Olching
Encyclopedia
Olching is a municipality
in the district of Fürstenfeldbruck
, in Bavaria
, Germany
. It is situated approximately 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Munich
.
and Fürstenfeldbruck
, and stretches along both sides of the river Amper
. There are two picturesque man-made lakes to the south of Olching, namely the so-called Olchinger See (Lake Olching) and the eponymous Kleiner See (Small Lake), both of which border the neighbouring community of Gröbenzell
.
In recent years, Olching has expanded considerably through new building to meet the demand for housing outside of Munich, while taking advantage of its good communications which allow a reasonable commute for those still working in the city and its outskirts. These new developments, especially Schwaigfeld, located north east of the town centre—close to Olching's Autobahn exit—have attracted controversy amongst some locals for their apparently inconsistent planning and sometimes eclectic architecture.
The ongoing influx of younger families into these new developments would appear to show that they have become a significant part of the modern Olching community, and the developments continue to grow and generate their own infrastructure improvements. A small shopping centre recently opened in Schwaigfeld (January 2008).
Olching is bordered to the west by Esting, Gernlinden, and Maisach
; in the north, Bergkirchen
; in the East from the outskirts of metropolitan Munich
and to the south by Gröbenzell
, Puchheim
, Eichenau
, Emmering
and Fürstenfeldbruck
. The municipality of Olching is now (since 1978) made up of three main municipalities, namely Olching, Esting (including Neu-Esting), and Geiselbullach (including Graßlfing).
trunk ring road B471 also has 2 exits for Olching.
The River Amper
is neither navigable to leisure craft nor to goods traffic. Smaller watercraft
such as dinghy
s and kayak
s are however frequently underway in the summer months.
network on the line. It takes about 20 minutes to München Hauptbahnhof
(Munich Central Station). The line is part of the MVV
, or Münchener Verkerhrsverbund, which is a unified tariff
zone that includes local buses, tram
s, and underground trains (U-Bahnen
) in the Munich
area.
Olching station is located on—but not served by—the DB
Munich–Augsburg mainline which also carries significant goods traffic. For express train travel, residents of Olching may travel via Munich
Pasing
and Munich
Hauptbahnhof
s. Other significant factors affecting the weather are the Alps
, which act as south-central European border, and the Danube
, which is a regional meteorological divide. Due to this constellation, the weather in the region is quite changeable.
n blue and white sky, and the Bavarian Alps may be clearly visible, apparently close-by, although they are approximately 100 kilometres (60 mi) away to the south. Some people suffer from headaches and circulatory problems as a result of the foehn.
settlement and was first mentioned in the Early Middle Ages
. In 740 the Agilolfingian duke Tassilo II of Bavaria
bestowed the town, together with its church and flour mill, to the Benediktbeuern Abbey
(the authenticity of this document is contested). The early Gothic church was replaced by the Romanesque basilica St. Peter und Paul in 1903.
In 1258 Louis II, Duke of Bavaria
founded a monastery as a form of penance
for the execution of his wife Maria von Brabant, who had wrongfully been convicted of adultery
. This monastery was relocated from Aibling to Olching in 1262. The monastery was relocated to Fürstenfeldbruck
only one year later, either due to flooding or structural problems. The Fürstenfeld Abbey
owned several estates in Olching until the period of secularization
in Bavaria
in 1802/1803.
Olching suffered severely as a consequence of the Thirty Years' War
, particularly after the city of Munich
was taken by Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
in 1632. Only nine out of formerly 67 estates remained in Olching after 1648.
) was transferred to the newly-founded Rentamt (tax office) of Fürstenfeldbruck
, and in 1823 it also came under the jurisdiction of Fürstenfeldbruck
.
In 1834 the first school was established in Olching.
Until 1839 Olching was still very rural with about 50 farms and approximately 300 inhabitants. This changed with the construction of the railway line between Munich to Augsburg. The line between Munich
and Olching was completed on 27 October 1839 and the rail service commenced the following year. At the same time a wood pulp
factory opened in Olching, which in turn led to a strong influx of workers.
the municipal council was solely dominated by left-wing parties. However, for some of these left-wing politicians, such as SPD
-mayor Josef Tauscheck, their political beliefs had serious repercussions due to the rise of the right in Germany in the 1920s and 1930s. Some experienced a great degree of harassment, for others it led to internment in the infamous concentration camps
after 1933. Just as in the rest of Germany
the National Socialists also gained a large following in Olching in the run-up to and during the Third Reich.
During an allied air raid
on 22 February 1944, 22 people were killed, including two of the approximately 1000 forced laborers located in and around Olching during the war.
After World War II
about 2,000 Heimatvertriebene
(expellees), mainly from Silesia
and Czechoslovakia
, arrived in Olching. In 1950 these new citizens made up 25% of the population of Olching and they contributed towards the dynamic development of Olching in the post-war era
.
The erstwhile rural appearance of Olching has changed over time, as the cityscape of Olching is becoming more and more dominated by businesses and blocks of flats. Many of Olching's citizens use the S-Bahn to commute to work in Munich
, which was built for the 1972 Summer Olympics
. In 1978 Esting, Geiselbullach, and Graßlfing were merged into the larger community of Olching and this has contributed towards a continuous population growth, especially since the development of the Schwaigfeld area in the early 2000s.
Olching's coat of arms
originates from the year 1951. The swept blue bar in the lower part symbolises the river Amper
, which flows through Olching and is of major significance for the town. The reed in the middle reminds that Olching was once marshland; the head of wheat
symbolises the agriculture and land cultivation. The upper part displays the chequered blue and white Bavaria
n standard.
The current figure (August 2009) for the population of Olching is 24,582. In the past ten years, the population has grown by 10% and is expected by local officials to rise to 25,750 by 2010. This development is mainly driven by the importance of Munich
as a centre of employment and by a wish to avoid the higher urban property prices which have been driven by Munich
's continuing economic success.
, has 30 seats. Since the latest local elections on 2 March 2008 it is made up as follows:
The numbers in brackets indicate the gains and losses since the previous election in March 2002.
and Haupstrasse are dominated by the catholic
church, there is a smaller protestant/Lutheran church near to the station
and a modern catholic church in New Esting:
events. Olching is also known for its attractive golf course which lies between Olching and Geiselbullach. There are also championship—and leisure—minigolf courses located at separate, neighbouring clubs.
There are also a number of sports clubs, including SC Olching, SV Esting, and the TSV Geiselbullach.
Furthermore, the river Amper
, its backwater Mühlbach and the local bird-park Vogelpark Olching
, open spring to autumn, offer idyllic walks and views to locals and visitors. Nearby is the Schuttberg; (rubble-hill), a little hill between Olching and Esting (situated next to the Tony-März-Stadion, the home ground of SC Olching). Nowadays this mound is a popular spot for children, teenagers and adults alike for town-centre sledging during the winter.
Right next to the Schuttberg is the Volksfestplatz, (a fairground), a site which acts in the off-season as a cycle practice range, incorporates a go-kart
training area, has a small skate-park and hosts monthly flea-markets throughout the summer. It is most popular, however, when it is used for the Olchinger Volksfest, which is Olching's very own Oktoberfest
in May/June.
A further popular spot is the Olchinger See, which is a picturesque lake that attracts plenty of visitors from the surrounding area.
The carnival parade (Faschingsumzug) takes place annually on Shrove Tuesday at 2:00 pm and has a long tradition in Olching. The first procession was organised by the so-called young farmers' club (Burschenverein) in 1923. Between 1938 and 1952, these parades were suspended due to the political environment and other factors such as World War II
. It was only in 1953 when six masked men—three of them musicians—took to the streets on Faschingsdienstag that this tradition was reinstated on a regular basis.
The procession grew ever bigger due to the involvement of local clubs and groups. Over the course of time, the procession in Olching has become the largest in Upper Bavaria
. Since 1953 it has only been cancelled on three occasions: In 1962 as a mark of respect for the victims of the catastrophic surge-tide in Hamburg
; in 1990 due to a hurricane-force storm called Wiebke; and in 1991 due to the first Gulf War
.
Over the following years as many as 30,000–40,000 spectators have attended this spectacle
regularly in the hope of catching a handful of sweets that are thrown from the floats for the children and to laugh at the politically and satirically themed floats as the procession moves down the High Street (Hauptstrasse) in Olching.
A tradition that is more widespread in northern and central parts of Germany, the Easter Fire
, (Ger.), is also traditionally celebrated in Olching on the town's fairground (see below), the so-called Volksfestplatz. A large bonfire is lit after dusk on Easter Saturday
. Spectators of the event can also browse the numerous stalls while the Olching volunteer fire brigade Freiwillige Feuerwehr manage the fire.
There is also an unofficial competition between neighboring communities and families, (typically in more rural areas) to see who can set up the largest fire. This is done to dispose of superfluous wood (including remaining Christmas trees) while earning donations for local charitable groups and organizations.
The origin of this festival in Germany
is a mixture of pagan celebrations intended to drive away the winter and its evils, and Christian
beliefs (another name for this celebration in parts of Bavaria
and Austria
is Judasfeuer (literally: Judas fire)).
(Volksfest) in Olching takes place annually during the second holiday week of Whitsun
(Pfingsten). The fair consists of rides, stalls, food and entertainment, and a large beer tent, which are set up on the Volksfestplatz (fairground). There are various themed events in the beer tent, including a regional boxing fight night. The community organises a broad range of events during the festival, including a popular large firework display, usually on the first Monday of the fair. The day of Corpus Christi
is usually a raceday, which takes place at the Speedwaybahn as part of the festivities.
Municipalities of Germany
Municipalities are the lowest level of territorial division in Germany. This may be the fourth level of territorial division in Germany, apart from those states which include Regierungsbezirke , where municipalities then become the fifth level.-Overview:With more than 3,400,000 inhabitants, the...
in the district of Fürstenfeldbruck
Fürstenfeldbruck (district)
Fürstenfeldbruck is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the city of Munich and the districts of Munich, Starnberg, Landsberg, Aichach-Friedberg and Dachau.-History:...
, in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is situated approximately 20 km (12 mi) northwest of Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
Geography
Olching lies approximately half way between DachauDachau
Dachau is a town in Upper Bavaria, in the southern part of Germany. It is a major district town—a Große Kreisstadt—of the administrative region of Upper Bavaria, about 20 km north-west of Munich. It is now a popular residential area for people working in Munich with roughly 40,000 inhabitants...
and Fürstenfeldbruck
Fürstenfeldbruck
Fürstenfeldbruck is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Fürstenfeldbruck. it has a population of 35,494. Since the 1930s, Fürstenfeldbruck has had an air force base....
, and stretches along both sides of the river Amper
Amper
The Amper is a river located in southern Bavaria, Germany and is the largest tributary to the Isar river. The Amper flows into the Isar in Moosburg, 185 km from the headwater of the river and at a speed of 45 m³/s. It runs out of the Ammersee and its upper course, upstream from the...
. There are two picturesque man-made lakes to the south of Olching, namely the so-called Olchinger See (Lake Olching) and the eponymous Kleiner See (Small Lake), both of which border the neighbouring community of Gröbenzell
Gröbenzell
Gröbenzell is a municipality near Munich in the district Fürstenfeldbruck, in Bavaria, Germany. It was founded in 1952, and has a population of 19,202...
.
In recent years, Olching has expanded considerably through new building to meet the demand for housing outside of Munich, while taking advantage of its good communications which allow a reasonable commute for those still working in the city and its outskirts. These new developments, especially Schwaigfeld, located north east of the town centre—close to Olching's Autobahn exit—have attracted controversy amongst some locals for their apparently inconsistent planning and sometimes eclectic architecture.
The ongoing influx of younger families into these new developments would appear to show that they have become a significant part of the modern Olching community, and the developments continue to grow and generate their own infrastructure improvements. A small shopping centre recently opened in Schwaigfeld (January 2008).
Neighbouring communities
Maisach
Maisach is a municipality in the district of Fürstenfeldbruck, in Bavaria, Germany. It is the largest municipality in the Fürstenfeldbruck district. It is situated 4 km north of Fürstenfeldbruck, and 25 km northwest of Munich. It is served by an S-Bahn station on the S3 towards...
; in the north, Bergkirchen
Bergkirchen
Bergkirchen is a municipality in the district of Dachau in Bavaria in Germany....
; in the East from the outskirts of metropolitan Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and to the south by Gröbenzell
Gröbenzell
Gröbenzell is a municipality near Munich in the district Fürstenfeldbruck, in Bavaria, Germany. It was founded in 1952, and has a population of 19,202...
, Puchheim
Puchheim
Puchheim is a city near Munich in the district of Fürstenfeldbruck, in Bavaria, Germany. It has about 20,000 inhabitants, and is located at .Puchheim is divided into two parts: the old and rural part called Puchheim-Ort and the new part of Puchheim that was founded when the S-Bahn was built....
, Eichenau
Eichenau
Eichenau is a municipality in the district of Fürstenfeldbruck, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated 20 km west of Munich .Eichenau was officially named in 1907 as a separate settlement to the community of Alling. Its location is due to the railway station on the line Munich to Lindau...
, Emmering
Emmering, Fürstenfeldbruck
Emmering is a municipality in the district of Fürstenfeldbruck in Bavaria in Germany....
and Fürstenfeldbruck
Fürstenfeldbruck
Fürstenfeldbruck is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Fürstenfeldbruck. it has a population of 35,494. Since the 1930s, Fürstenfeldbruck has had an air force base....
. The municipality of Olching is now (since 1978) made up of three main municipalities, namely Olching, Esting (including Neu-Esting), and Geiselbullach (including Graßlfing).
Communications
Olching is located near the Autobahn A8 exits Dachau/Fürstenfeldbruck and Lochhausen/Langwied, as well as the Autobahn A99 Lochhausen. The MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
trunk ring road B471 also has 2 exits for Olching.
The River Amper
Amper
The Amper is a river located in southern Bavaria, Germany and is the largest tributary to the Isar river. The Amper flows into the Isar in Moosburg, 185 km from the headwater of the river and at a speed of 45 m³/s. It runs out of the Ammersee and its upper course, upstream from the...
is neither navigable to leisure craft nor to goods traffic. Smaller watercraft
Watercraft
A watercraft is a vessel or craft designed to move across or through water. The name is derived from the term "craft" which was used to describe all types of water going vessels...
such as dinghy
Dinghy
A dinghy is a type of small boat, often carried or towed for use as a ship's boat by a larger vessel. It is a loanword from either Bengali or Urdu. The term can also refer to small racing yachts or recreational open sailing boats. Utility dinghies are usually rowboats or have an outboard motor,...
s and kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
s are however frequently underway in the summer months.
Public transport
Olching is connected to the Munich S-BahnMunich S-Bahn
The Munich S-Bahn is an electric rail transit system in Munich, Germany. "S-Bahn" is the German abbreviation for stadtschnellbahn , and the Munich S-Bahn exhibits characteristics of both rapid transit and commuter rail systems.The Munich S-Bahn network is operated by S-Bahn München, a subsidiary...
network on the line. It takes about 20 minutes to München Hauptbahnhof
München Hauptbahnhof
Munich Central Station is the main railway station of the city of Munich in Germany. It is one of the three long distance train stations in Munich, the others being München-Pasing and München Ost. The station sees about 350,000 passengers a day, which puts it on par with other large stations in...
(Munich Central Station). The line is part of the MVV
Munich Transport and Tariff Association
The Münchner Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund or MVV is the transit authority of the city of Munich, the capital of the German state of Bavaria...
, or Münchener Verkerhrsverbund, which is a unified tariff
Tariff
A tariff may be either tax on imports or exports , or a list or schedule of prices for such things as rail service, bus routes, and electrical usage ....
zone that includes local buses, tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s, and underground trains (U-Bahnen
Munich U-Bahn
The Munich U-Bahn system is an electric rail rapid transit network in Munich, Germany. "U-Bahn" is the German contraction for Untergrundbahn or "subway." It is operated by the municipally owned Münchner Verkehrsgesellschaft...
) in the Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
area.
Olching station is located on—but not served by—the DB
Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
Munich–Augsburg mainline which also carries significant goods traffic. For express train travel, residents of Olching may travel via Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
Pasing
Pasing
Pasing is a district in the city of Munich, Germany and part of the borough Pasing-Obermenzing.-Overview:Pasing is located west of the Munich city centre, at the north-western edge of the city's innermost traffic zone. The district is mainly residential; there is a large concentration of shops,...
and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
Hauptbahnhof
Climate
Olching lies in the transitional zone between the humid Atlantic climate and the dry continental climateContinental climate
Continental climate is a climate characterized by important annual variation in temperature due to the lack of significant bodies of water nearby...
s. Other significant factors affecting the weather are the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, which act as south-central European border, and the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
, which is a regional meteorological divide. Due to this constellation, the weather in the region is quite changeable.
Foehn
The so-called foehn is a weather phenomenon particular to the region near to the Alps that occasionally brings warmer and dryer air from the south to Olching, potentially occurring at any time of year. This is accompanied by extremely good visibility, in particular the much-clichéd BavariaBavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n blue and white sky, and the Bavarian Alps may be clearly visible, apparently close-by, although they are approximately 100 kilometres (60 mi) away to the south. Some people suffer from headaches and circulatory problems as a result of the foehn.
Early records
Olching is an old bavariiBavarii
The Bavarii were a Germanic tribe whose name emerged late in Teutonic tribal times. The full name originally was the Germanic *baio-warioz. This name has been handed down as Baiwaren, Baioaren, Bioras, latinised Bavarii, Baioarii. or Bavarii, Bavarians, Bajuwaren, Bajuvarii, Bajuwaren and Baiern....
settlement and was first mentioned in the Early Middle Ages
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
. In 740 the Agilolfingian duke Tassilo II of Bavaria
Tassilo II of Bavaria
Tassilo II was a ruler in southern Germany.He was the son, probably third, of Theodo of Bavaria and Folchaid. Sometime before 715, Theodo divided his duchy and associated with its rule the eldest two of his four sons. The eldest, Theodbert, was co-ruling as early as 702 and the second, Theobald,...
bestowed the town, together with its church and flour mill, to the Benediktbeuern Abbey
Benediktbeuern Abbey
Benediktbeuern Abbey is a monastery of the Salesians of Don Bosco, originally a monastery of the Benedictine Order, in Benediktbeuern in Bavaria, near the Kochelsee, 64 km south-south-west of Munich...
(the authenticity of this document is contested). The early Gothic church was replaced by the Romanesque basilica St. Peter und Paul in 1903.
In 1258 Louis II, Duke of Bavaria
Louis II, Duke of Bavaria
Duke Louis II of Bavaria was Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine of the Rhine from 1253. Born in Heidelberg, he was a son of duke Otto II and Agnes of the Palatinate...
founded a monastery as a form of penance
Penance
Penance is repentance of sins as well as the proper name of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and Anglican Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession. It also plays a part in non-sacramental confession among Lutherans and other Protestants...
for the execution of his wife Maria von Brabant, who had wrongfully been convicted of adultery
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
. This monastery was relocated from Aibling to Olching in 1262. The monastery was relocated to Fürstenfeldbruck
Fürstenfeldbruck
Fürstenfeldbruck is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Fürstenfeldbruck. it has a population of 35,494. Since the 1930s, Fürstenfeldbruck has had an air force base....
only one year later, either due to flooding or structural problems. The Fürstenfeld Abbey
Fürstenfeld Abbey
Fürstenfeld Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in Fürstenfeldbruck in Bavaria, Germany.It is situated about 25 km north-west of Munich. The abbey was one of the household monasteries of the Wittelsbachs...
owned several estates in Olching until the period of secularization
Secularization
Secularization is the transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non-religious values and secular institutions...
in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
in 1802/1803.
Olching suffered severely as a consequence of the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
, particularly after the city of Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
was taken by Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustav II Adolf has been widely known in English by his Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus Magnus and variously in historical writings also as Gustavus, or Gustavus the Great, or Gustav Adolph the Great,...
in 1632. Only nine out of formerly 67 estates remained in Olching after 1648.
Developments in the 19th century
In 1821 Olching (which had until then been administered by DachauDachau
Dachau is a town in Upper Bavaria, in the southern part of Germany. It is a major district town—a Große Kreisstadt—of the administrative region of Upper Bavaria, about 20 km north-west of Munich. It is now a popular residential area for people working in Munich with roughly 40,000 inhabitants...
) was transferred to the newly-founded Rentamt (tax office) of Fürstenfeldbruck
Fürstenfeldbruck
Fürstenfeldbruck is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Fürstenfeldbruck. it has a population of 35,494. Since the 1930s, Fürstenfeldbruck has had an air force base....
, and in 1823 it also came under the jurisdiction of Fürstenfeldbruck
Fürstenfeldbruck
Fürstenfeldbruck is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Fürstenfeldbruck. it has a population of 35,494. Since the 1930s, Fürstenfeldbruck has had an air force base....
.
In 1834 the first school was established in Olching.
Until 1839 Olching was still very rural with about 50 farms and approximately 300 inhabitants. This changed with the construction of the railway line between Munich to Augsburg. The line between Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and Olching was completed on 27 October 1839 and the rail service commenced the following year. At the same time a wood pulp
Wood pulp
Pulp is a lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibres from wood, fibre crops or waste paper. Wood pulp is the most common raw material in papermaking.-History:...
factory opened in Olching, which in turn led to a strong influx of workers.
The 20th century
The predominantly working class population had a large influence on the social and political culture of Olching during the 20th century. During the Weimar RepublicWeimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
the municipal council was solely dominated by left-wing parties. However, for some of these left-wing politicians, such as SPD
Social Democratic Party of Germany
The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
-mayor Josef Tauscheck, their political beliefs had serious repercussions due to the rise of the right in Germany in the 1920s and 1930s. Some experienced a great degree of harassment, for others it led to internment in the infamous concentration camps
Nazi concentration camps
Nazi Germany maintained concentration camps throughout the territories it controlled. The first Nazi concentration camps set up in Germany were greatly expanded after the Reichstag fire of 1933, and were intended to hold political prisoners and opponents of the regime...
after 1933. Just as in the rest of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
the National Socialists also gained a large following in Olching in the run-up to and during the Third Reich.
During an allied air raid
Airstrike
An air strike is an attack on a specific objective by military aircraft during an offensive mission. Air strikes are commonly delivered from aircraft such as fighters, bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters, and others...
on 22 February 1944, 22 people were killed, including two of the approximately 1000 forced laborers located in and around Olching during the war.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
about 2,000 Heimatvertriebene
Heimatvertriebene
Heimatvertriebene are those around 12 million ethnic Germans who fled or were expelled after World War II from parts of Germany annexed by Poland and Russia, and from other countries, who found refuge in both West and East Germany, and Austria...
(expellees), mainly from Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
and Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, arrived in Olching. In 1950 these new citizens made up 25% of the population of Olching and they contributed towards the dynamic development of Olching in the post-war era
Post-war
A post-war period or postwar period is the interval immediately following the ending of a war and enduring as long as war does not resume. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum when a war between the same parties resumes at a later date...
.
The erstwhile rural appearance of Olching has changed over time, as the cityscape of Olching is becoming more and more dominated by businesses and blocks of flats. Many of Olching's citizens use the S-Bahn to commute to work in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, which was built for the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
. In 1978 Esting, Geiselbullach, and Graßlfing were merged into the larger community of Olching and this has contributed towards a continuous population growth, especially since the development of the Schwaigfeld area in the early 2000s.
Coat of Arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
originates from the year 1951. The swept blue bar in the lower part symbolises the river Amper
Amper
The Amper is a river located in southern Bavaria, Germany and is the largest tributary to the Isar river. The Amper flows into the Isar in Moosburg, 185 km from the headwater of the river and at a speed of 45 m³/s. It runs out of the Ammersee and its upper course, upstream from the...
, which flows through Olching and is of major significance for the town. The reed in the middle reminds that Olching was once marshland; the head of wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
symbolises the agriculture and land cultivation. The upper part displays the chequered blue and white Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n standard.
Population
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
as a centre of employment and by a wish to avoid the higher urban property prices which have been driven by Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
's continuing economic success.
Politics
The Olching Gemeinderat, or local councilLocal government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
, has 30 seats. Since the latest local elections on 2 March 2008 it is made up as follows:
- CSU—12 seats (+2)
- SPD—7 seats (+4)
- FWO—6 seats (-2)
- Grüne—3 seats (+1)
- FW-GEO—1 seat (-3)
- ÖDP—1 seat (-1)
The numbers in brackets indicate the gains and losses since the previous election in March 2002.
Religion and worship in Olching
Amongst the adult population, the declared religious affiliation (which has fiscal consequences in Germany) breaks down as follows:- 12,772 are Roman Catholic,
- 3,975 are Protestant,
- 7,456 are of other religious (Hindu, Muslim etc.) denominations or of no religion.
Churches in Olching
In the centre of Olching, the skylineSkyline
A skyline is the overall or partial view of a city's tall buildings and structures consisting of many skyscrapers in front of the sky in the background. It can also be described as the artificial horizon that a city's overall structure creates. Skylines serve as a kind of fingerprint of a city, as...
and Haupstrasse are dominated by the catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
church, there is a smaller protestant/Lutheran church near to the station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
and a modern catholic church in New Esting:
- St. Peter und Paul (Olching)
- St. Elisabeth v. Thüringen (Olching New Esting)
- Evangelisch-Lutherische Johanneskirche (Olching)
Other religious groups and organisations in Olching
As well as groups such as kindergartens, attached to and or supported by the church community, other groups of various denominations are present and active in Olching:- Brot des Lebens e.V. (Olching)
- Christliche Gemeinde Olching e. V. (Olching)
- CVJM Ortsgruppe Olching (Olching)
- Ev. Pfarramt I (Olching)
- Kath. Kindergarten St. Elisabeth (Olching)
- Kath. Pfarramt Esting (Olching)
- Kindergarten (Olching Wolfstrasse)
- Kloster der Franziskanerinnen (Olching)
- Kolpingheim (Olching)
- Missionskreis Maria Mater Dei e. V. (Olching)
- Pfarrgemeinderat St. Peter und Paul (Olching)
- Türkisch-Islamischer Verein Fürstenfeldbruck und Umgebung (Olching)
- Vincentiusverein (Olching)
Primary and secondary education
The main schools in Olching are- Grundschule Olching (primary school),
- Grundschule Graßlfing (primary school),
- Grund- und Hauptschule Esting (primary school and secondary schoolSecondary schoolSecondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
), - Montessori Grund- und Hauptschule (primary school and secondary schoolSecondary schoolSecondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
), - Gymnasium Olching (secondary schoolSecondary schoolSecondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
), and the - Hauptschule an der Heckenstraße (secondary schoolSecondary schoolSecondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
).
Others
Other educational establishments in Olching include- Volkshochschule Olching, (mainly) adult education and evening classes in all fields
- Erwachsenenbildung der kath. Kirche, Brucker Forum e.V., Catholic Church adult education
- Ev. Bildungswerk im Landkreis (Pfarramt Olching), Evangelical Church education centre
- Musikschule Olching und Esting, Music School
Leisure
Olching is well known for its motorcycle speedway club and track, the so-called Speedwaybahn. It hosts a number of events, including international motorcyclingMotorcycling
Motorcycling is the act of riding a motorcycle. A variety of subcultures and lifestyles have been built up around motorcycling.-Benefits:Robert M. Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was a paean celebrating motorcycling...
events. Olching is also known for its attractive golf course which lies between Olching and Geiselbullach. There are also championship—and leisure—minigolf courses located at separate, neighbouring clubs.
There are also a number of sports clubs, including SC Olching, SV Esting, and the TSV Geiselbullach.
Amper
The Amper is a river located in southern Bavaria, Germany and is the largest tributary to the Isar river. The Amper flows into the Isar in Moosburg, 185 km from the headwater of the river and at a speed of 45 m³/s. It runs out of the Ammersee and its upper course, upstream from the...
, its backwater Mühlbach and the local bird-park Vogelpark Olching
Vogelpark Olching
Olching Bird Park is located in Olching, 20km north west of Munich. On an area of 20,000 m², a wide range of different species can be found: from the little tiger finch to cranes, storks and many brightly coloured parrots....
, open spring to autumn, offer idyllic walks and views to locals and visitors. Nearby is the Schuttberg; (rubble-hill), a little hill between Olching and Esting (situated next to the Tony-März-Stadion, the home ground of SC Olching). Nowadays this mound is a popular spot for children, teenagers and adults alike for town-centre sledging during the winter.
Right next to the Schuttberg is the Volksfestplatz, (a fairground), a site which acts in the off-season as a cycle practice range, incorporates a go-kart
Go-kart
thumb|A [[Kart racing|racing kart]] at the [[Commission Internationale de Karting|CIK-FIA]] European Championship 2008A go-kart is a small four-wheeled vehicle...
training area, has a small skate-park and hosts monthly flea-markets throughout the summer. It is most popular, however, when it is used for the Olchinger Volksfest, which is Olching's very own Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest, or Wiesn, is a 16–18 day beer festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world's largest fair, with more than 5 million people attending every year. The...
in May/June.
A further popular spot is the Olchinger See, which is a picturesque lake that attracts plenty of visitors from the surrounding area.
KOM Kulturwerkstatt am Olchinger Mühlbach
A listed building originating from 1877 that was sympathetically renovated and opened in 2004 for cultural events of all sorts. Located at the western end of the Hauptstrasse, its various intimate rooms are used for exhibitions, chamber and classical music performances, and seminars and meetings by various Olching clubs.Carnival Parade; Faschingsumzug
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was only in 1953 when six masked men—three of them musicians—took to the streets on Faschingsdienstag that this tradition was reinstated on a regular basis.
The procession grew ever bigger due to the involvement of local clubs and groups. Over the course of time, the procession in Olching has become the largest in Upper Bavaria
Upper Bavaria
Upper Bavaria is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany.- Geography :Upper Bavaria is located in the southern portion of Bavaria, and is centered around the city of Munich. It is subdivided into four regions : Ingolstadt, Munich, Bayerisches Oberland , and Südostoberbayern...
. Since 1953 it has only been cancelled on three occasions: In 1962 as a mark of respect for the victims of the catastrophic surge-tide in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
; in 1990 due to a hurricane-force storm called Wiebke; and in 1991 due to the first Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
.
Over the following years as many as 30,000–40,000 spectators have attended this spectacle
Spectacle
In general, spectacle refers to an event that is memorable for the appearance it creates. Derived in Middle English from c. 1340 as "specially prepared or arranged display" it was borrowed from Old French spectacle, itself a reflection of the Latin spectaculum "a show" from spectare "to view,...
regularly in the hope of catching a handful of sweets that are thrown from the floats for the children and to laugh at the politically and satirically themed floats as the procession moves down the High Street (Hauptstrasse) in Olching.
Easter Fire; Osterfeuer
Easter Fire
Easter fires are typically bonfires lit before, during, or after Easter Sunday as part of secular and religious celebrations.-Easter Vigil:Fire can feature prominently during solemn Easter Vigil celebrations held after sunset on Holy Saturday...
, (Ger.), is also traditionally celebrated in Olching on the town's fairground (see below), the so-called Volksfestplatz. A large bonfire is lit after dusk on Easter Saturday
Easter Saturday
Easter Saturday, or Bright Saturday, is the Saturday following the Christian festival of Easter. In the liturgy of Western Christianity it is the last day of Easter Week, sometimes referred to as the Saturday of Easter Week or Saturday in Easter Week. In the liturgy of Eastern Christianity it is...
. Spectators of the event can also browse the numerous stalls while the Olching volunteer fire brigade Freiwillige Feuerwehr manage the fire.
There is also an unofficial competition between neighboring communities and families, (typically in more rural areas) to see who can set up the largest fire. This is done to dispose of superfluous wood (including remaining Christmas trees) while earning donations for local charitable groups and organizations.
The origin of this festival in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
is a mixture of pagan celebrations intended to drive away the winter and its evils, and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
beliefs (another name for this celebration in parts of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
is Judasfeuer (literally: Judas fire)).
Fair; Volksfest
The fairFair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
(Volksfest) in Olching takes place annually during the second holiday week of Whitsun
Whitsun
Whitsun is the name used in the UK for the Christian festival of Pentecost, the seventh Sunday after Easter, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ's disciples...
(Pfingsten). The fair consists of rides, stalls, food and entertainment, and a large beer tent, which are set up on the Volksfestplatz (fairground). There are various themed events in the beer tent, including a regional boxing fight night. The community organises a broad range of events during the festival, including a popular large firework display, usually on the first Monday of the fair. The day of Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi (feast)
Corpus Christi is a Latin Rite solemnity, now designated the solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ . It is also celebrated in some Anglican, Lutheran and Old Catholic Churches. Like Trinity Sunday and the Solemnity of Christ the King, it does not commemorate a particular event in...
is usually a raceday, which takes place at the Speedwaybahn as part of the festivities.
External links
- Homepage of the Gemeinde Olching
- Gymnasium Olching
- Grundschule Graßlfing
- Olching
- Golfclub-olching.de
- SC Olching
- TSV Geiselbullach
- SV Esting News
- Olching ("Oiching") in the Bavarian Wikipedia