Everything about Kronberg totally explained
Kronberg im Taunus is a town in the
Hochtaunuskreis district,
Hesse,
Germany. Before the 20th century, it was a
Prussian city in the governmental district of
Wiesbaden in the old district of
Obertaunuskreis in the
Taunus and the Kronberg-Rödelnheim railway. The area also has a
spring.
Geography
Neighbouring communities
Kronberg borders in the north and east on the town of
Oberursel, in the southeast on the town of
Steinbach, in the south on the towns of
Eschborn and
Schwalbach (both in
Main-Taunus-Kreis), and in the west on the town of
Königstein.
Constituent communities
Kronberg consists of the three centres of Kronberg (8,108 inhabitants), Oberhöchstadt (6,363 inhabitants) and Schönberg (3,761 inhabitants).
Town portrait
Kronberg lies at the foot of the Taunus, flanked in the north and southwest by forests. Also worthy of mention, besides the well preserved, compact Old Town with Kronberg Castle (or
Burg Kronberg, with its
keep, which is the town's oldest building) from the
13th to
16th centuries, are the
Schloss Friedrichshof (a stately home built as a widow's residence for "
Empress Frederick" and now home to the
Schlosshotel Kronberg), the
Recepturhof (Mainz Electorate's administration building), the town park, Saint John's
Evangelical Church (
Kirche St. Johann, 1440), the
"Streitkirche" ("Dispute Church", 1758) and the "Hellhof", a noble seat built by the Kronberg Knights (first mentioned in 1424), nowadays partially converted into a gallery. Since
28 June 1966, Kronberg has been a state-recognized
spa town.
History
1220–1704
When Kronberg Castle was built (about 1220) it was shared by the Knights of Askenburne (
Eschborn), who owned a towered castle there. The
"Kronenstamm" (
stamm = stem) moved to Kronberg, giving themselves that name at the time, while the
"Flügelstamm" ("wing stem") followed them there only 30 years later.
Town rights were granted the small settlement on
25 April 1330 by
Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor. As of 1367, the town also had market rights as well as
Blutgerichtsbarkeit (meaning that there was an Imperial court authorized to mete out bodily punishment, including death), granted by
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor. Together with those from Hattstein Castle and Reifenberg Castle, the Knights of Kronberg from
Frankfurt declared the so-called "Kronberg Feud" in 1389. When on
13 May a great force from Frankfurt swept to Kronberg Castle, Hanau (Ulrich von Hanau) and Electoral-Palatinate (150 of Ruprecht von der Pfalz's cuirassiers) troops rushed to help those being beset, driving the Frankfurt forces off on
14 May in the Battle of Eschborn and taking 620 prisoners, among them the mayor, a few noble council members and all the town's
bakers,
butchers,
locksmiths and
shoemakers. As the
Limburg Chronicle puts it:
"Also schlug der kleine Hauff den großen Hauff nieder. Das war nicht Wunder, denn der große Hauffe flohe und der kleine stritte. O Frankfurt! Frankfurt! Gedenke dieser Schlacht!".
or in English:
"And in this way, this small formation beat a greater formation. It was no small wonder, as the great unit fled and the small unit fought. O Frankfurt, Frankfurt! Commemorate this battle!"
The story is told in Kronberg that during the battle one of the knights of Kronberg was unhorsed, and because he lacked a replacement mount, he returned to battle on a donkey. Legend has it that it was the unearthly noise the donkey made in battle that made the Frankfurt army run, and this gave birth to the third "Stem", the Ohrenstam (Earstem) - with a pair of donkeys ears on its coat of arms.
Only the huge ransom of 73,000 golden
guilders – negotiated on
22 August, the pain of which Frankfurt would feel for 120 years – ended the fight with Frankfurt and laid the groundwork for the
Frankfurter Landwehr fortifications.
Peace was, however, quickly concluded (1391) and alliance sought with Kronberg. In 1394, the council appointed Hartmuth von Cronberg to a two-year term as Bailiff of Bonames, and in 1395, Johann von Cronberg concluded a detailed treaty of federation with Frankfurt, which the Kronbergers bound the Frankfurters and their masses to protect. Finally, in 1398, the
"Schießgesellen zu Cronenberg" ("Journeymen shooters of Kronberg") invited the
"Schießgesellen zue Franckenfurd unsern guten frunden" ("Journeymen shooters of Frankfurt, our good friends") to a
"Schießen umb eyn Cleynod" ("shoot for a treasure"). The letter bearing this message is said to be Germany's oldest surviving invitation to a shooting event (this refers to early weapons, since
firearms were as yet unknown).
Since Hartmut XII of Kronberg, who is said to be the town's Reformer, had earlier stood by his cousin
Franz von Sickingen in his attack on
Trier and
Worms, Archbishop Richard von Greiffenklau zu Vollrads of Trier, Ludwig V of the
Palatinate and
Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse attacked the town and the castle at Kronberg in 1522 and forced an unconditional
surrender. Hartmut fled, and Philip introduced the
Reformation throughout Hesse. However, since Kronberg was an Imperial fief, Philip had to give the castle and town back to Hartmut in 1541 under the issuing of property rights for the
Lutheran Church. These rights were affirmed by
Hesse-Darmstadt in the
17th and
18th centuries, ensuring that Mainz's later attempts at a Counterreformation (1626-1649) and the
Simultanisierung (1737-1768) would never enjoy success.
In 1704, the last member of the ruling family, Herr Johann Niclas von und zu Cronberg, died childless at Hohlenfels Castle, nowadays in
Hahnstätten, across the Aar Valley. Kronberg, along with the communities of Schönberg,
Niederhöchstadt and
Eschborn therefore passed to the Electorate of Mainz.
1704–1866
It was under Mainz's rule that the nowadays so-called "Dispute Church" (
"Streitkirche") was built, having been planned as a
Catholic church in 1758 to be built right next to the Evangelical church. This led to great protests by the town's Evangelical majority, whose plight reached the Everlasting Imperial Diet (
Immerwährender Reichstag) in
Regensburg, where the Evangelicals were granted their wish, and although the building was built anyway, it was never consecrated as a
church. Since 1768, the building has served secular purposes (as a
pharmacy, guesthouse, and today as the Kronberg Painters' Colony's museum).
In the
Treaty of Lunéville in 1801, the Electorate of Mainz lost its worldly territory, including the Imperial fief of Kronberg, which was confiscated by the Prince of Nassau-Usingen in 1802, and formally awarded to him in 1803. In the
Austro-Prussian War of 1866, the Duke of Nassau sided with
Austria, thereby losing his land to
Prussia.
1866–1945
Wealthy industrialists, traders and bankers discovered the little Taunus town's idyllic and climatically advantageous setting right near Frankfurt in the middle of the
nineteenth century and built
villas and summer homes in Kronberg and Schönberg. Even artists, among them
Anton Burger and
Jakob Fürchtegott Dielmann, came to Kronberg and founded the Kronberg Painters' Colony, which lasted into the
20th century. Some of the Kronberg painters' works are on display in the museum at the "Dispute Church". The small town, for so long shaped by smallholders and craftsmen reached in its "Prussian epoch" its first upswing with the building of the Kronberg-Rödelheim
railway (1874) and the luxurious
Schloss Friedrichshof (1889–94) often called "Kronberg", the residence of Princess Victoria, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and Emperess-dowager of Germany.
Since 1945
After the
Second World War, Kronberg belonged to
Groß-Hessen ("Greater Hesse" – a provisional name for the state that was later dropped), and remains in Hesse today.
In 1946, the Papal Mission for Displaced Persons in Germany was moved to Kronberg by Pope
Pius XII. The
apostolic visitor and leader of the institution was the
Bishop of Fargo,
North Dakota,
USA Aloisius Muench, who was of German heritage. His spiritual guidance mandate included caring for those who had fled or been driven out of
Eastern Europe. Until the summer of 1949, he organized from Kronberg the transport of about 950 goods wagons full of Papal aid supplies to Germany. He was also supported by the
US Government; before taking his position in Kronberg, he received from
US Defense Secretary Robert P. Patterson the document of appointment as liaison commissioner for religious affairs to the US military government in Germany. Through his contacts in the USA Muench arranged a formidable flow of donations into destruction-stricken Germany. After the
Federal Republic of Germany was founded, the Kronberg Apostolic Mission was dissolved in 1951. Muench afterwards became the first Apostolic
Nuncio in the Federal Republic of Germany (
West Germany). In 1959,
Pope John XXIII made Archbishop Muench a
Cardinal.
As part of Hesse's municipal reforms, on
1 April 1972, Kronberg merged with the formerly independent communities of Oberhöchstadt and Schönberg.
Politics
Distribution of town council seats
The municipal elections on 26 March 2006 yielded the following results:
- CDU 12 Sitze
- SPD 7 Sitze
- UBG 4 Sitze
- KfB 4 Sitze
- Greens 3 Sitze
- FDP 2 Sitze
- independent 1
Ruling coalition being negotiated (June 2006): SPD, UBG, KfB and Greens.
Twin cities
- Le Lavandou, France, since September 2, 1972
- Ballenstedt am Harz, Germany, since October 6, 1988
- Porto Recanati, Italy, since September 5, 1993
- Aberystwyth, Wales, United Kingdom since November 1, 1997
- Guldental, Germany (friendship only, not partnership)
Culture and sightseeing
Festivals
The biggest street festival in the Old Town (around Steinstraße) is the Thäler Kerb
. Since 1967, when the Thäler Kerbe club was founded, it has been and is still celebrated, always on Tuesday and Wednesday after the first Sunday in July (although in 2006, it was postponed until 11-12 July owing to the World Cup). During the two festival days, the Thäler Pärchen – the "king" and "queen" of the festival – Miss Bembel and the Thäler Bürgermeister, rule.
Other festivals
Dallesfest in Oberhöchstadt
Brunnenfest (spring festival) in Schönberg (2nd Saturday in August)
Oberhöchstädter Kerb
Kürbis-Festival (Gourd Festival) at Kronberg Castle (October)
Linsenhoff UNICEF Foundation Schafhof Festival (irregular, next festival in 2007)
Markets
Flea market in the Old Town (first Sunday in July)
Bilder- und Weinmarkt (Picture and Wine Market; first weekend in August)
Herbstmarkt ("Autumn Market, federation of independents, 2nd weekend in September)
Apfelmarkt ("Apple Market"; October)
Christmas Markets in Kronberg and Oberhöchstadt
Music festivals
Internationally known Kronberg Academy Cello Festival
Museums and galleries
Museum at Kronberg Castle
Kronberg Painters' Colony Museum at the Streitkirche
Fritz-Best-Museum, Talweg 41
Braun-Museum, Westerbachstr. 23c
Galerie Opper at the Streitkirche
Galerie Hellhof, Königsteiner Str. 2a
Galerie Hana, Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 26
Galerie Sties, Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 35
Galerie Satyra, Steinstr. 1
ArtXchange, An der Stadtmauer 2
Economy and infrastructure
Headquarters to international firms, such as Accenture, Braun GmbH (Gillette), Celanese, Fidelity and German branches of Jaguar and Aston Martin.
Opelzoo, a medium-sized animal park between Kronberg and Königstein enjoyed by its youngest visitors mainly for the big and well-laid-out playground. The Opelzoo originally came into being from Opel Works founder Georg von Opel's grandson's private animal reserve. About 1956, the younger Opel brought a pair of endangered Persian fallow deer to Kronberg and through breeding ensured their survival.
Fruit growing: Kronberg is known best of all for its sweet chestnuts and strawberry fields; there are also a few Streuobstwiesen, meadows that also support a variety of different fruit trees.
Mineral springs in the Kronthal
Kronberg has a top-rated hotel, the "Schlosshotel Kronberg", former residence of Princess Victoria, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and Emperess-dowager of Germany.
Media
Taunus Zeitung (newspaper)
Kronberger Bote (newspaper)
Schools and educational institutions
Kronthal-Schule (primary school) Kronberg, formerly Grundschule Kronberg, in the former building of the Altkönigschule
Viktoria-Schule (primary school) Schönberg
Schöne Aussicht (primary school) Oberhöchstadt
Altkönigschule (secondary school, comprehensive school with gymnasial upper level) in Kronberg's main town, until 1973/74 in the Villa Winter
Montessori School (Schönberg)
Religionspädagogisches Studienzentrum der Evangelischen Kirche in Hessen und Nassau (Schönberg)
DRK School of Elderly Care (Kronberg)
Personalities
Famous Kronbergers
Eberwin II (?-1308), from 1300 Bishop of Worms
Johannes von Cronberg (?-?) about 1300, Choir Bishop at Strasbourg
Walter von Cronberg (1477-1543) High Master of the Teutonic Knights
Hartmut XII (1488-1549) early companion of Martin Luther, editor of many "Reformational" writings
Johann Schweikhard von Kronberg (1553-1626) from 1604 Elector and Archbishop at Mainz, builder of the Schloss Johannisburg in Aschaffenburg
Johann Daniel von Cronberg (ca. 1616-1668) member of the "Fruitbearing Society"
Prominent residents
Johann Ludwig Christ (1739-1813) Evangelical clergyman, pomologist
Jakob Fürchtegott Dielmann (1809-1885) founder of the Kronberg Painters' colony
Empress Frederick (1840-1901) Frederick III's widow, Queen Victoria's eldest daughter
Carl-Hans Graf von Hardenberg (1891-1958) politician and participant in the July 20 Plot, lived from 1945 until his death in 1958 in Kronberg
Fritz Best (1894-1980) painter and sculptor
Max Horkheimer (1895-1973) lived for a time, until Hitler seized power, on Minnholzweg
Fritz Schilgen (1906-2005) last torchbearer in the relay to the Summer Olympics in Berlin in 1936.
Maria Mucke (1919- ) singer and television entertainer
Wolfgang Mischnick (1921-2002) FDP politician
Hans Matthöfer (1925- ) SPD politician
Walter Leisler Kiep (1926- ) CDU politician
Liselott Linsenhoff (1927-1999) German dressage rider, multiple Olympic champion, VDO founder Adolf Schindling's daughter.
Karl Otto Pöhl (1929- ) president of the Deutsche Bundesbank 1980-1991
Jean-Claude Trichet (1942- ) president of the European Central Bank (Frankfurt) traditionally lives in the ECB house in Parkstraße
Josef Ackermann (1948- ), Deutsche Bank Chairman of the Board.
Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff (1960- ) German dressage rider, founder of the Linsenhoff UNICEF foundation
Honorary citizens
1850 Dr. med. von Bertrand
1864 Jacques Reiss (1807-1887)
1864 Johann Adam Hermann Osterrieth (1792-1868)
1891 Wilhelm Bernhard Bonn (1843-1910)
1894 Anton Burger (1824-1905)
1895 Adolf Schreyer (1828-1899)
1901 Carl Kannegießer (1848-1921)
1902 Karl Wilhelm von Meister (1863-1935)
1905 Georg Jamin (1825-1909)
1921 Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Schulte (1868-1933)
1933 Paul von Hindenburg (1847-1934)
1938 Carl Rudolf Walther vom Rath (1857-1940)
1960 Louis Leisler Kiep (1884-1962)
1972 Anton Henrich (1897-1973)
1978 Julius Hembus (1903-1983)
1980 Helmut Bode (1910-1988)
1984 Carl Rudolph Neubronner (1896-1997)
1993 Christa Jaenich (1914-2004)
2003 Hanna Feldmann (1923-2003)
2005 Rudolf Möller (1928- )
2005 Wolfgang Ronner (1921- )
Stadt im preuß. Regierungsbezirk Wiesbaden, Obertaunuskreis, am Taunus und an der Eisenbahn Kronberg-Rödelheim, inmitten ausgedehnter Obst- und Kastanienpflanzungen, 285 m ü. M., hat ein altes Schloß, eine Oberförsterei, berühmte Baumschulen, bedeutenden Obsthandel und (1885) 2391 meist evang. Einwohner. – Der Ort erhielt schon 1367 Stadtrechte und gehörte seit 1704 zu Kurmainz. In der Nähe, in einem reizenden Thal, liegt der Kurort Kronthal mit muriatischen Eisensäuerlingen von 14-16 °C. Temperatur, die vorzugsweise bei Lungenkatarrhen und beginnender Tuberkulose gebraucht werden, Gasbädern, Molken- und Kaltwasserheilanstalt.
In English:
"Town in Prussian administrative region of Wiesbaden, Obertaunuskreis, on the Taunus and on the Kronberg-Rödelheim railway, in the middle of extensive fruit and chestnut plantations, 285 m above sea level, has an old stately home, a high forester's house, famous tree nursery, important fruit trade and (1885) 2391 mostly Evangelical inhabitants. – The place received town rights already in 1367 and belonged as of 1704 to Kurmainz (Mainz under the Holy Roman Electors). Nearby, in a charming valley lies the Kronthal spa with muriatic carbon-dioxide- and iron-rich springs at temperatures of 14-16 °C, which are used primarily for lung cattarhs and beginning tuberculosis, gas baths, and whey and coldwater healing establishment."
Further Information
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