Wattendorf
Encyclopedia
Wattendorf is the smallest community in the Upper Franconia
n district of Bamberg
and a member of the administrative community (Verwaltungsgemeinschaft) of Steinfeld.
” on the rise to the Franconian Jura
in the east of the Bamberg district.
as Gemarkungen, each given here with its own population figure:
.
It had its first documentary mention in 1180, when the community was owned by the Counts of the Duchy of Merania. From 1260 to 1274, Wattendorf was owned by the Count of Truhendingen. In 1274 he donated the estate to the Cistercian Monastery
at Langheim, to which it belonged until Secularization
in 1803. The Monastery’s ties with the High Monastery at Bamberg grew weaker over time, so that by the time the Old Empire
came to an end, the Langheim Monastery could almost be thought to be the High Monastery’s Mediat. Since the Reichsdeputationshauptschluss of 1803, the community has belonged to Bavaria
. In the course of administrative reform in Bavaria, today’s community came into being under the Gemeindeedikt (“Community Edict”) of 1818.
.
The community council is made up of x members, listed here by party or voter community affiliation, and also with the number of seats that each has held since the 2002 election and the percentage of the votes that each won:
In 1999, municipal tax revenue, converted to euro
s, amounted to €274,000 of which business taxes (net) amounted to €50,000.
might heraldically be described thus: Azure a spread eagle argent reguardant, sinister a chalice Or, emerging therefrom an abbot’s staff Or.
The eagle and the tincture
azure (blue) recall the Counts of Andechs Merania, who until 1248 were Wattendorf’s overlords. The chalice and the abbot’s staff recall the community’s donation to the Cistercian Monastery at Langheim by the Counts of Truhendingen in 1274.
, the Brauerei Hübner and the Brauerei Dremel. Both brew and serve Franconia
n speciality beers.
. However, 305 such workers worked from home. In processing businesses there were nine businesses, but in construction none. Furthermore, in 1999, there were 79 agricultural operations with a working area of 1 220 ha, of which 1 078 ha was cropland and 140 ha 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 Steinfeld.
Geography
The community lies on the edge of the “Franconian SwitzerlandFranconian Switzerland
The Little Switzerland is an upland in Upper Franconia, northern Bavaria and a popular tourist retreat. Located between the Pegnitz River in the east and the south, the Regnitz River in the west and the Main River in the north, its relief reaches 600 metres in height.The Franconian Switzerland is...
” on the rise to the Franconian Jura
Franconian Jura
The Franconian Jura is an upland in Bavaria, Germany. Located between two rivers, the Danube in the south and the Main in the north, its peaks reach elevations of up to .Large portions of the Franconian Jura are part of the Altmühl Valley Nature Park...
in the east of the Bamberg district.
Constituent communities
The community has 5 traditional rural land units, known in GermanGerman language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
as Gemarkungen, each given here with its own population figure:
- Bojendorf (157)
- Gräfenhäusling (211)
- Mährenhüll (74)
- Schneeberg (60)
- Wattendorf (216)
History
Wattendorf is very old as a settled place, having been settled in the time around 3000 to 1800 BC by the Linear Pottery cultureLinear Pottery culture
The Linear Pottery culture is a major archaeological horizon of the European Neolithic, flourishing ca. 5500–4500 BC.It is abbreviated as LBK , is also known as the Linear Band Ware, Linear Ware, Linear Ceramics or Incised Ware culture, and falls within the Danubian I culture of V...
.
It had its first documentary mention in 1180, when the community was owned by the Counts of the Duchy of Merania. From 1260 to 1274, Wattendorf was owned by the Count of Truhendingen. In 1274 he donated the estate to the Cistercian Monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
at Langheim, to which it belonged until 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 1803. The Monastery’s ties with the High Monastery at Bamberg grew weaker over time, so that by the time the Old Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
came to an end, the Langheim Monastery could almost be thought to be the High Monastery’s Mediat. Since the Reichsdeputationshauptschluss of 1803, the community has belonged 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...
. In the course of administrative reform in Bavaria, today’s community came into being under the Gemeindeedikt (“Community Edict”) of 1818.
Population development
Within municipal limits, 753 inhabitants were counted in 1970, 723 in 1987 and 722 in 2000. By 2007 the figure had further fallen to 708, but on 30 June 2007 it had risen slightly to 715.Politics
The first mayor is Rudolf Krapp from the CSUChristian Social Union of Bavaria
The 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...
.
The community council is made up of x members, listed here by party or voter community affiliation, and also with the number of seats that each has held since the 2002 election and the percentage of the votes that each won:
- 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...
3 seats (30.9%) - Bojendorfer Wählergemeinschaft 2 seats (27.6%)
- Wählergemeinschaft Gräfenhäusling 2 seats (25.6%)
- Freie Wähler Mährenhüll 1 seat (10.7%)
- Freie Wähler Schneeberg 0 seats (5.2%)
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 €274,000 of which business taxes (net) amounted to €50,000.
Coat of arms
Wattendorf’s armsCoat 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...
might heraldically be described thus: Azure a spread eagle argent reguardant, sinister a chalice Or, emerging therefrom an abbot’s staff Or.
The eagle and the tincture
Tincture (heraldry)
In heraldry, tinctures are the colours used to emblazon a coat of arms. These can be divided into several categories including light tinctures called metals, dark tinctures called colours, nonstandard colours called stains, furs, and "proper". A charge tinctured proper is coloured as it would be...
azure (blue) recall the Counts of Andechs Merania, who until 1248 were Wattendorf’s overlords. The chalice and the abbot’s staff recall the community’s donation to the Cistercian Monastery at Langheim by the Counts of Truhendingen in 1274.
Breweries
In Wattendorf there are still today two small family breweriesBrewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
, the Brauerei Hübner and the Brauerei Dremel. Both brew and serve Franconia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
n speciality beers.
Economy
According to official statistics, there were no workers on the social welfare contribution rolls working in producing businesses or 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...
. However, 305 such workers worked from home. In processing businesses there were nine businesses, but in construction none. Furthermore, in 1999, there were 79 agricultural operations with a working area of 1 220 ha, of which 1 078 ha was cropland and 140 ha was meadowland.