Bad Hersfeld
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bad Hersfeld | |
 |
|
| Coat of arms | Location |
 |
  |
| Administration | |
| Country |  Germany |
|---|---|
| State | Hesse |
| Admin. region | Kassel |
| District | Hersfeld-Rotenburg |
| Mayor | Hartmut H. Boehmer (Ind.) |
| Basic statistics | |
| Area | 73.82 km² (28.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 212 m (696 ft) |
| Population | 30,415 (31/12/2006) |
| - Density | 412 /km² (1,067 /sq mi) |
| Other information | |
| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) |
| Licence plate | HEF |
| Postal code | 36251 |
| Area code | 06621 |
| Website | www.bad-hersfeld.de |
Bad Hersfeld is a spa town and the capital of the Hersfeld-Rotenburg district, in the north-eastern region of Hesse, Germany.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Bad Hersfeld is located on the Fulda River, approx 50 kilometers southeast of Kassel. Neighbouring towns are Kassel in the north, Fulda in the south and Eisenach in the east. Since German reunification in 1990 the town has been situated in the center of Germany. For this reason the town and the district have become a focal point for logistic and distribution companies.
[edit] Division of the town
The town consists of the following districts:
|
|
[edit] History
- see main article Hersfeld Abbey
Saint Sturm established a small monastic community here in 736, but this moved to Fulda. It was re-settled here in 769 by Saint Lullus. Thus both Sturm and Lullus are regarded as the founders of Hersfeld Abbey, and consequently of the town which grew up round it, the present Bad Hersfeld. Lullus was born in Wessex and became monk at Malmesbury Abbey. He was a disciple of Saint Boniface and his successor as the archbishop of Mainz. He died in 786 in Bad Hersfeld and was buried in the abbey church, which he himself had built.
The monastery was enlarged between 831 and 850 and Lullus' remains were moved in 852 to another grave in the new basilica. During this ceremony his canonisation was announced by Rabanus Maurus. Since 852, the "Lullusfest", the oldest folk festival in Germany, has been celebrated in the week of Saint Lullus' day, 16 October (his day of death).
Martin Luther visited the monastery, on his way back from the Diet of Worms in 1521 and held a sermon in the abbey church on 1 May. About two years later, the town and the territory of the abbey was generally protestant.
During the Seven Years' War the French army used the former abbey church as a supply and food depot. During their retreat in 1761 they destroyed their supplies by setting fire to the building, thus also destroying one of the largest churches in Germany. During the American Revolution King George III of England hired the Musketeer Regiment Prinz Carl along with other regiments from Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse. The Musketeer Regiment Prinz Carl was stationed both before and after their return from America at Hersfeld.
In 1949 the town was officially acknowledged as a spa, and to indicate this its name was changed to Bad Hersfeld. The waters of the Lullus and Vitalis wells are recommended as helpful for people suffering from liver, bilious and stomach complaints or from enteritis.
Since 1951, the Bad Hersfeld Festival has taken place in the ruins of the Romanesque church.
[edit] The U.S. Army - Presents during the Cold War
The Fourteenth Armored Cavalry Regiment stood guard at the Iron Curtain from 1948 to 1972. With Squadrons in Bad Hersfeld, Fulda and Bad Kissingen. "The mission of the 14th ACR was to verify an attack of the Warsaw Pact and the Soviets. War Games were played by both sides on the border. We did recon on the border so we could alert 7th Army of an advance across the border. That's why we were a Recon Sqdn. Our second mission was to delay the aggressors as long as possible. Life expectancy was 20 minutes. All larger units were located farther into Germany, this would give them time to mobilize and to get NATO units on the move. They also had to relocate dependents. Why would we have had NA 14 (Nuclear Warheads) if not to slow down the progress of the aggressor. ......... To the men who served here in the 14th ACR Regiment during the Cold War. Part of them will always remain in this place. Their dedication to duty served as a testament to the world that freedom is precious. ........... A unified Germany has resulted from the efforts and personal sacrifices made by the soldiers stationed here in Bad Hersfeld. May history never forget all those who served here with the 3rd SQDN 14th Armored Cavalry Recon. Regiment, US 7th ARMY." http://thedeitz.com/ John Hathcock, US Army Special Forces, MSG. Ret. North Carolina
In 1972 the colors of the 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment were retired and the troopers found themselves as members of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. From there, a new generation of soldiers accepted the challenge and carried on the distinguished traditions of the first guardians on the Frontier of Freedom. The 11th Cav was present until 1993. In 1993 at the end of the "Cold War" the McPheeters Kaserne was turned over to the people of Germany. http://thedeitz.com/
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Roads
The Autobahn A 4, A5 and A 7 cross the town area.
[edit] Culture
The town is well known for the Bad Hersfeld Festival which takes place every summer in the ruined church of the Benedictine abbey. Further on there are famous mineral springs.
[edit] Twin towns
L'Haÿ-les-Roses (France, since 1979)- Bad Salzungen (Germany, since 1990)
Šumperk (Czech Republic, since 1994)
[edit] External links
- Official website of Bad Hersfeld (German)
- Bad Hersfeld Festival (German)
- Bad Hersfeld Opera Festival (German)
- Administration of medicinal treatment (German)
- Lullusfest in Bad Hersfeld (German)
- A personal 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment web page
|
|||||||
