page_title: Bad Homburg vor der Höhe
section_title: Middle Ages origins
hierarchical_section_title: Bad Homburg vor der Höhe / History / Middle Ages origins
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Landgrafenschloss, Parkseite, und Weisser Turm im Hintergrund, Bad Homburg English: Bad Homburg, Landgrafenschloss, parkside, and 'White Tower'
context_page_description: Bad Homburg vor der Höhe is the district town of the Hochtaunuskreis, Hesse, Germany, on the southern slope of the Taunus mountains. Bad Homburg is part of the Frankfurt Rhein-Main urban area. The town's formal name is Bad Homburg vor der Höhe to distinguish it from other places named Homburg. The name is abbreviated as Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe. It is known best for its medically used mineral waters and spa, and for its casino.
  Presently, Bad Homburg is one of the wealthiest towns in Germany. As of 2004, the town's marketing slogan is Champagnerluft und Tradition.
context_section_description: Local tradition holds that Bad Homburg's documented history began with the mention of the Villa Tidenheim in the Lorsch codex, associated with the year 782. This Villa Tidenheim was equated with the Old Town, named "Dietigheim". Local historian Rüdiger Kurth doubted this traditional story based on his study of written sources and local factors. During 2002 Kurth initiated archaeological excavations, by the University of Frankfurt, managed by Professor Joachim Henning. The excavations showed that there was not any evidence of settlement between the beginning of the Christian Era and the 13th century. It seems that the historical record which mentions Wortwin (or Ortwin) von Hohenberch as Homburg's founder, as a documentary witness in Eberbach, about 1180 is the first good evidence of the town's existence.
  As early as 1962, in an excavation under the Hirschgangflügel ("Hart-stalking-wing") of Bad Homburg's Schloss (stately home), two burnt layers were discovered, which the man conducting the dig, Günther Binding, accepted as evidence of two former castles having been built on the site, one after the other, but each having burnt down later.
  Further digs by the University of Frankfurt at Bad Homburg's Schloss during April 2006, once again initiated by Kurth and managed by Professor Henning, resulted in the discovery that it was actually only one burnt layer, from a half-timbered building—- possibly a castle with towers—- which from ceramic finds could be dated to the 12th or 13th century. Most likely this building had an association with Wortwin's "castle". Quite possibly, though, a further cultural layer from an even earlier time lies underneath these remains. Investigations using methods from natural science (carbon-14 dating and micromorphological analysis) will show whether the dating can be made more precise.
  Homberg acquired market rights about 1330, but the document granting these rights is said to have been lost.
  The town's name, "Homburg", is from the Hohenberg Castle. The postfix "vor der Höhe" was probably first recorded in a document of 1399. The designation "Bad" was not conferred until 1912.
  The Hessen-Homburg noble family of landgraves was initiated by Friedrich I of Hessen-Homburg. Friedrich II (1680–1708) attained fame as Prince of Homburg. During 1866, as a result of the Austro-Prussian War, Homburg became Prussian territory.
caption: Landgraves' stately home with park and the Schlossturm ("Weißer Turm" or "White Tower"), Bad Homburg's landmark.
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