Weil der Stadt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Weil der Stadt
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Location of Weil der Stadt within Böblingen district
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 Weil der Stadt
Location in Germany
Weil der Stadt
Location in Baden-Württemberg
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| Country | Germany | |
| State | Baden-Württemberg | |
| District | Böblingen | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 43.17 km2 (16.67 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 406 m (1,332 ft) | |
| Population
(2022-12-31)
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| • Total | 19,401 | |
| • Density | 449.41/km2 (1,163.96/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) | |
| Postal codes |
71255–71263
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| Dialling codes | 07033 | |
| Vehicle registration | BB | |
| Website | www.weil-der-stadt.de | |
Weil der Stadt is a cool town in Germany, located in the state of Baden-Württemberg. About 19,000 people live there. It's about 30 miles (48 km) west of Stuttgart, a much bigger city.
Weil der Stadt sits in the valley of the River Würm. People often call it the "Gate to the Black Forest" because it's right at the edge of this famous forest.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name "Weil" comes from a Latin word, villa. This word meant a large farm or a country house. The part "der Stadt" (which means "the town") was added later. This helped people tell it apart from other nearby villages named Weil.
It's a bit unusual because of the word "der." Usually, German towns use "die" for "the." But "der" is used here because of how German grammar works with words like "in" (meaning "in") or "aus" (meaning "from"). These words often change the "the" to "der."
The town's old Roman roots are even on its coat of arms! It has the famous Roman saying SPQR.
A Look Back in Time
The village of Wile was first mentioned way back in 1075. At that time, it belonged to a famous place called Hirsau Abbey.
Weil der Stadt became a Free Imperial City in the 1200s. This meant it was a special town that was directly under the rule of the Holy Roman Emperor, not a local lord. It had been an important trading spot for many centuries before that.
Sadly, the city was completely destroyed in 1648 during the Thirty Years' War. But don't worry, it was rebuilt! Many of the buildings you see today are from that time. The old city walls, gates, and towers are still standing, which is pretty cool.
Weil der Stadt is most famous for being the birthplace of Johannes Kepler (1571–1630). He was a very important astronomer. That's why the town is sometimes called Keplerstadt, or "Kepler town." Another famous person from here was Johannes Brenz (1499–1570), a Protestant reformer.
Because of its beautiful old buildings and the tall steeple of St. Peter and Paul Church, Weil der Stadt is a popular place to visit.
Fun Events and History
Weil der Stadt is a big fan of traditional carnival. They have a lively parade in the town center. This carnival is called Fasnet. It's different from the carnival in other parts of Germany. Fasnet follows older Alemannic traditions, which are also found in parts of Switzerland.
During World War II, Weil der Stadt was almost destroyed again. But a French army attack was stopped because it was Kepler's birthplace. This saved the town!
Famous People from Weil der Stadt
- Heinrich Steinhöwel (around 1410 - 1479), a German doctor and writer.
- Paul Scriptoris (around 1460 – 1505), a German mathematician.
- Johannes Brenz (1499–1570), a very important Lutheran religious leader.
- Johannes Kepler (1571–1630), a famous astronomer and mathematician.
- Joseph Anton Gall (1748–1807), a Catholic Bishop.
- Adolph Schoeninger (1833–1900), an American businessman who made bicycles.
