History of the city of Neustadt am Kulm

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This article deals with the history of the city of Neustadt am Kulm as well as the history of the settlement of the Rauhen Kulm before the city was founded.

history

Pre- and early medieval settlement history

The Rauhe Kulm , which is of volcanic origin, was already an attraction for people in the Neolithic Age , which studies by Adalbert Neischl from 1908–1910 have proven. In recent excavations, three Neolithic arrowheads made of flint have been discovered. These and other finds from different epochs in the Flednitz area indicate that the Rauhe Kulm was repeatedly the site of Neolithic meetings, possibly for religious reasons. The area around the Rauhen Kulm was inhabited continuously, presumably from the Bronze Age , but certainly since the Iron Age Hallstatt Period (800–450 BC). At the end of the 1960s, an unused bronze ax from the late Bronze Age was discovered in the rubble cone, which was presumably placed as an offering and underpins the importance of the place at that time. Over the centuries Celts , Nariskers , Hermundurs , Thuringians and Slavs lived at the foot of the Rauhen Kulm. The settlements known and existing today emerged around the turn of the millennium.

Kulm generally means a hill or a mountain in the Slavic languages . The Rauhe Kulm represents the natural center of the Flednitz , the Slavic or Naabwendian settlement chamber in the catchment area of ​​the Heidenaab river. The Rauhe Kulm, also popularly known as the Großer Kulm, has two brothers in the immediate vicinity: to the west the Kleinen or Schlechten Kulm and to the east the Kühhübel . In the 8th and 9th centuries AD, according to Adalbert Neischl, fortifications from the Rauhen Kulm probably existed from the Carolingian era , as indicated by the finds of ceramics and iron objects as well as the remains of fortifications below the medieval ramparts. During excavations led by Hans Losert from the University of Bamberg , a silver temple ring and ceramics were found in summer 2007 and a bronze finger ring from this period in summer 2011 and a Celtic turntable was discovered. In the summer of 2015, revealing shards and small historical treasures such as spearheads of the Slavs and Hungarians were found.

High and late Middle Ages

Emperor Otto I: Victory over Berengar II. (Illustration of a manuscript from the Weltchronik Otto von Freising , around 1200 (Milan, Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Ms. f. 129sup))

There are no reliable sources about the origin of the high medieval castle . From the foundation deed of the Benedictine monastery Michelfeld bei Auerbach from the year 1119 it is clear that the Leutenberg Bucco de Culmen had a residence on one of the two Kulme. He would have been the first scientifically proven lord of the fortress on the Kulm. However, it is unclear whether the Rauhe or the neighboring Kleine Kulm , also of volcanic origin, is meant. It is conceivable but unlikely that it was a building in the village of Kulmain . In addition to the fortress on the Rauhen Kulm, there was a second one on the Kleiner Kulm (see Schlechtenkulm Castle Stables ). During excavations, shards, arrowheads, crosses and coins from this period were brought to light. According to Losert, the construction of the castle was part of the strategy of King Otto I the Great , who wanted to contain the looming threat from the Hungarians. When the castle was built around 950, sandstone, half-timbering and bricks were used. In addition to its military use, the castle was also inhabited by women and children, as evidenced by various finds, including several spindle whorls, a weaving sword and a large iron knife. Spinning wool was typical women's work. In contrast to today, the Rauhe Kulm and the surrounding area were not forested back then, as this would have blocked the view of possible approaching attackers and thus would have been a major weak point.

Charles IV, mural around 1360/70

In 1281, Landgrave Friedrich von Leuchtenberg and his son pledged the Castrum Culme together with the mountain and the surrounding villages of Filchendorf, Mockersdorf, Scheckenhof, Speichersdorf and Wirbenz to Burgrave Friedrich III. from Nuremberg . The value of the pledge was 400 silver marks. On January 13, 1370, Emperor Charles IV in Prague allowed the Nuremberg burgrave Friedrich V to build a fortified city with walls , bay windows and towers between the two ridges. The original name of the new city was Newenstat between the Kulmen . At the request of Elector Friedrich von Brandenburg , King Sigismund of Luxembourg awarded the new city the neck judgment on February 4, 1427 . The Neustadt coat of arms illustrates the geographical location between the two mountains.

Burgrave Johann III. von Nürnberg had the Carmel of the Holy Trinity built on the southern city wall in 1413, consisting of a church and monastery for a convent of the Shoed Carmelites . Pope John XXII. In 1413 granted permission to found a monastery, which was completed in the same year with an initial set of properties. In 1414 the monastery church was built. The terminating district allocated in 1416, the area in which a convent was allowed to beg for alms , was delimited from the districts of the Carmelite monasteries in Bamberg and Nuremberg. When Hussite associations invaded in 1430, Neustadt am Kulm went up in smoke and flames, while the two castles withstood the onslaught.

In 1462, Neustadt was set on fire again during the Prince's War, but this time by its own citizens, who then sought refuge in the castle on the Kleiner Kulm. The background was that Bavarian or Bohemian mercenaries had invaded margravial territory after Margrave Albrecht Achilles of Brandenburg from the then ruling Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Friedrich III. the enforcement of the imperial ban on Duke Ludwig IX. the rich of Bavaria-Landshut and the Elector Friedrich I of the Palatinate had been transferred. The castles on the two ridges also withstood this enemy onslaught.

In order to be able to protect the area of ​​the Principality of Bayreuth in the event of attacks, a large alarm system was set up from 1498. It was described in the maintenance regulations issued by Margrave Friedrich in 1498 . The sophisticated observation and signaling system consisted of numerous waiting towers . Such signal posts gave up, among other things

These towers were manned at times with guards. A fire was lit when danger loomed. In this way, the alarm could be displayed to the next item without delay.

After the Reformation

Siege of the margravial fortress on the Rauhen Kulm by troops of the imperial city of Nuremberg in 1554, left (west) Neustadt am Kulm and the castle on the Kleiner Kulm
Territory of the Principality of Bayreuth (1791): the Upper Mountain Principality itself is again divided into Upper and Lower Country

During the Reformation Neustadt am Kulm in 1527 under the principle was cuius regio , George the Pious , Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach and administrator of the Principality of Kulmbach , following, Protestant . The Carmelite monastery was dissolved and burned down in 1531. The former convent building and church were ravaged by fires again in 1633. At the beginning of the 18th century, the former monastery church was enlarged as an Evangelical Lutheran parish church , which still exists , while retaining its late Gothic parts .

During the Second Margrave War (1552–1555) provoked by Margrave Albrecht Alcibiades von Kulmbach , also known as the Confederate War, in 1554 the castles on the Rauhen and Kleiner Kulm were under the command of troops from the imperial city of Nuremberg, Bamberg, Würzburg and Bavaria for about a year besieged by the electoral district judge Hans Umseher von Waldeck, the residents starved and the buildings completely destroyed. The fortress commander von Heydenab handed over the fortress at Rauhen Kulm on June 28, 1554. Then it was blown up with screws, the triple walls were razed and destroyed. The cities of Kulmbach and Bayreuth were also burned down during this war . Subsequently, the officials of the margraves administered the surrounding country from Kulmstadt. In order to strengthen the city walls, stones from the medieval ramparts of both castle complexes were partially moved into the city. Neustadt am Kulm remained Protestant after the Reformation up to the present day, while the surrounding area, for example the cities of Eschenbach , Grafenwöhr , Kemnath and the municipality of Speichersdorf, changed creeds around 1620 and later several times. The consistent alignment of the city to the Evangelical Lutheran creed is also shown by the fact that Willibald Caspari , who was pastor in Neustadt am Kulm from 1560 to 1589, was one of the signatories of the Formula Concordiae . Together with Filchendorf and the hamlet of Scheckenhof, the town between the Kulmen belonged to the Margraviate of Brandenburg-Ansbach-Bayreuth , also known as the Principality of Ansbach.

In 1622 the town between the Kulmen became a margravial mint . Among other things, the materials copper and silver were processed . There is archaeological evidence of the production of hammer-minted six-parters with the retrograde coin letter N. In addition, there was a type of copper cruiser with Zollern label and value indication, which can also be assigned to the Neustadt production site without any doubt. Due to the low silver content and the unconvincing external appearance, the mint was closed again relatively quickly.

Foundation of the Heilbronner Bund in 1633 (lithograph around 1842)

Nevertheless, the city gained in importance during this time due to good trade relations and its craftsmen. Nevertheless, it was not spared from disaster in the following years : The Thirty Years War (1618–1648), especially the period of the Swedish War (1630–1635), hit the city hard. The year 1634 was particularly ominous, when the city between the Kulmen was almost completely destroyed. Neustadt belonged to the Heilbronner Bund (1633-1635), an alliance between Sweden and the Protestant estates of the Franconian, Swabian, Kurhein and Upper Rhine districts against the Imperial Catholic League . In addition, there were around 250 deaths from the plague during this period . Georgius Hornius spent part of his childhood in the city.

After the Peace of Westphalia in the years 1650 to 1660 in Upper Austria in the area of Eferding , Linz and Wels numerous people were expelled because of their evangelical confession. From 1656 onwards, Protestants in Lower Austria had to decide whether they wanted to stay true to their creed and leave Austria or change their denominations for the sake of their homeland. In the Churpfalz , too , people were forced to leave their homeland because of their confession. Most of the exiles went to Transylvania or Germany. In addition to many other cities, Neustadt took in numerous religious refugees, mainly citizens and craftsmen. The population increased somewhat as a result.

Because of the many good craftsmen in Neustadt am Kulm, Margrave Friedrich Wilhelm and Margrave Georg Albrecht, acting as guardian on behalf of his underage cousin and foster son Christian Ernst, also Margrave of Brandenburg, issued a guild rules for Neustadt weavers on November 12, 1659. At this time Johann Tresenreuther was cantor in Neustadt am Kulm, his son Johann Adam Tresenreuter was born in Neustadt in 1676.

In 1693 a strong company of unwelcome hussars entered the city and took up quarters with the use of force. In addition, the riders wanted to abuse the city's population. In defending against this danger, the city's inhabitants became heroines: wearing armor and using hay, pitch and oven forks as well as sticks, flails and whatever else they could get their hands on, they chased the intruders out through the city gates. When the work was done, they bolted the city gates.

Georg Albrecht Stübner was pastor in Neustadt am Kulm from 1703 to 1708 and at the same time worked as a poet. From 1745 to 1761 the future general and secret war councilor Johann Philipp von Beust worked as senior bailiff in Neustadt am Kulm . In 1778 the Oberamt Neustadt am Kulm became part of the Bayreuth administration. Justus Friedrich Zehelein became Amtskastner in Neustadt am Kulm in 1791 and first judicial officer (Royal Prussian judicial officer) in the city.

In the 19th century

During the political and economic boom that followed, Neustadt was the seat of a margravial office, a caste office , a forestry authority and a judicial office. This period ended with the loss of all offices in the course of the incorporation by Bavaria in 1803 and the administrative reforms in Bavaria. With the parish edict of 1818 , today's parish came into being. In 1833 and 1846, major fires started again. This was also reflected in the development of the population: the population at that time was roughly the same as today. From an economic point of view, the city was characterized by agriculture and weaving at that time . On November 12, 1659, Margrave Christian Ernst Margrave of Kulmbach and Brandenburg, still underage at the time, issued his own guild rules for the weavers of Neustadt am Kulm with the consent of his two guardians Friedrich Wilhelm and Georg Albrecht, Margraves of Brandenburg. Further information on the weaving trade in the city can also be found in the Royal Bavarian Intelligence Gazette for Upper Franconia from 1839. In the late 19th century basalt was mined on a large scale for road and rail construction in a deep quarry on the eastern slope of the Rauhen Kulm. Remnants of the medieval wall were also removed over a length of about 35 meters. Even the Kleine Kulm was not spared from industrial dismantling, which gave it its present form. The Kühhübel was almost completely removed.

After the castles on the Kulmen had long been destroyed, the idea of ​​building a viewing platform on the Rauhen Kulm arose at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1807, Johann Nicolaus Apel installed a wooden observation tower on the top of the mountain. In it was a movable gilded sun above a hall, which is why the tower was also called the sun temple. Apels Tower existed until 1895, when the dilapidated construction was replaced by a new tower.

Early 20th century until the end of World War II

The second observation tower on the Rauhen Kulm had to be replaced by a third in 1937. This new construction was six meters higher than its predecessor and survived the Second World War . The city of Neustadt am Kulm, on the other hand, was once again the victim of the devastation of war. During the National Socialist era, it was in Wehrkreis XIII , which comprised northern Bavaria and western Bohemia. The responsible military district command was based in Nuremberg and provided the 4th Panzer and 296th Infantry Divisions .

While the male population was at the front or already in captivity , the city was badly hit on April 19, 1945 when eight American P-47 Thunderbold bombers destroyed over 168 buildings between 8:55 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. In particular, the medieval town center including the late Gothic town gate and the town hall from 1654 were destroyed. Three residents of Neustadt died in the attack. Five children were killed in the following days when they had played with initially unexploded ammunition. The attacking aircraft were eight machines from the 377th Fighter Squadron belonging to the 362nd Fighter Group. The 362nd Fighter Group was subordinate to the 9th Army Air Force, which at the time was in the XIX. Tactical Air Command was summarized. In addition to the heavy on-board MG 50 (caliber 12.7 mm), four fighter-bombers were armed with a 500  lbs general-purpose explosive bomb each. The other four aircraft were armed with two M76 incendiary bombs each. In the second approach, 20 HVAR 5 rockets and 3021 rounds were fired from the on-board machine guns from a height of about 60 meters. According to records from the Airforce Archives in America, the attack was carried out for no reason. Perhaps the medieval cityscape gave the impression of an intact fortress in evaluations of the American aerial reconnaissance. During the bombing there was still an armored vehicle of the Wehrmacht , probably a mobile field kitchen, on the market square, which the German troops had to leave behind when they withdrew because it was defective and could not be repaired quickly enough. There are reports that there were allegedly wounded Hungarian soldiers in the city, but they did not offer any resistance.

After the bombing, Neustadt was in flames for a few hours. The population was able to bring the biggest fires under control in the course of the morning, before units of the American 26th Infantry Division, which advanced from Thuringia towards Austria, took the city around 1:20 p.m. without resistance from the population and thus from the rule of the Liberated Nazi regimes. On the evening of the same day, another eleven people lost their lives when American fighter-bombers attacked two passenger trains at Kemnath-Neustadt station.

Post-war to the present

The Rauhe Kulm with its observation tower (2011)

After the Second World War, Neustadt am Kulm was rebuilt with the exception of the medieval city gates. The tower on the Rauhen Kulm had to be replaced by a new platform due to the weather in 1962: From then on, a 25-meter-high steel structure with larch wood cladding was enthroned over the town of Neustadt am Kulm. On June 30, 1984, this fourth tower was destroyed by arson . The structure collapsed within half an hour. The perpetrator has not yet been identified. In the following years a fifth, still existing tower was built. The inauguration took place on July 1, 1987 under Mayor Karl Pühl, who was one of the driving forces behind the reconstruction of the tower. The construction costs amounted to around 850,000 German marks.

In the course of the territorial reform of 1972, today's municipality was created: Filchendorf , Mockersdorf and the hamlet of Scheckenhof joined. The old district of Eschenbach in the Upper Palatinate , to which Neustadt had belonged, was dissolved and merged into the district of Neustadt an der Waldnaab . In 1995 the Kulmstadt celebrated its 625th anniversary.

Neustadt am Kulm is a member of the Neustadt partnership in Europe . The aim of the working group is to promote tourism and trade and gastronomy in the cities and communities called Neustadt and, above all, to promote interpersonal relationships among all residents of Neustadt across national borders. The community organizes three-day Neustadt meetings every year. From July 25th to July 27th 2003 the Kulmstadt hosted the 25th Neustadt-Treffen. For the year 2026, the Kulmstadt is again planned as the host Neustadt. Partnerships exist with the city of Eschenbach in the Upper Palatinate and the communities of Lichtenau (Saxony) , Speichersdorf and Speinshart .

The Rauhe Kulm was found in a survey by the Heinz Sielmann Foundation EUROPARC Germany e. V. voted Germany's most beautiful natural wonder of 2013. There were 21 natural monuments to choose from from the national natural landscapes and other regions of Germany. Second place went to the Stone Rose near Saalburg-Ebersdorf . The boot at St. Ingbert followed in third place .

The Almabtrieb has been taking place annually since 2010 and, not least because of its uniqueness in the area, has developed into an event for the entire region with numerous stalls on the market square. While there were around 100 visitors in the first year, over 1,500 people streamed into the city in 2017. The goats graze on the Kleiner Kulm during the summer. The fruit and horticultural association is responsible for organizing the event. In 2012, the festival was accompanied by a television team from Bavarian Radio.

References and sources

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Adalbert Neischl and Hugo Obermaier : The prehistoric and early historical fortifications on the Rauhen Kulm near Neustadt a. Kulm (Upper Palatinate) ; Nuremberg 1912
  2. ↑ a b c Oberpfalznetz.de of August 31, 2007: "Rauher Kulm: fertile field for archaeologists" accessed on September 19, 2011
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Homepage of the city of Neustadt am Kulm: "History" ( Memento of the original from December 11, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 23, 2011  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.neustadt-am-kulm.de
  4. ↑ a b c d essay by Hans Losert in Rückspiegel: Archeology of everyday life in the Middle Ages and early modern times. Booklet accompanying the exhibition of the Chair of Medieval and Modern Archeology at the Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg from April 29th to November 5th, 2006 ; Pp. 60–61, accessed on September 23, 2011
  5. ^ A b Hans Losert: "Archaeological investigations on the Rauhen Kulm in the Flednitz" 1st part; 2007 accessed 22 September 2011
  6. ^ Hans Losert: "Archaeological investigations on the Rauhen Kulm in the Flednitz" 2nd part; 2007 accessed 23 September 2011
  7. ↑ Nordbayerischer Kurier of August 26, 2011  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 23, 2011@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.nordbayerischer-kurier.de  
  8. ↑ Oberpfalzecho.de of August 28, 2015: "Von Burgen und Scherben", accessed on August 28, 2015
  9. ↑ Nordbayerischer Kurier dated August 5, 2010  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 23, 2011@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.nordbayerischer-kurier.de  
  10. ↑ Oberpfalznetz.de of August 30, 2010: "Archaeologists conquer the castle" (3 pages), accessed on September 25, 2010
  11. ↑ Oberpfalznetz.de of August 23, 2010: "When shards provide joy" (3 pages) accessed on September 20, 2010
  12. ^ Anton Friedrich Büsching 1761: New description of the earth: Which contains the Swabian, Bavarian, Franconian and Upper Saxon districts , Volume 3, Issue 2, p. 1725, accessed on October 18, 2011
  13. ^ Regesta Imperii: Department VIII: Charles IV. 1346-1378; Volume: VIII Karl IV.: Regesten 1346-1378, ed. Huber. 1877; Ruler: Charles IV .; P. 398, accessed on March 4, 2012
  14. ^ Regesta Imperii: Department XI: The documents of Emperor Sigmund. 1410 / 11-1437; Volume XI, 2 Regesten Sigmund 1425-1437, ed. Altmann. 1897; Ruler Sigmund .; P. 55 accessed on March 4, 2012
  15. ↑ a b Adalbert Deckert: "Settlements of the Shoed Carmelites in the Diocese of Regensburg"; in: Monasteries and orders in the diocese of Regensburg, Regensburg 1978 (contributions to the history of the diocese of Regensburg 12), pp. 332–333
  16. ↑ a b Monasteries in Bavaria: The Carmel of the Holy Trinity in Neustadt am Kulm, accessed on September 21, 2011
  17. ^ H. Kunstmann: "Publications of the Society for Franconian History: Representations from Franconian History"; 1965
  18. ↑ Frankenpost online from November 22, 2008 as well as more detailed articles on the topic in the printed edition  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.frankenpost.de  
  19. ^ A b Johann Nicolaus Apel : The rough Kulm and its surroundings together with a history and topography of Neustadt an den Kulmen in the Main district. Bayreuth 1811.
  20. ↑ Homepage of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria ( Memento of the original from July 14, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 20, 2011.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bayern-evangelisch.de
  21. ^ Gerhard Schön: Coin and monetary history of the principalities of Ansbach and Bayreuth in the 17th and 18th centuries ; Pp. 234-235; Inaugural dissertation to obtain the doctoral degree in philosophy at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich; 2008 (PDF; 2.3 MB) accessed on September 25, 2011
  22. ^ Gerhard Reiss: Exulanten in the church books Wirbenz and Neustadt am Kulm , research work 2001
  23. ↑ Johann Heinrich Zedler, Johann Peter von Ludewig, Carl Günther Ludovici (1740): Large complete universal lexicon of all sciences and arts, which bißhero were invented and improved through human understanding and wit [... Volume 24 p. 326] accessed on October 18, 2011
  24. ^ Cicero, February 27, 2009, accessed September 25, 2011
  25. ^ Upper Franconia (administrative district): Royal Bavarian Intelligence Journal for Upper Franconia: to the year 1839; P. 639
  26. ↑ a b c Nordbayerischer Kurier of July 31, 2008: Die Hüter des Rauhen Kulms  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved September 25, 2011@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.nordbayerischer-kurier.de  
  27. ^ Christian Hartmann 2010: "Wehrmacht in the Eastern War: Front and Military Hinterland 1941/42"; Pp. 116-117 accessed on September 25, 2011
  28. ↑ a b Oberpfalznetz.de of April 15, 2005: "They are coming: US Army is always advancing", accessed on September 25, 2011
  29. ↑ Holocaust Encyclopedia: "The 26th Infantry Division", accessed September 24, 2011
  30. ^ Heinz Sielmann Foundation: Natural wonder of the year 2013
  31. ↑ Oberpfalznetz.de: Almabtrieb in Neustadt am Kulm: Nothing to complain about, accessed on November 12, 2017

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