Balingen
| Balingen | ||
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Zollernschloss in Balingen | ||
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  Balingen | ||
Location of Balingen within Zollernalbkreis district 
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| Coordinates: 48°16′23″N 08°51′02″E / 48.27306°N 8.85056°ECoordinates: 48°16′23″N 08°51′02″E / 48.27306°N 8.85056°E | ||
| Country | Germany | |
| State | Baden-Württemberg | |
| Admin. region | Tübingen | |
| District | Zollernalbkreis | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Helmut Reitemann (CDU) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 90.34 km2 (34.88 sq mi) | |
| Population (2015-12-31)[1] | ||
| • Total | 33,640 | |
| • Density | 370/km2 (960/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) | |
| Postal codes | 72301–72336 | |
| Dialling codes | 07433 | |
| Vehicle registration | BL | |
| Website | www.balingen.de | |
Balingen is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, capital of the district of Zollernalbkreis. It is located near the Swabian Jura, approx. 35 km to the south of Tübingen, 35 km northeast of Villingen-Schwenningen, and 60 km southwest of Stuttgart.
It is home to the Bizerba and Ideal companies.
History
Balingen is first mentioned in 863. Initially a possession of the lords of Haigerloch, in 1162 it was acquired by the count of Hohenberg. In the 13th century it received the title of city from Friedrich der Erlauchte, it was largely rebuilt on the left bank of the river Eyach.
In 1403 it was sold to the County of Württemberg, whose chancellor maintained a residence there until the 18th century.
Balingen became part of the unified Germany in 1870.
Main sights
The city was destroyed by a fire in 1809, from which only the Protestant church, the castle and a few other edifices escaped. The Protestant church's construction finished in 1541; it has a characteristic sundial in the apse.
The castle was reconstructed in 1935.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Gregor Reisch (1470-1525), university teacher and monk, representative of the philosophical school of the late scholastic realists
- Joseph Weiss, also Joseph White painter of Balingen and possibly the Master of Meßkirch (1487 or 1488-1565), painter of the Renaissance
- Marx Weiss the Younger, also Marx White from Balingen (before 1518-1580), painter of Late Gothic
- Johann Tobias Beck (1804-1878), Protestant theologian
- Heinrich Lang (1826-1876), theologian
- Martin Haug (1827-1876), orientalist
- Robert Wahl (1882-1955), entrepreneur and local politicians
- Heinrich Haasis (born 1945), mayor, Member of Parliament, President of the German Savings Bank Association (2006-2012)
- Joachim Schmid (born 1955), painter
- Martin Schaudt (born 1958), dressage rider
- Michael Hennrich (born 1965), politician (CDU), Member of Parliament
- Christoph Sieber (born 1970), comedian
- Kathrin Lang (born 1986), biathlete
- Frank Lehmann (born 1989), soccer goalkeeper
- Pascal Bodmer (born 1991), ski jumper
- Florian Kath (born 1994), football player
Personalities who have worked locally
- Karl Friedrich Reinhard (1761-1837) French diplomat, statesman and writer of German origin, grew partly up in Balingen
- Andreas Bizer (1839-1914), mechanic and industrialist, co-founder of Bizerba
Footnotes
External links
- Official website (German)
Towns and municipalities in Zollernalb district | ||
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