Furtwangen im Schwarzwald

Furtwangen im Schwarzwald is a small city located in the Black Forest region of south western Germany. It belongs to the district (Kreis) of Schwarzwald-Baar along with the two more important cities of Villingen and Schwenningen. The total population of Furtwangen was 9673 inhabitants on December 31, 2004. Furtwangen gained the right to call itself a city in 1873. The Breg is a small stream which, coming from the mountainous areas around Furtwangen, flows down through the inner city to the east. The Breg is one of the two little rivers which unite to form the river Danube.

Furtwangen im Schwarzwald
Furtwangen seen from the north
Coat of arms
Location of Furtwangen im Schwarzwald within Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis district
SwitzerlandBreisgau-HochschwarzwaldEmmendingen (district)Konstanz (district)Tuttlingen (district)Waldshut (district)OrtenaukreisRottweil (district)Bad DürrheimBlumbergBräunlingenBräunlingenBrigachtalDauchingenDonaueschingenFurtwangen im SchwarzwaldGütenbachHüfingenHüfingenKönigsfeld im SchwarzwaldMönchweilerNiedereschachSankt Georgen im SchwarzwaldSchönwald im SchwarzwaldSchonach im SchwarzwaldTuningenTriberg im SchwarzwaldUnterkirnachUnterkirnachUnterkirnachVillingen-SchwenningenVillingen-SchwenningenVillingen-SchwenningenVöhrenbach
Furtwangen im Schwarzwald
Furtwangen im Schwarzwald
Coordinates: 48°03′01″N 08°12′33″E
CountryGermany
StateBaden-Württemberg
Admin. regionFreiburg
DistrictSchwarzwald-Baar-Kreis
Subdivisions4 Stadtteile
Government
 • MayorJosef Herdner (CDU)
Area
 • Total82.57 km2 (31.88 sq mi)
Highest elevation
1,150 m (3,770 ft)
Lowest elevation
850 m (2,790 ft)
Population
 (2018-12-31)[1]
 • Total9,091
 • Density110/km2 (290/sq mi)
Time zoneCET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes
78113–78120
Dialling codes07723
Vehicle registrationVS
WebsiteFurtwangen.de
Aerial view of the inner city

Furtwangen is a city with an industrial past:

At one time Furtwangen was a major producer of clocks that were made and sold all over the world. While many different kinds of clocks were produced in Furtwangen, Furtwangen was unique for the production of musical clocks from the factory of Emilian Wehrle.

Emilian Wehrle (1832–1896) made musical clocks in the Furtwangen-Schönenbach area from about 1857 until his death in 1896. These musical clocks included the Trumpeter clock, Flute clock, Singing Bird Clock, and Rooster Clock. These clocks call the hour with the sound of the trumpet, flute, song bird and rooster respectively.

These clocks were the highest quality and were very expensive at the time. Because of this few were produced, and even fewer survived. Today collectors are after these musical pieces, and they continue to be sold at record prices.

This industry was very important in previous centuries, but with the appearance of the quartz watch this branch of the economy is now almost gone.

Today, Furtwangen is a city with a more balanced industry, there are many small and medium-sized industrial companies focused in microelectronics and precision mechanics. Among the cities in Germany Furtwangen one of those with the lowest unemployment rate.

There is a university of applied sciences. This university specialises in microelectronics, precision mechanics, computer sciences, informatics, digital media, industrial technologies, medical and life sciences, mechanical and medical engineering etc. Beside one of the university entrances is the Deutsches Uhrenmuseum (German Clock and Watch Museum) with many historical and modern clocks and watches on display. Tourists are often highly interested in visiting this museum.

Strongly frequented by traffic is the "B 500" road which is also commonly known as the black forest "Panoramastraße". In 1972, the railway connection called Bregtalbahn was closed after 80 years of service. The railway track had led from Furtwangen to Donaueschingen.

Sons and daughters of the city
Robert Gerwig
  • Hugo Eberhardt (1874-1959), architect
  • Siegfried Weiss (1933-2013), cross-country skier

Sights

References
  1. "Bevölkerung nach Nationalität und Geschlecht am 31. Dezember 2018". Statistisches Landesamt Baden-Württemberg (in German). July 2019.

Media related to Furtwangen im Schwarzwald at Wikimedia Commons

  • Furtwangen
  • Furtwangen in January 2005 (in the mist)
  • University of Applied Sciences Furtwangen
  • German Clock Museum
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