Backnang – The Metropolis on the Murr

Backnang – The Metropolis on the Murr
The metropolis on the Murr
Top: The illuminated
Backnang Town Tower at night
Bottom: From left to right:
One needs to experience a town – its architecture
and hospitality. Take time to experience Backnang,
Fountain on Willy-Brandt-Platz. The
the metropolis on the Murr, and what it has to offer.
fountain symbolises the solution of
Stroll through the winding lanes of the old town and
the conflict between East and West.
The curtain of water is a symbol of
enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of the shopping areas.
the “Iron Curtain”. | View of the
Get to know the fine hospitality of our restaurants and
course of the River Murr. | Weekly
market in Backnang. | The town is
characterised by picturesque vistas
and lanes. | Big wheel at the
traditional Backnang Street Festival.
hotels. Take a break in one of the pavement cafés
and watch the world go by, watching the busy weekly
market or get talking to the locals. It's worth
listening – the Backnangers have plenty of stories to
tell, of the Amazon women of the Goose War or the
transformation of what was formerly the most
important leather-tanning town in Southern Germany
to an innovative telecommunications centre. We look
forward to seeing you.
Countryside & Local Communities
The town of Backnang lies in beautiful surroundings,
world! With their rural charm, the five Backnang
with orchards, gentle hills and the pretty River Murr
suburbs – Heiningen, Maubach and Waldrems in the
winding along its valley. There can be no doubt that
south, Strümpfelbach in the north, and Steinbach in
Backnang, its suburbs and the surrounding
the north-east – form the perfect transition between
communities of the “Backnang Bay” are justified in
the town and the picturesque landscape of “Back-
considering themselves one of the most attractive
nang Bay”.
cultural landscapes in Swabia. The Plattenwald in
Together with the hamlets of Sachsenweiler, Unge-
Backnang, the Murr valley and the nearby “Swabian-
heuerhof, Horbachhof, Stiftsgrundhof, Germannsweiler,
Franconian Forest” national park all invite you to
Ober, Mittel and Unterschöntal (locally known as the
take long walks, hikes or rides. No surprise therefore
“Schöntals”) and Seehof, the suburbs form a necklace
that the Backnang region is a popular area for
around the town. The excellent public transport
people from the Stuttgart metropolitan area to come
connections mean that the suburbs are linked to the
and spend their free time. The direct suburban
town and to the inter-regional road and rail networks.
railway connection to Stuttgart airport means that
it's easy to get to Backnang from anywhere in the
Top: The idyllic countryside around
Backnang: Orchard near Backnang.
Bottom: von links nach rechts:
Strümpfelbach with a typical former
schoolhouse. | Heiningen with a
colourful sea of flowers. | Maubach
with the “Maubach bell”. | Idyllic
view of Steinbach. | Pretty farmstead
in Waldrems.
Culture & Art
Top: The Backnang Street Festival –
one of the oldest and, without doubt,
liveliest street festivals in the region.
Bottom: From left to right: A regular
spectacle: Appearance by singers as part
of Classic-Ope(r)n-Air. | The Bandhaus:
Granary with the cellar of the former
Augustinian canonry, Latin school,
grammar school, Schickhardt
comprehensive school. Now cultural use
(including Backnang Youth Music
School, theatre, puppet theatre) |
Backnang Bürgerhaus: The former
Station Hotel forms the cultural heart of
Backnang. | For some years now, the
Backnang Murr Spectacular has taken
place by the Murr, around the Murr and,
primarily, on the Murr. | “Goose
Fountain” next to the town hall. Seen
here during the Goose Market – a
reminder of a significant historical
event: the Backnang Goose War.
Despite it having so many historic monuments,
Art and architecture have undergone an unusual
Backnang is not a museum. The lively town centre is
symbiosis in Backnang's historic streets and
a popular meeting point, be it at the Weekly,
buildings.
Christmas, Flea or Goose Markets. Backnangers know
Wherever you go in the old part of the town, you
how to celebrate. After all, the Backnang Street
will find sculptures created back in 1987, during the
Festival, which, since 1971, has taken place on the
Backnang Sculptors' Symposium. Going uphill, you
last weekend in June, is the oldest and largest event
will find the Sculpture Path of the Backnang Art
of its kind in the whole of Southern Germany. In
Group – this path follows the former route of the
addition, the “Classic-Ope(r)n-Air” concert takes
stations of the cross on the Ölberg. In the Tower
place against the historic backdrop on the Market
Schoolhouse, Backnang Town Gallery holds its
Square in the summer. All throughout the year,
renowned exhibitions, with which it has obtained its
concerts, opera, dance and drama in the Backnanger
Bürgerhaus shape the cultural life of our town.
reputation as a bold supporter of young, contemporary
Theatre and Professor Pröpstl's Puppet Theatre. When
art. Old Masters can be found in the Helferhaus.
the Galli Theatre opened, the historic old town was
Here, the “Grafik-Kabinett” presents its impressive
blessed with yet another cultural centre. The Smithy
Manderscheid.
collection of high-quality European prints – from
Museum on Burgplatz, the Technology Collection,
Bottom: From left to right:
Lucas Cranach to Albrecht Dürer. These artistic jewels
with the Information Systems subcollection, the
have made Backnang one of the treasure houses of
Scheuerle Museum, the Manfred von Ardenne Radio
European printing.
Museum and the Hungarian-German Folklore Museum
The Helferhaus also hosts the exhibitions and events
– all of these show that Backnang well deserves its
of the Backnang Local History Association (Heimat-
reputation as a town of museums. You can see – it's
und Kunstverein). The range of cultural events in the
well worth taking a look behind the scenes.
Bandhaus is expanded further by the Bandhaus
Welcome to Backnang!
Top: View of the historic Town Tower
and the new staircase of the Tower
Schoolhouse, designed by Johannes
Backnang Town Gallery. | Ensemble
of half-timbered houses with
market fountain in Backnang town
centre. | The Manfred von Ardenne
Radio Museum is home to numerous
testaments to German radio history. |
The Sculpture Path winds its way
through Backnang's old town: Here
you can see a stone sculpture on the
Ölberg. | View of the Helferhaus.
Free time & Industry
Top: The Backnang Bleichwiese with
Murr Staircase and freshly-renovated
Schweizerbau in the background.
Bottom: From left to right: The
Backnang Mineral Baths are popular
both with swimmers and those just
wanting to relax and are a part of the
new Murrbäder Backnang Wonnemar. |
View of the River Murr by the weir. |
Backnang is strongly influenced by the
telecommunications and information
systems industries – one of the most
important employers in this field is
Tesat-Spacecom GmbH & Co. KG. | Large
and renowned companies have also
settled in the Lerchenäcker Business
Park. | Modern sporting facilities, such
as the Katharinenplaisir Sports Hall
shown here, offer the best possible
conditions for leisure and team sports.
Backnang is a town worth living in. With around
Backnang also has a long tradition as an “industrial”
36,000 inhabitants, it is the centre of a catchment
town. The “Upper Spinning Mill” was founded back
area of nearly 120,000 people. The town possesses
in 1832, marking the start of industrialisation in the
outstanding kindergarten facilities, secondary
town. Numerous companies from the leather tanning
modern, comprehensive and grammar schools as well
industry turned Backnang into the leather-tanning
as numerous further education facilities. Life in the
town in Southern Germany, a reputation which lasted
town is improved yet further by countless clubs and
well into the 20th Century. After the Second World
societies, wide-ranging social support and excellent
War there was a shift in the industrial focus of the
opportunities for its senior citizens. In addition,
town towards electrical and information systems.
modern sports facilities and the popular Murrbäder
Today, Backnang is an attractive location for business,
Backnang Wonnemar form a fine base for spending
allowing you to work, live and play in a charming
leisure time in the town.
environment.
History
The castle hill, which falls steeply away to the River
Century Gothic chancel remains, which, with its
Murr, possesses a unique collection of historical
original capitals, makes it one of the earliest
architecture and is the oldest part of our town, first
examples of Gothic architecture in the whole of
mentioned in documents in the year 1067. Here, the
Germany. In 1816/17, the nave was replaced by the
Margraves of Baden founded an Augustinian
so-called “Tower Schoolhouse”, which today houses
monastery in 1116. Between 1220 and 1230, they
the Backnang Town Gallery. Above the chancel is the
turned Backnang into a town, which they used as
town tower, rebuilt six years after the town fire of
their religious centre and for burial purposes, for
1693, and today the town's symbol. The original
which, in 1130, they built the St. Pancras church,
plans for the tower go back to the Württemberg
with its Romanesque towers.
court architect and Renaissance architect Heinrich
Remains of the tombs of the Margraves can still be
Schickhardt. The town hall, built around 1600, and
found in the crypt of the church, thus making
rebuilt after a fire of 1716, is an expression of civic
Backnang the perfect “Baden-Württemberg” town. Of
pride, and is, even today, one of the most beautiful
the nearby St. Michael's church, only the 13th
town halls in the whole of Southern Germany.
Top: District court building, built by
Heinrich Schickhardt as a palace for
the House of Württemberg, once the
Chancellory for the county, in the
monastery complex (Stiftshof).
Bottom: From left to right:
Gothic chancel with exhibit from an
exhibition held by the Backnang town
council. | View from the Ölberg to the
Town Tower. | The historic town hall
– view from the Market Square. | The
Collegiate Church with its
Romanesque tower, seen from the
churchyard. | View of the Mörike
school in Backnang. The former
German President, Horst Köhler, lived
at the school as a 10 year-old
between 13th May and 12th October
1953, in the then camp for Soviet
refugees.
Stadt Backnang
Große Kreisstadt
Am Rathaus 1
71522 Backnang
Germany
Telephone:+49 (0)7191 894256
Telefax: +49 (0)7191 894100
[email protected]
www.backnang.de
Photographs: Edgar Layher | Monika Melchert | Claudia Gollor-Knüdeler | Loc Tien Nguyen | Backnang Public Relations Office

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