Walsdorf
Encyclopedia
Walsdorf is a community in the Upper Franconia
n district of Bamberg
and a member of the administrative community (Verwaltungsgemeinschaft) of Stegaurach. It lies in the valley of the Aurach roughly ten kilometres west of Bamberg
.
’s oldest book of enfeoffments, for the year 1317. It is entered there along with the whole circle of surrounding places as bambergisches Lehen der Leutersheim von Lisberg (“Bamberg fief of the Leutersheims of Lisberg”). Changing lordly masters in the years that followed determined the community’s fate, whereby its location in the border areas between the Bishopric of Bamberg and the Bishopric of Würzburg
allowed it a certain freedom in its own development. As a Bamberg fief under the ownership of the Leutersheims at Lisberg
, ownership passed to the Lords of Thüngfeld in 1399 and then in 1524 to Wolf von Krewelsheim (= Crailsheim). Particularly formative effects were wrought beginning in 1525 by the Crailsheims’ overlordship. They determined the community’s religious allegiance, the community structure and the community’s prosperity, turning it into a wealthy market community in the northern Steigerwald (forest). The landowner was an adherent of the Reformation
and belonged to Martin Luther
’s watch as he made his way to Worms
. As a result, the subjects, too, had to embrace the Evangelical
faith, which, however, led to decades-long quarrels with the Bishopric of Bamberg and for a time to confiscation of all lands. This also made it necessary to hold Evangelical church services in part at the castle then belonging to the Lord.
The events in those days have had their effect down to today, and even now, the proportion of Walsdorf’s population who follow the Evangelical faith is far greater – almost 40% – than in the overwhelmingly Catholic
communities elsewhere in the district.
The autonomous knightly estate of the Barons of Crailsheim passed with the Act of the Confederation of the Rhine
in 1806 to Bavaria
. These lords, however, remained the local landowners until their overlordship was finally dissolved in 1848, and also remained the patron lords until the patronage, too, was dissolved in 1964.
With effect from 1 July 1971, the formerly autonomous community of Kolmsdorf (with the outlying centres of Feigendorf und Zettelsdorf) freely chose to amalgamate itself with Walsdorf. The community of Erlau followed on 1 May 1978. Also on that day, Walsdorf and the neighbouring communities of Stegaurach
, Lisberg
(with Trabelsdorf) and Priesendorf
formed an administrative community (Verwaltungsgemeinschaft), from which the two last-named communities withdrew again on 31 December 1979. Since 1 January 1980, Stegaurach and Walsdorf have been the only two member communities of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft of Stegaurach.
It should also be mentioned that throughout the aforesaid overlordship, there was an important Jewish presence in the community, made up mainly of livestock
dealers and small business
men. An autonomous, formerly Jewish Ortsteil lay in the southwest of the main centre with a great Jewish cemetery, to which Bamberg Jews on various occasions had to come to bury their dead for want of their own cemetery in Bamberg. For the time from 1812 to 1848, a book of the dead has been published and is on hand. A modest synagogue
, now beset by further building, in the south of the old lordly seat still bears witness today to this small Jewish community.
The community council is made up of 14 members, listed here by party or voter community affiliation, and also with the number of seats that each holds:
In 1999, municipal tax revenue, converted to euro
s, amounted to €1,249,000 of which business taxes (net) amounted to €561,000.
none. Also, 880 such workers worked from home. In processing businesses there were twelve businesses, and in construction 2. Furthermore, in 1999, there were 35 agricultural operations with a working area of 9.61 km², of which 7 km² was cropland and 2.6 km² was meadowland.
Upper Franconia
Upper Franconia is a Regierungsbezirk of the state of Bavaria, southern Germany. It forms part of the historically significant region of Franconia , all now part of the German Federal State of Bayern .With more than 200 independent breweries which brew...
n district of Bamberg
Bamberg (district)
Bamberg Land is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It surrounds but does not include the town of Bamberg. The district is bounded by the districts of Lichtenfels, Bayreuth, Forchheim, Erlangen-Höchstadt, Neustadt -Bad Windsheim, Kitzingen, Schweinfurt and Haßberge.- History :The history of the...
and a member of the administrative community (Verwaltungsgemeinschaft) of Stegaurach. It lies in the valley of the Aurach roughly ten kilometres west of Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
.
Constituent communities
Walsdorf’s main and namesake centre is by far the biggest of its Gemeindeteile with a population of 1,811. The community furthermore has these outlying centres, each given here with its own population figure:- Erlau (Franconia) 512
- Feigendorf 73
- Hetzentännig 6
- Kolmsdorf 272
- Zettelsdorf 15
- (as of 2006)
History
Walsdorf had its first documentoary mention in WürzburgWürzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
’s oldest book of enfeoffments, for the year 1317. It is entered there along with the whole circle of surrounding places as bambergisches Lehen der Leutersheim von Lisberg (“Bamberg fief of the Leutersheims of Lisberg”). Changing lordly masters in the years that followed determined the community’s fate, whereby its location in the border areas between the Bishopric of Bamberg and the Bishopric of Würzburg
Bishopric of Würzburg
The Bishopric of Würzburg was a prince-bishopric in the Holy Roman Empire, located in Lower Franconia, around the city of Würzburg, Germany. Würzburg was a diocese from 743. In the 18th century, its bishop was often also Bishop of Bamberg...
allowed it a certain freedom in its own development. As a Bamberg fief under the ownership of the Leutersheims at Lisberg
Lisberg
Lisberg is a community in the Upper Franconian district of Bamberg and a member of the administrative community of Lisberg, lying in the Steigerwald .-Constituent communities:...
, ownership passed to the Lords of Thüngfeld in 1399 and then in 1524 to Wolf von Krewelsheim (= Crailsheim). Particularly formative effects were wrought beginning in 1525 by the Crailsheims’ overlordship. They determined the community’s religious allegiance, the community structure and the community’s prosperity, turning it into a wealthy market community in the northern Steigerwald (forest). The landowner was an adherent of the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
and belonged to Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
’s watch as he made his way to Worms
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
. As a result, the subjects, too, had to embrace the Evangelical
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
faith, which, however, led to decades-long quarrels with the Bishopric of Bamberg and for a time to confiscation of all lands. This also made it necessary to hold Evangelical church services in part at the castle then belonging to the Lord.
The events in those days have had their effect down to today, and even now, the proportion of Walsdorf’s population who follow the Evangelical faith is far greater – almost 40% – than in the overwhelmingly Catholic
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
communities elsewhere in the district.
The autonomous knightly estate of the Barons of Crailsheim passed with the Act of the Confederation of the Rhine
Confederation of the Rhine
The Confederation of the Rhine was a confederation of client states of the First French Empire. It was formed initially from 16 German states by Napoleon after he defeated Austria's Francis II and Russia's Alexander I in the Battle of Austerlitz. The Treaty of Pressburg, in effect, led to the...
in 1806 to 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...
. These lords, however, remained the local landowners until their overlordship was finally dissolved in 1848, and also remained the patron lords until the patronage, too, was dissolved in 1964.
With effect from 1 July 1971, the formerly autonomous community of Kolmsdorf (with the outlying centres of Feigendorf und Zettelsdorf) freely chose to amalgamate itself with Walsdorf. The community of Erlau followed on 1 May 1978. Also on that day, Walsdorf and the neighbouring communities of Stegaurach
Stegaurach
Stegaurach is a community in the Upper Franconian district of Bamberg and the seat of the administrative community of Stegaurach.-Geography:...
, Lisberg
Lisberg
Lisberg is a community in the Upper Franconian district of Bamberg and a member of the administrative community of Lisberg, lying in the Steigerwald .-Constituent communities:...
(with Trabelsdorf) and Priesendorf
Priesendorf
Priesendorf is a community in the Upper Franconian district of Bamberg and a member of the administrative community of Lisberg.-Geography:...
formed an administrative community (Verwaltungsgemeinschaft), from which the two last-named communities withdrew again on 31 December 1979. Since 1 January 1980, Stegaurach and Walsdorf have been the only two member communities of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft of Stegaurach.
It should also be mentioned that throughout the aforesaid overlordship, there was an important Jewish presence in the community, made up mainly of livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
dealers and small business
Small business
A small business is a business that is privately owned and operated, with a small number of employees and relatively low volume of sales. Small businesses are normally privately owned corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships...
men. An autonomous, formerly Jewish Ortsteil lay in the southwest of the main centre with a great Jewish cemetery, to which Bamberg Jews on various occasions had to come to bury their dead for want of their own cemetery in Bamberg. For the time from 1812 to 1848, a book of the dead has been published and is on hand. A modest synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
, now beset by further building, in the south of the old lordly seat still bears witness today to this small Jewish community.
Population development
Within municipal limits, 1,412 inhabitants were counted in 1970, 1,695 in 1987 and 2,461 in 2000. In 2007 it was 2,601.Politics
The mayor is Heinrich Faatz (CSU). He succeeded Hans Heinrich Köhlerschmidt (CSU/Freie Liste) in 2002.The community council is made up of 14 members, listed here by party or voter community affiliation, and also with the number of seats that each holds:
- Freie Liste 6
- CSUChristian Social Union of BavariaThe Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany...
5 - SPDSocial Democratic Party of GermanyThe Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
2 - Zukunft 1
In 1999, municipal tax revenue, converted to euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s, amounted to €1,249,000 of which business taxes (net) amounted to €561,000.
Economy and infrastructure
According to official statistics, there were 284 workers on the social welfare contribution rolls working in producing businesses, and in trade and transportTransport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
none. Also, 880 such workers worked from home. In processing businesses there were twelve businesses, and in construction 2. Furthermore, in 1999, there were 35 agricultural operations with a working area of 9.61 km², of which 7 km² was cropland and 2.6 km² was meadowland.
Education
In 1999, the following institutions existed in Walsdorf:- 100 kindergartenKindergartenA kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
places with 99 children - Elementary schoolElementary schoolAn elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
with 12 teachers and 216 pupils
Further reading
- Norbert Haas: Gestorben in Bamberg – Bestattet in Walsdorf; ein Beitrag zur jüdischen Geschichte