Sonthofen

Sonthofen is the most southerly town of Germany, located in the Oberallgäu region of the Bavarian Alps. Neighbouring Oberstdorf is situated 14 km farther south but is not classified as a town. In 2005, Sonthofen was awarded "Alpenstadt des Jahres" (Alpine city of the year). The town has 21,300 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2015).

Sonthofen
Sonthofen
Coat of arms
Location of Sonthofen within Oberallgäu district
Sonthofen
Sonthofen
Coordinates: 47°30′57″N 10°16′52″E
CountryGermany
StateBavaria
Admin. regionSchwaben
DistrictOberallgäu
Government
 • MayorChristian Wilhelm (FW)
Area
 • Total20.982 km2 (8.101 sq mi)
Highest elevation
1,100 m (3,600 ft)
Lowest elevation
750 m (2,460 ft)
Population
 (2019-12-31)[1]
 • Total21,619
 • Density1,000/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
87527
Dialling codes08321
Vehicle registrationOA
Websitehttps://www.stadt-sonthofen.de/
Sonthofen
Marktstraße (main street downtown)

Sonthofen is widely known for its milk and cheese products and as a tourist destination.

History

Findings show that the Sonthofen area was already inhabited from the Stone Age to the Roman Empire. In the 6th/7th century, Germanic Alamans settled in the area at the foot of the Kalvarienberg. On the top of the hill, one suspects an old Thing site.[2]

Sonthofen was first mentioned in a document in 1145. It had held the market right with important proprietary rights since 1429.

In 1803 Sonthofen came to Bavaria. In 1804 Sonthof Castle becomes the seat of a Bavarian Landgericht (regional court) responsible for justice and administration.

In 1963 the previous market town of Sonthofen is given the town charter. In 1972 Sonthofen becomes the county seat of the newly formed district of Oberallgäu.

In World War II Sonthofen was bombed twice because Adolf Hitler had built the Ordensburg Sonthofen where young boys were trained for service in Nazi Party organizations. The "Ordensburg" was not destroyed in the war. From 1946 to 1948 it was home to the United States Constabulary school, from May 1951 through February 1952, was used by the United States Air Force in Europe as a basic training center,[3] and from 1956-2009 the German Bundeswehr located its Military Police (Feldjäger) and Staff Service School there. The German Army's NBC Defence School (ABC-Abwehr- und Selbstschutzschule) is located in another barracks in Sonthofen.

Main sights
Green areas
  • Ökokurpark (ecological spa park): Next to the Kalvarienberg is the ecological spa park on a steep terrain. It houses a wetland biotope, native plants and information boards on flora and fauna.
  • Another park is located in the so-called G'hau an der Iller, where there is also a miniature golf course and a playground.
Buildings
  • Burgruine Fluhenstein (castle ruin), 1361 and around 1500/01
  • The Catholic church St. Michael is located below the Kalvarienberg. Predecessor buildings probably already existed in the 9th century.
  • The Old School was turned into a town hall by the prince-bishop of Augsburg in 1472. Today it is used as a music school and public library.
Natural monuments
  • The Starzlachklamm (a gorge) near the district Winkel, since 1932 accessible for hikers
Museum
  • Heimathaus Sonthofen: history and culture of the region
  • Ökokurpark
  • Burgruine Fluhenstein
  • Catholic church St. Michael
  • The Old School
  • The Starzachklamm
  • Heimathaus Sonthofen

Economy

Dairy farming and tourism are of supraregional importance. Major employers are also the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) and various medium-sized, mainly metalworking industrial companies

Famous people

Awards and associations

With other Alpine towns, Sonthofen engages in the Alpine Town of the Year Association for the implementation of the Alpine Convention to achieve sustainable development in the Alpine Arc. Sonthofen was awarded Alpine Town of the Year 2005.

References
  1. "Tabellenblatt "Daten 2", Statistischer Bericht A1200C 202041 Einwohnerzahlen der Gemeinden, Kreise und Regierungsbezirke". Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik und Datenverarbeitung (in German). July 2020.
  2. Official website of Sonthofen
  3. Ralph A. Lurvey (MSGT, USAF (Ret)), "Air Force Basic Training in Europe 1951-1953", March 2013.
  4. Rößle, Alex. "Der Schriftsteller Winfried G. Sebald". Oberstdorfs Online-Führer (in German). Retrieved 2013-08-28.
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