Scherzheim

Scherzheim is a village within the municipality of Lichtenau, in the Rastatt district of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was incorporated into the municipality on January 1, 1972 and has around 1000 residents. Geography Scherzheim is located in the Upper Rhine Plain, 2 km (1.2 mi) southwest of the Lichtenau city center, 2.2 km (1.4 mi) southwest of the village of Ulm und 2 km (1.2 mi) northeast of the village of Muckenschopf (all located within Lichtenau). To the southwest, within the neighboring Ortenau District, are parts of Rheinau, including the village of Helmlingen. The lower reaches of the Acher (Feldbach), a right side tributary of the Rhine, which forms the French-German border 2.7 km (1.7 mi) northwest of the village, flows through Scherzheim. Between the Rhine and the village is the Old Rhine bei Scherzheim (Altrhein by Scherzheim). Nearby is the Rhine Lowland Canal (Acher-Rench correction). History Middle Ages The name "Scherzheim" derives most likely from a personal name from the Merovingian dynasty, in which Scherzheim meant "Home of Scarto" ("Heim des Scarto"). A connection with the nearby village of Ulm, which is now also a part of Lichtenau, has been documented since 1145. At that time, Scherzheim belonged to the Schwarzach Abbey. The village was part of the Lichtenau district of the Lordship of Lichtenberg, where it was allodial property. In 1335, the middle and younger branches of the House of Lichtenberg carried out a division of their territories, by which the district of Lichtenau, and by extension Scherzbehim, went to Ludwig III. of Lichtenberg, founder of the younger branch of the house. Anna von Lichtenberg (* 1442; † 1474), the daughter of Ludwig V. of Lichtenberg (* 1417; † 1474) was one of two heiresses with claims to the Lordship of Lichtenberg. In 1458, she married Count Philipp I. of Hanau-Babenhausen (* 1417; † 1480), who received a small Secundogeniture from the holdings of the County of Hanau in order to be able to marry her. Through the marriage, the County of Hanau-Lichtenberg was created. In 1480, following the death of Anna's uncle and last Lichtenberger Jakob von Lichtenberg, Philipp I. the Elder received half of the Lordship of Lichtenberg. The other half went to his brother-in-law Simon IV. Wecker of Zweibrücken-Bitsch. The district of Lichtenau belonged to the part of Lichtenberg that was inherited by the descendents of Philipp and Anna. Early Modern Period Philipp IV. of Hanau-Lichtenberg (1514–1590), upon taking office in 1538, implemented the Reformation in the county, making it Lutheran wurde. During the wars of the 17th and 18th centuries, Scherzheim was repeatedly plundered and destroyed. For example, at the end of the 17th century, after the passage of French general Ezéchiel de Mélac during the Nine Years' War (1688–1697), only 3 houses remained in the village. After the death of the last Count of Hanau, Johann Reinhard III., in 1736, the inheritance, and with it the Lichtenau District (including Scherzheim), was passed to the Landgrave Ludwig (IX.) of Hesse-Darmstadt, the son of his only daughter, Charlotte von Hanau-Lichtenberg. By this time, Scherzheim was already an administrative part of Lichtenau. Modern Period As a result of the Reichsdeputationshauptschluss, the district and Scherzheim were assigned in 1803 to the newly formed Electorate of Baden.On January 1, 1972, Scherzheim was incorporated into the municipality of Lichtenau as part of the Baden-Württemberg municipal reforms. It was thus the first independent municipality to become part of Lichtenau in this way. Until December 31, 1972, Scherzheim belonged to the Kehl District (Landkreis Kehl). Following the district reforms, Scherzheim, by then a part of Lichtenau, was assigned to the newly created Rastatt District. Demographics In 1492, Scherzheim had a population of around 150, and 100 years later, it was 350. On June 6, 1961 it had a population of 814, and 9 years later, it has a population of 846. Today, Scherzheim has a population of around 1000. Culture The evangelical Scherzheim village church (Dorfkirche Scherzheim) was built in 1811 by Friedrich Weinbrenner in the neuclassical style. It was the first church in Baden built in this style, and served as a model for many other churches in the region. The municipality of Lichtenau operates a small cabaret-style theater in Scherzheim called the Hoftheater Scherzheim. In the village are also numerous historic half-timbered houses. References