Donauwörth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donauwörth
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Reichsstrasse, Donauwörth
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| Country | Germany | |
| State | Bavaria | |
| Admin. region | Swabia | |
| District | Donau-Ries | |
| Elevation | 410 m (1,350 ft) | |
| Population
(2022-12-31)
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| • Total | 19,994 | |
| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) | |
| Postal codes |
86609
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| Dialling codes | 0906 | |
| Vehicle registration | DON | |
| Website | www.donauwoerth.de | |
Donauwörth is a town in Germany, located in the region of Swabia, Bavaria. It's the main town of the Donau-Ries district. People say it was started by two fishermen where the Danube (Donau) and Wörnitz rivers meet. This city is also part of a beautiful tourist route called the "Romantische Straße," or Romantic Road.
You can find Donauwörth between two big German cities, Munich and Nuremberg. It's about 46 kilometers (28 miles) north of Augsburg.
History of Donauwörth
Donauwörth grew into a town during the 11th and 12th centuries. It was protected by the castle of Mangoldstein. In the 13th century, it became a home for Duke Ludwig II of Bavaria. He later moved to Munich to get away from his wife, Duchess Maria of Brabant.
The town gained special freedom in 1308, becoming a "Free Imperial City" within the Holy Roman Empire. This meant it was directly under the emperor, not a local duke. However, in 1607, the town's Protestant citizens had a disagreement with the Catholic abbot of Heilig-Kreuz. This led to the emperor allowing the Duke of Bavaria to punish them.
Donauwörth is important in German history because of an event that helped start the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648). In 1606, the mostly Protestant people of the town stopped the Catholic residents from holding their yearly Markus parade. This caused a big argument. During the war, the town was attacked by Gustavus Adolphus in 1632 and later taken by Ferdinand III in 1634.
The town was also the site of the Battle of Schellenberg on July 2, 1704. This battle happened during the War of the Spanish Succession (1702–1713). John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, was leading his army from Flanders to Bavaria. He reached the Danube River near Donauwörth. The French army tried to cross the Danube there but were surprised by Marlborough's troops. After tough fighting, the French had to retreat. This allowed Marlborough to capture Donauwörth and cross the Danube easily. Another important battle, the battle of Donauwörth, took place on October 7, 1805. This battle started Napoleon's Ulm campaign.
Famous People from Donauwörth
Many interesting people have come from Donauwörth:
- 1291–1351 Margareta Ebner, a German mystic (someone who seeks a deep spiritual connection).
- 1499–1543 Sebastian Franck, a German freethinker and humanist who wanted to reform ideas in the 16th century.
- 1838–1912 Franz Hartmann, a writer and expert in spiritual and hidden knowledge like theosophy and astrology.
- 1848–1934 Michael Deffner, a philologist (someone who studies language in historical texts) and archaeologist.
- 1861–1933 Ferdinand Bonn, a well-known stage and film actor.
- 1901–1983 Werner Egk, a famous composer.
- 1942 Werner Schnitzer, an actor.
- 1948 Manfred G. Schmidt, a professor who studies political science.
- 1980 Carolin Hingst, a talented pole vaulter.
- 1980 Sercan Güvenışık, a professional footballer.
Sister Cities
Donauwörth has a "sister city" relationship with another town. This means they share cultural ties and friendly connections.
Perchtoldsdorf, Austria
Images for kids
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Kloster Heilig Kreuz church, showing decorations above the main altar.
See also
In Spanish: Donauwörth para niños
