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Bad Kötzting
Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Coat of arms of Bad Kötzting
Coat of arms
Country Germany
State Bavaria
Admin. region Oberpfalz
District Cham
Elevation
409 m (1,342 ft)
Population
 (2022-12-31)
 • Total 7,466
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes
93444
Dialling codes 0 99 41
Vehicle registration CHA, KÖZ, ROD, WÜM
Website www.bad-koetzting.de

Bad Kötzting is a lovely town in Bavaria, Germany. It's located near the Czech border, in a beautiful area called the Bavarian Forest. Before 2005, the town was just called Kötzting.

Discover Bad Kötzting

Bad Kötzting is a charming small town with many things to see and do. It's known for its friendly atmosphere and interesting traditions.

One of the most famous events here is the "Kötztinger Pfingstritt." This is one of the biggest mounted religious parades in the world!

The Amazing Horse Parade

The "Kötztinger Pfingstritt" happens every year on Whit Monday. It's a huge parade with over 900 horses and riders. The horses are decorated, and the riders wear traditional Bavarian clothes.

The story behind this parade began in 1412. A man was hurt in the forest about 7 kilometers away from Kötzting. He needed a priest to give him his last prayers. The local priest was worried about wild animals like bears and wolves on the way. So, he asked the young men of the village to protect him.

They all went together to the dying man. After a safe trip, everyone who took part promised to repeat the ride every year. And they have kept that promise ever since!

The ride starts in Kötzting and goes to the village of "Steinbühl." This is where the injured man was said to be dying. Only men from the local area can join the parade. But the horses come from all over Bavaria!

When the parade takes place, there's also a fun annual fair in town. You can find a local beer tent and many rides for everyone to enjoy.

Gallery of the Horse Parade

Here are some pictures from the Kötztinger Pfingstritt in 2001:

  • Pfingstritt Koetzting 01
  • Pfingstritt Koetzting 02
  • Pfingstritt Koetzting 03
  • Pfingstritt Koetzting 04

Town History

Bad Kötzting has a long and interesting history. Here are some important moments:

  • 1085 AD: The town is first mentioned in public records as "Chostingen."
  • c. 1260: Kötzting is given the special status of a market town. This meant it could hold markets and trade goods.
  • 1344: Emperor Louis IV officially confirms Kötzting's market status.
  • c. 1425: The town faced many attacks from the Hussites.
  • 1583: The bubonic plague, a serious illness, affected the town and nearby areas.
  • 1633: During the Thirty Years' War, Swedish soldiers burned down Kötzting.
  • 1648: The Thirty Years' War ended, but the plague returned.
  • 1867: A large fire destroyed much of the town.
  • 1953: Kötzting officially became a town.
  • 1972: The county of Kötzting was closed, and the town became part of the Cham district.
  • 1986: Kötzting was recognized as a "Climatic Spa." This means its climate is good for health.
  • 1995: It was also recognized as a "Garden Spa" because of its focus on natural healing methods.
  • 2005: The town's name changed to Bad Kötzting. The word "Bad" means "bath" or "spa" in German, showing its importance as a health resort. A new swimming and adventure pool called AQACUR also opened.

Town Leadership

The current mayor of Bad Kötzting is Markus Hofmann. He was born in 1975 and has been the mayor since 2014.

Friendship Towns

Rathauskoetzting
New town hall

Bad Kötzting is part of a special group called the Douzelage. This is a unique partnership of towns from across the European Union. It even includes towns from the United Kingdom.

This friendship started in 1991. The towns hold regular events, like markets where they sell products from each country. They also have festivals together. It's a great way for people from different countries to learn about each other.

Here are some of the other towns in the Douzelage:

  • Cyprus Agros, Cyprus
  • Spain Altea, Spain
  • Finland Asikkala, Finland
  • Italy Bellagio, Italy
  • Republic of Ireland Bundoran, Ireland
  • Poland Chojna, Poland
  • France Granville, France
  • Denmark Holstebro, Denmark
  • Belgium Houffalize, Belgium
  • Austria Judenburg, Austria
  • Hungary Kőszeg, Hungary
  • Malta Marsaskala, Malta
  • Netherlands Meerssen, Netherlands
  • Luxembourg Niederanven, Luxembourg
  • Sweden Oxelösund, Sweden
  • Greece Preveza, Greece
  • Lithuania Rokiškis, Lithuania
  • Croatia Rovinj, Croatia
  • Portugal Sesimbra, Portugal
  • United Kingdom Sherborne, United Kingdom
  • Latvia Sigulda, Latvia
  • Romania Siret, Romania
  • Slovenia Škofja Loka, Slovenia
  • Czech Republic Sušice, Czech Republic
  • Bulgaria Tryavna, Bulgaria
  • Estonia Türi, Estonia
  • Slovakia Zvolen, Slovakia

Famous People from Bad Kötzting

Some notable people have come from Bad Kötzting, including:

  • Benedict Stattler (1728–1797), a Catholic theologian.
  • Helmut Brunner (politician) (born 1954), a politician who was a Bavarian minister.
  • Thomas Dworzak (born 1972), a well-known photographer.
  • Matthias Aschenbrenner (born 1972), a mathematician.

See also

In Spanish: Bad Kötzting para niños

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