
31 December 2000
24,332
31 March 2004
24,739
30 June 2005
24,553
30 June 2006
24,452
31 December 2006
24,302
30 June 2007
24,202
31 December 2010
23,552
31 December 2013
22,415
31 December 2014
22,461
¹ Census result
Arts and culture
Kittsteintor
Museums
Glasmuseum (glass museum)
Grafschaftsmuseum
Events
Summer festival (Altstadtfest) on the last three days of July, followed by a medieval festival at the castle followed by the Wertheimer Messe (like Oktoberfest).
Buildings
Burg Wertheim [de] (castle) is the landmark of the town. Wertheim has a medieval town center with half-timbered houses and small streets. The GothicStiftskirche was built in 1383 (today it is a Protestant parish church). Two clocks can be seen on the clock tower, one with an hour hand only, for the residents of the castle. The Kilianskapelle, a Gothic chapel, was constructed after 1469. The Engelsbrunnen ("Angels' well") from 1574 was built of the red sandstone typical of this area and derives its name from two little angels holding Wertheim's coat of arms.
Other sights include the Kittsteintor with flood markings from 1595 onwards and the Blaues Haus ("Blue house").
Located not far from Wertheim in the Tauber valley is Bronnbach Abbey, or Kloster Bronnbach [de], founded in 1150. The late-Romanesque and early-Gothic basilica was consecrated in 1222.
360° panoramic view of the castle and the town
Economy
The glass manufacturing tradition in Wertheim and its surroundings dates back several centuries.
Governance
Mayors (Bürgermeister)
1810–1827: Johann Christoph Schlundt
1827–1829: Christoph Michael Platz
1829–1832: Johann Georg Weimar
1832–1839: Johann Friedrich Bach
1839–1840: Christoph Wilhelm Müller
1840–1845: Johann Jakob von Runkel
1845–1852: Ludwig Haas
1852–1860: Johann Jakob von Runkel
1860–1866: Ludwig Haas
1866–1871: Philipp Frank
1871–1880: Lorenz Meyer
1880–1890: Philipp Amthauer
1890–1895: Philipp Mayer
1895–1905: Michael Müller
1905–1933: Hans Bardon
1933–1938: Friedrich Bender
1938–1943: Hans Mensler
1944–1945: Hermann Dürr
1945: Carl Roth
1945–1946: Michael Beck
1946: Otto Hoog
1946–1961: Carl Roth
1961–1981: Karl Josef Scheuermann
1981–2003: Stefan Gläser
2003–2019: Stefan Mikulicz
2019–present: Markus Herrera Torrez
Coat of arms
The coat of arms of Wertheim, shows a parted shield the upper part in gold with a black eagle and below in blue three silver roses. The city flag is yellow-blue. The coat of arms is nearly unchanged in use since 1556. It is the coat of arms of the Counts of Wertheim. The meaning of the symbols is unknown.
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