Mühlacker () is a town in the eastern part of the Enz district of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Mühlacker station has direct rail connections with Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Heidelberg, and Pforzheim.

Geography

Located in the northern Black Forest, the river Enz runs through Mühlacker. Both the northern and southern areas are characterised by mountain slopes, which are steeper in the northside.

Mühlacker is made up of six subdivisions: Mühlacker, Enzberg, Großglattbach, Lienzingen, Lomersheim and Mühlhausen an der Enz. The core city Mühlacker, consisting of the quarters of Mühlacker and Dürrmenz, is the most populous, with around 15,000 people. The least populated area is Mühlhausen, which maintains under 1,000 residents.

The first named settlement in the area was Dürrmenz, spelled as Turmenz and dated to 779 in the Lorsch codex. Mühlacker was recorded as a hamlet in 1292. In the Nine Years' War (1688–1697), after the , Dürrmenz was looted in 1692 by French troops. To defend against future attacks, the Eppingen lines were erected.

Industrialisation

With the opening of the Württemberg Western Railway Stuttgart - Bruchsal in 1853 the industrial age began in the Dürrmenz-Mühlacker area. As the Karlsruhe-Mühlacker railway was built in 1863, Mühlacker was at the same railway junction and border station. Lienzingen's historical inner town also became recognised as Etterdorf.

With the dissolution of Oberamt Maulbronn, young city Mühlacker in 1938 was incorporated into district Vaihingen. During the Nazi period, eight Jewish citizens of Mühlacker were deported to Auschwitz, including three who had fled to Le Mans in France. Seven were murdered at the camp while the eighth, Theodor Slepoj, survived to see the liberation of Auschwitz, but died days later of his previous mistreatment. Commemorative Stolpersteine for the Holocaust victims were paved into Mühlacker's streets in 2009.

The World War II ended in Mühlacker with destruction by air raids and artillery shelling. After 1945, 3000 refugees and displaced persons found settled in Mühlacker. As part of the district reform on 1 January 1973, the district Vaihingen was dissolved. The western region, with the town of Mühlacker became part of the newly formed Enzkreis. The annual Mühlacker wine festival takes place to celebrate the wine culture since the 1980s.

Climate

Sights

Since 1930, Mühlacker has been transmitter site, at which between 1934 and 1945 the tallest tower ever built of wood stood (height: 190 metres). The water tower, built in 1972, stands at 42 metres and is traditionally lit up as a decorative light during Christmas season.

Burg Dürrmenz, a hill castle, was constructed in the 13th century by the . Following repeated destructions and reconstructions, the castle was left as what are now known as the .

  • Bassano del Grappa, Italy
  • Schmölln, Germany

Notable people

  • , (died 1163), Reich Chancellor under Holy Roman Emperor Barbarossa and Bishop of Speyer
  • Anna Catharina Wedderkopf (1715–1786), businesswoman, consultant and feminist
  • Hellmut G. Haasis (born 1942), writer and historian
  • Verena Veh (born 1977), volleyball player
  • Florian Naroska (born 1982), water polo player
  • Kim Kurniawan (born 1990), Indonesian footballer

References

  • War memorials in Muehlacker cemetery at "Sites of Memory" webpage