Erlangen around 1915
is a
Middle Franconian
city in
Bavaria,
Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river
Regnitz and its large tributary, the
Untere Schwabach.
Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants.
Erlangen is today dominated by the
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and the numerous branch offices of
Siemens AG, as well as a large Institute of the
Fraunhofer Society. An event that still influences the city was the settlement of
Huguenots after the withdrawal of the
Edict of Nantes in 1685.
History
Erlangen was first mentioned officially in 1002 under the name of "villa erlangon". In 1361, the village was sold to
Emperor Karl IV. Three years later, a city was built close to the village, which in 1374 got its own
coining station (mint). In 1398, the
municipal rights were confirmed. In 1402, the city was vested to the
House of Hohenzollern as part of the principality of
Brandenburg-Kulmbach (from 1603 on
Brandenburg-Bayreuth), staying under their rule until 1806. During the four year Napoleonic occupation, Erlangen was the capital of the so-called "Low County" (
Unterland) of the principality, encompassing the area until
Neustadt an der Aisch and separated from the "High County" (Oberland) by a land corridor. In 1810 it became part of the
Kingdom of Bavaria, together with the rest of former Brandenburg-Bayreuth.
While being part of the Brandenburg-Bayreuth, the first French
Huguenot refugees arrived in Erlangen in 1686.
Christian Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, built a "new town" (Neustadt) for them. In 1706, the old town (just below the site of the annual
Bergkirchweih) was almost completely destroyed by a fire, but soon rebuilt. In 1812, the old and new towns were merged into one.
In 1742,
Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, founded a university for the residency town Bayreuth, but due to the rebelliousness of the local students, the university was transferred to Erlangen. Only later did it obtain the name of "Friedrich-Alexander-University" and become a
Prussian state university. Famous students of these times were
Johann Ludwig Tieck and
Wilhelm Heinrich Wackenroder.
Already during the Bavarian
municipal reform of 1818, the city was endowed with its own administration. In 1862, the canton administration Erlangen was founded, from which later arose the administrative district of Erlangen. In 1972, this district was merged with the administrative district of
Höchstadt. Erlangen became the capital of this newly founded district
Erlangen-Höchstadt. During this municipal reform, Erlangen was effectively enlarged considerably, so that by 1974, it had more than 100,000 inhabitants.
Points of interest
Bergkirchweih
The
Bergkirchweih is an annual beer festival, similar to the
Oktoberfest in
Munich but smaller in scope, and therefore more intimate. It takes place during the twelve days before and after
Pentecost, under the spring trees of the "Berg" a small craggy, wooded hill, with old caves(cellars) owned by local breweries. Around the door of the keller, the faithful of each brewery has its faithful drinkers, liter sized clay "krugs" in hand, at the reserved tables of wood, seating perhaps 10 or 20 friends.
The Bier Fest draws more than one million visitors each year. There are carnival rides of high tech quality, food stalls of every imaginable Franken dish, from bratwurst to roast-suckling pig, from cinnamon "burnt almonds" to giant chewy pretzels.
It is commonly known by local residents as the "Berchkärwa" (pronounced "bairch'-care-va") or simply the "Berch", as in
"Gehma auf'm Berch?" ("Let's go to the mountain?").
This is outdoor event, packed with Franconians in various states of enjoyment and practically unknown by tourists.
Districts
- Eltersdorf, pop. around 3,200
- Sieglitzhof/Buckenhofer Siedlung
Historical population
Historical mayors of Erlangen
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Erlangen is
twinned with several cities:
Further partnerships
