Brackenheim
Brackenheim () is a town in the "Landkreis" Heilbronn in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It is southwest of Heilbronn. With of vineyards, it is the biggest grape-growing municipality of Württemberg. Geography. Geographical position. Brackenheim is situated on the river Zaber in the Zabergäu in southwestern district of Heilbronn, in the north of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The landscape is characterized by extensive vineyards. Neighbouring municipalities. Neighbouring towns and municipalities (clockwise): "Cleebronn", "Güglingen", "Eppingen", "Schwaigern", "Nordheim", "Lauffen (Neckar)" (all district of Heilbronn), "Kirchheim (Neckar)" and "Bönnigheim" (both Ludwigsburg (district)). Town structure. Apart from Brackenheim itself, it consists of the following : History. The communal land of Brackenheim has been settled for 5,000-6,000 years. Botenheim and Meimsheim were mentioned in the 12th century; Brackenheim was mentioned in 1246. Brackenheim received its town rights by King Rudolf I. von Habsburg in 1280. After a big fire in 1691 burning down 112 houses, the town had to be rebuilt in many places. Owing to the communal reform from 1971 to 1974, the previous independent communities now representing districts were incorporated. The active construction of building has filled in the spaces previously between the districts and led to a huge increase of the population  in Brackenheim. During 1995-2004 the town increased by about 2,700 inhabitants. Religions. Brackenheim is the seat of "Church District Brackenheim" (deanery) of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg. In Brackenheim, Botenheim, Dürrenzimmern, Hausen, Meimsheim and Neipperg there are separate parishes of each of these districts. In Stockheim there is the Catholic Parish St. Ulrich, which also contains Haberschlacht and a district of Eppingen called Kleingartach. Neipperg belongs to the Parish St. Martinus in Schwaigern, the parish of Brackenheim contains the remaining districts. Both a free church and a Methodistic church is represented. Local council. Elections in May 2014: Arms . In red a silver hound with a black collar. The municipality colours are white and red. Even the oldest preserved seal of the 13th century shows a hound. In the course of the centuries, the dog was employed in different positions - standing, striding, jumping and so on - and with different extras like a collar or a necklace. In 1953, the arms were laid down in the current form by the district council. Town twinnings. Besides there are friendly relationships with Le Lude (France) and Port Talbot (Wales). Culture and sights. By the chapel in the castle, the association "Kulturforum Brackenheim  e. V." has its own scene with 200 seats for its disposal since 1994. It's employed to show concert, cabaret and theatre games. Museums. The 1968 created urban Theodor-Heuss-Museum shows the life of Theodor Heuss, the considerable son of this town. There are also native country museums in Brackenheim and its district Botenheim. Buildings. At the graveyard of Brackenheim stands the first parish church, today's Protestant "Johanniskirche", a Romance church with Gothic choir contenting wall drawings of the 13th and 14th centuries. During the reformation the onetime Gothic "Jakobus Chapel" was held up to the town  church, founded about 1200. The "Brackenheim Castle" in the south of the old part of town was built 1556–59 instead of an old castle. After a fire, parts of the castle were rebuilt in 1677–85. In Botenheim there are the Gothic "Marienkirche" built 1350 and the "Gülthaus" of 1605. Dürrenzimmern shows its church of the 12th century and the onetime town hall of 1731. Apart from that there are many churches in the districts of Brackenheim, emphasizing the "Stocksberg Castle" of the 16th century near Stockheim. Protection of nature. In Brackenheim there are the nature reserves "Zaberauen" (near Botenheim) and  Haberschlachter Tal (near Dürrenzimmern and Haberschlacht). Economy and infrastructure. Grape-growing began in Brackenheim in the 14th century. Today (2008), Brackenheim is the largest grape-growing municipality of Württemberg, with many varieties being grown on . Apart from three wine-cellars having 1,200 members there are more than 30 self-marketers taking care of their wine marketing for themselves. Traffic. There are connections to the long-distance traffic in Lauffen (Neckar) (B27) and Schwaigern (B293). Public transport is ensured by buses. There are connections to the rail network in Lauffen (Neckar) and Schwaigern, too. Institutions and court. In the urban hospital  built in the 1960s there are 130 beds and 240 employees. The district court of Brackenheim with one judge is one of the smallest in Baden-Württemberg. Brackenheim also has a swim hall. Education. The "Theodor-Heuss-Schule" is an elementary and secondary school. There are elementary schools in Botenheim, Dürrenzimmern, Hausen an der Zaber, Meimsheim, Neipperg and Stockheim as well. The Zabergäu-Gymnasium Brackenheim (grammar school) is visited by nearly 1,000 students from all over the Zabergäu. The urban library having more than 13,000 media is open to the public.