# Altdorf bei Nürnberg

Altdorf bei Nürnberg (/ˈɑːltdɔːrf/ AHLT-dorf, German: ; Northern Bavarian: Oiddorf) is a town in south-eastern Germany. It is situated 25 km (16 mi) east of Nuremberg, in the district Nürnberger Land. Its name literally means “Altdorf near Nuremberg”, to distinguish it from other Altdorfs.

## History

Altdorf is first mentioned in 1129. In 1504 the town was conquered by the Free Imperial City of Nuremberg. In the 16th century, the city government of Nuremberg founded an academy in Altdorf, which became a university in 1622. The university lasted until 1809. Among the alumni of the University of Altdorf were the soldier Albrecht von Wallenstein and the philosopher and scientist Gottfried Leibniz.

### Discovery of teleosaur fossils

Teleosaur remains have been known from Altdorf bei Nürnberg since 1832, but none have been placed in a specific genus yet.

## Economy

Even though the times of its once famous university have long passed, Altdorf is the seat of several educational institutions. It is also the home of a number of mid-scale industrial enterprises.

## Monuments

Altdorf's chief monuments are the church of St. Laurentius, the city hall and the Wichernhaus, which once housed the university. Altdorf also boasts some impressive remnants of its fortifications.

## International relations

Altdorf bei Nürnberg is twinned with:
* Altdorf, Switzerland
* Colbitz, Saxony-Anhalt
* Sehma, Saxony
* Dunaharaszti, Hungary
* Pfitsch, South Tyrol (Italy)

## Mayors

List of mayors since 1852 :
| Term of office | Mayor |
| 1852–1857 | Karl Maier |
| 1857–1860 | Karl Woerlein |
| 1860–1863 | Gottlieb Omeis |
| 1863–1865 | Friedrich Holz |
| 1865–1869 | Georg Späth |
| 1870–1884 | Georg Pfriem |
| 1884–1887 | Jakob Uebler |
| 1888–1899 | Andreas Heydner |
| 1900–1901 | Jakob Zantner |
| 1902–1921 | Karl Zeh |
| 1921–1924 | Hans Bachinger |
| 1925–1933 | Georg Oechslein |
| 1933–1945 | Georg Pickel |
| May–July 1945 | Hans Dötsch |
| August 1945–April 1948 | Fritz Pranz |
| May 1948–April 1960 | Hans Dötsch |
| May 1960–June 1972 | Heinrich Späth |
| July 1972–October 1982 | Kurt Purucker |
| November 1982–October 1994 | Friedrich Weißkopf |
| November 1994–October 2006 | Rainer Pohl (SPD) |
| November 2006–April 2020 | Erich Odörfer (CSU) |
| since May 2020 | Martin Tabor (SPD) |

## Gallery

* Church of Saint Lawrence
* The lower gate (Unteres Tor) in 2005

## Sons and daughters of the town

* Stephan Farffler (1633–1689), inventor
* Johann Fabricius (1644–1729), theologian
* Moses Ferst (1828–1889), successful businessman in the United States
* Konrad Mannert (1756–1834), professor and historian
* Friedrichs Lachs (1832–1910), Bavarian-Swedish brewmaster
* Dora Hitz (1856–1924), Impressionist painter
* Klaus Kreuzeder (1950–2014), saxophonist
* Klaus Wolfermann (1946–2024), athlete (javelin thrower), Olympic champion
* Thomas Tuschl (born 1966), biochemist

## Personalities who worked in the town

* Johann Richter or Johannes Praetorius (1537–1616), German mathematician and astronomer
* Wallenstein (1583–1634), military leader and politician in the Thirty Years' War
* Abdias Treu (1597–1669), mathematician; taught in Altdorf; also rector of the University of Altdorf
* Johann Christoph Wagenseil (1633–1705), polyhistor, legal scholar and orientalist; taught and died in Altdorf
* Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646–1716), philosopher and natural scientist, promoted in Altdorf
* Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706), composer, studied at the University of Altdorf
* Lorenz Heister (1683–1758), surgical professor at the University of Altdorf from 1710 to 1719
* Wolfgang Haffner (born 1965), Funk and jazz drummer