Gengenbach

Gengenbach is a town in the district of Ortenau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany and a popular tourist destination on the western edge of the Black Forest with about 11,000 inhabitants. Gengenbach is well known for its traditional Alemanic "fasnacht",, a kind of historically influenced celebration of carnival, where tradition is followed, from wearing costumes with carved wooden masks to clapping with a "Ratsche". Gengenbach also boasts a picturesque, traditional, medieval town centre. The traditional town Gengenbach is the proud owner of the world's biggest advent calendar. The 24 windows of the 18th century town hall represent the 24 "windows" of an Advent calendar. The town also hosts a department of The Graduate School of Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, part of the University of Applied Sciences Offenburg. The nearest cities in the region are Freiburg, Karlsruhe, Baden-Baden and Strasbourg/France. Gengenbach is twinned with the town of Obernai, Alsace, France.

History

Gengenbach was founded in the 13th century and became an Imperial Free City in 1360.

Culture and landmarks

Gengenbach is the start point of Gengenbach–Alpirsbach Black Forest Trail and situated at the Kinzigtäler Jakobusweg (a pilgrim route) as well as the Kandelhöhenweg (a hiking path), passing by many landmarks. Furthermore, the city is located at the German Fachwerkstraße.

Museums

Flößerei- und Verkehrsmuseum
Museum Haus Löwenberg
Narrenmuseum im Niggelturm
Kunst- und Paramentenmuseum im Mutterhaus der Franziskanerinnen
Wehrgeschichtliches Museum im Kinzigtor

Sons and daughters of the town

Hermann Maas (1877-1970), evangelical pastor
Frieder Burda (born 1936), publisher and art collector
Otto Lohmüller (born 1943), painter, sculptor and author of scout adventure books
Helmut Dorner (born 1952), painter

Further regular events

Every year the city hall of Gengenbach is transformed in the worlds largest „Advent calendar house”
On the third September weekend the wine festival takes place – every year
The “Martinimarkt” is a funfair which takes place in November – for two days

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All content originates from the English Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0