Ingolstadt facts for kids
Ingolstadt is a cool city in Bavaria, Germany. It's located right on the Danube River. With over 142,000 people living there, it's one of the biggest cities in Bavaria! Ingolstadt became a major city in Germany in 1989 when its population grew past 100,000.
The city was first mentioned way back in the year 806. In the past, it was an important capital for the Bavarian dukes. Ingolstadt was also home to Bavaria's first university, founded in 1472. This university played a big role in history. The famous Illuminati group was even started here in 1776. For over 400 years, Ingolstadt was a strong fortress city. You can still see its historic old town today.
Ingolstadt has two colleges and is a key regional center in Bavaria. It's well-known for its manufacturing industry, especially car making and mechanical engineering.
Quick facts for kids
Ingolstadt
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North side of the city
Kreuztor
St. Moritz (Ingolstadt)
Münster Zur Schönen Unserer Lieben Frau (Ingolstadt)
Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt
New Castle, which houses the main collection of the Bayerisches Armeemuseum
museum mobile, about the history of Audi
Audi Sportpark, the home of FC Ingolstadt 04
Ingolstadt by night
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| Country | Germany | ||
| State | Bavaria | ||
| Admin. region | Oberbayern | ||
| District | Urban district | ||
| Subdivisions | 11 Stadtbezirke with 61 Unterbezirken | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 133.37 km2 (51.49 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 374 m (1,227 ft) | ||
| Population
(2022-12-31)
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| • Total | 141,029 | ||
| • Density | 1,057.43/km2 (2,738.72/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) | ||
| Postal codes |
85049–85057
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| Dialling codes | 0841 08450 (Zuchering, Brunnenreuth) 08424 (Irgertsheim) 08458 (Pettenhofen/Mühlhausen/Dünzlau) 08459 (Niederfeld) |
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| Vehicle registration | IN | ||
| Website | www.ingolstadt.de | ||
Contents
Geography of Ingolstadt
Ingolstadt covers an area of about 133 square kilometers. This makes it Bavaria's fourth-largest city by land area. From east to west, the city is about 18 kilometers wide. From north to south, it stretches about 15 kilometers. The city's border is about 70 kilometers long.
The city is located about 14 kilometers from the exact center of Bavaria. The old town sits about 374 meters above sea level. The highest point in the city is 410.87 meters high. The lowest point is 362 meters above sea level.
Ingolstadt is built on both sides of the Danube River. The city is in a wide, flat area. To the south and north are hills. The Danube River flows through the city from west to east. It is about 80 to 100 meters wide here. The city also has large lowland forests, which are important natural areas.
History and Culture
Ingolstadt was first mentioned in a document in 806. It was called "Ingoldes stat," meaning "Ingold's place." Around the year 1250, Ingolstadt officially became a city.
Ingolstadt as a Duchy Capital
Between 1392 and 1447, Ingolstadt was the capital of the Duchy of Bavaria-Ingolstadt. Later, it joined with Bavaria-Landshut. Duke Louis VII, Duke of Bavaria ordered the building of the New Castle. He also started building the Church of Our Lady. This church was greatly influenced by French Gothic architecture.
The University and Reinheitsgebot
In 1472, Duke Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria founded the University of Ingolstadt. This was Bavaria's first university. It later moved to Landshut and then to Munich. The university was very important during the Reformation. It defended the Roman Catholic Church.
In 1516, William IV, Duke of Bavaria signed the Bavarian Reinheitsgebot in Ingolstadt. This law set rules for how beer should be made. It is still famous today!
Sieges and Fortifications
Ingolstadt was a strong fortress city. In 1632, during the Thirty Years' War, the Swedish army tried to capture it. The German field marshal Johann Tserclaes, Count of Tilly died in Ingolstadt during this siege. Ingolstadt was the first German fortress to successfully defend against the Swedes. The Swedish king's horse was shot during the siege. Its remains are still displayed in the City Museum.
In 1799, the fortress was taken down. The university was moved away. Ingolstadt's old defensive wall still stands. The Bavarian Army Museum is now housed in the old Bavarian fortress. During World War I, future French president Charles de Gaulle was held here as a prisoner.
Cultural Connections
The famous book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is set in Ingolstadt. Specifically, it mentions the Ingolstädter Alte Anatomie (Old Anatomy Building). This building is now a museum about medical history. The play Pioneers in Ingolstadt (1928) by Marieluise Fleißer also takes place in the city.
Economy
In 1945, the car company Auto Union came to Ingolstadt. Their original factories were destroyed during World War II. Auto Union started making spare parts in Ingolstadt. With help, the company was officially re-founded in Ingolstadt in 1949. This company later became the modern Audi company.
Today, Audi is the biggest employer in the region. It plays a huge role in the city's economy.
Cityscape and Attractions
Ingolstadt was one of five ducal residences in medieval Bavaria. Because of this, it has many beautiful Gothic buildings.
Main Sights to See
- Herzogskasten: This is the 'old ducal castle,' built around 1255.
- New Castle: This castle was built starting in 1418.
- Church of Our Lady (Liebfrauenmunster): This is the largest church, started in 1425. It was meant to be a second parish church and a burial place for dukes.
- Saint Maurice Church: Built in 1235.
- Kreuztor: This gate (1385) is one of the last parts of the old city wall. It's a key landmark of Ingolstadt.
- Old City Hall: This Gothic building was built in the 14th century.
- Old Anatomy Building: Built from 1723 to 1736, it's now a museum for medical history.
- St. Maria de Victoria Church: Built by the famous Asam brothers (1732–1736).
The city is also home to the headquarters of Audi. You can visit Audi's museum mobile. It shows historic cars and offers guided tours.
Parks and Green Spaces
Ingolstadt is a very green city with many parks and forests.
- The Glacis: This used to be an open space in front of the city walls. Now, it's a "green belt" around the historic city center. It has paths for walking and biking.
- Klenzepark: This is the biggest park in the city, covering about 50 acres. It's south of the Danube River, across from the old town. Many people, especially young people, visit this park.
- Auwald: Also called "Schüttel," this is the biggest forest in Ingolstadt. It's on both sides of the Danube River. It's one of the largest well-preserved river forests in Germany. Parts of it are natural reserves, protecting unique plants and wildlife.
The Danube River flows right through Ingolstadt. It's a beautiful part of the city's natural landscape.
Education
Ingolstadt has important schools for higher education.
Ingolstadt School of Management
This school is part of the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt. It focuses on business administration and economics. It often ranks among the top business schools in Germany. The school has many partner universities around the world for student exchange programs. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in business.
Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI)
THI is a university that teaches technology, computer sciences, and business administration. It's the largest educational place in Ingolstadt, with about 6,000 students. Companies like Siemens offer scholarships to talented students here. These students also get practical experience by working at these companies. THI offers many different study programs.
Sports
Sports are a big part of life in Ingolstadt. The city has 83 registered sports clubs. Over 41,000 people are members of these clubs. The largest club is the MTV 1881 Ingolstadt, with more than 3,000 members.
Ingolstadt is especially known for ice hockey and association football.
- ERC Ingolstadt: This ice hockey team was founded in 1964. They play in the top German Ice Hockey League. They even won the German Ice Hockey League Championship in 2014!
- FC Ingolstadt 04: This football club started in 2004. They have played in Germany's top football league, the Bundesliga. In 2015, they won the 2. Bundesliga and were promoted to the highest league.
Twin Towns – Sister Cities
Ingolstadt has many twin towns, also called sister cities, around the world. This means they have special friendly relationships with these cities:
- Carrara, Italy
- Central AO (Moscow), Russia
- Moscow, Russia
- Foshan, China
- Grasse, France
- Győr, Hungary
- Kirkcaldy, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Kragujevac, Serbia
- Manisa, Turkey
- Murska Sobota, Slovenia
- Opole, Poland
Organizations and Clubs
- MTV 1881 Ingolstadt, Ingolstadt's main sports club
- FC Ingolstadt 04, Football club
- Grün-Weiß Ingolstadt, Football club
- Ingolstadt Schanzer, Baseball team
- ERC Ingolstadt, Ice hockey team
- Ingolstadt Dukes American football team
Notable People from Ingolstadt
Many interesting people were born or lived in Ingolstadt:
- Philipp Apian (1531–1589), a mathematician
- Adam Weishaupt (1748–1830), a philosopher and founder of the Illuminati
- Marieluise Fleißer (1901–1974), an author and playwright
- Michael Heltau (born 1933), a German-Austrian actor
- Horst Seehofer (born 1949), a politician
- Christian Engelhart (born 1986), a racing driver
Images for kids
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Siege of Ingolstadt by the Swedish army in 1632
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Church of Our Lady
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Ingolstadt town hall
