The history of Langenau

5th - 2nd c. BC

Finds of Neolithic settlements around Langenau

1st c. AD

Roman civilian settlement, probably developed out of a former army camp
cf. excavation at St. Martin’s church and in the Hindenburgstrasse

2nd c. AD

Several villae rusticae in Langenau and Göttingen,
probably Gallo-Roman temple with external ambulatory at St. Martin’s church

4th – 8th c. AD.

Alemannic settlements in Langenau

1003

Emperor Henry II exchanges estates near Roding in the Bavarian forest for the estate of the Bishop of Freising in Navua (September 9th)

around 1100

.Swabian Count Palatine Manegold founds a monastery with considerable estates in Langenau and its surroundings. In 1125, the monastery is transferred to the calmer surroundings of Anhausen in the Brenz valley

1110/20

The Lords of Albeck receive parts of Langenau

around 1140

Nau becomes part of the property of the Lords of Albeck

1150

Imperial assembly in Langenau, King Konrad III, the first king of the Staufen dynasty, visits the town, because of the exchange of property between the Elchingen and St Blasien monasteries (September 24th)

1250

Margrave Heinrich von Burgau inherits Nau

1293

After the death of Margrave Heinrich von Burgau, Nau becomes the property of Count Rudolf of Werdenberg

1301

King Albrecht grants Nau a town charter
(confirmed by Emperor Charles IV in 1376)

1377

Count Henry of Werdenberg-Albeck sells property in Nau to the city of Ulm to pay off debts (October 8th)
Langenau remains under the rule of Ulm until 1802 and loses its town rights

1389

Nau is mentioned as an important weaving centre (in 1900 it was still home to 100 weavers)

1425

First school in Nau (latin school in today’s Wasserstrasse)

1433

Imperial privilege for the “Freiung” sanctuary of the Pfleghof in Anhausen.

1462

Duke Ludwig of Bavaria storms the churchyard in Nau
The Amtmann (senior civil servant) of Ulm and about 40 peasants meet their death

1525

The citizens of Langenau participate in the Peasants’ War
Pillage of Elchingen monastery
The peasants are defeated in the Battle of Leipheim

1531

The reformation is introduced by the imperial city of Ulm

1535

First mention of the Schulertanz dance, today’s children’s festival

1531

After Ostheim and Westheim grow together, the name Langenau is used for the first time. A distinction is subsequently made between the upper, middle and lower village

1618-1648

Thirty Years’ War

 

1630

Wallenstein in Langenau

1635

Plague epidemic in Langenau

1648

French General Turenne and Swedish General Wrangel take up quarters in Langenau (May 3rd)

18th century

In numerous wars Langenau suffers heavily from billets, sacking and pillaging (wars of the Spanish, Polish and Austrian successions and the Napoleonic wars)

1802-1810

After the Napoleonic secularization, Langenau comes under Bavarian rule

1810

Langenau becomes part of the Kingdom of Württemberg

1816

Famine in Langenau

1818

Abolition of serfdom

1822

King Wilhelm I von Württemberg in the Donaumoos wetlands (June 10th)

1846-48

Redemption of land charges and tithes

1848

Langenau is granted a town charter - for the second time - by the royal ministry of Württemberg (June 14th)
Langenau has around 3,600 inhabitants (and about 40 inns)

1851

Several citizens emigrate to America at the town’s cost

1861

Robert Bosch is born in the “Krone” in Albeck.
(The inventor and scientist founded the Bosch company, which introduced the injection pump for diesel engines onto the market – a breakthrough in the car industry)

1870-71

Franco-Prussian war
Ceremony in the castle yard (July 23rd, 1871)

1875-76

Langenau is connected to the railway line to Sontheim-Heidenheim and Ulm

1876

Gottlob Honold is born in Langenau
(The inventor and scientist was a senior engineer in the Bosch company in Stuttgart and invented the Bosch arc ignition)

1885

Langenau is awarded a coat of arms

1895

A gymnasium is constructed on the castle yard (demolished in 1964)

1910

Land in the Donaumoos wetlands is sold to the public  Staatliche Landeswasserversorgung water company

1914-18

First world war
793 men participate in the war, 130 are killed, 13 are missing and 29 are imprisoned until the end of the war.

1930

A picture palace opens in the “Hirsch” inn

1932

August Heckel founds the museum of local history
It is initially housed at Marktplatz 5 and then in the Oberes Helferhaus building

1935

Construction starts on the outdoor swimming pool

1939

Langenau has around 4,500 inhabitants

1939-1945

Second World War

1949

Displaced Germans settle in Langenau, the number of inhabitants increases to more than 6,000

1956

The “new” hospital is completed (staff move in on July 1st)
It has been extended several times since

1964

The new townhall is put into use (renovated in 1995)

1968

Inauguration of the Catholic “mater dolorosa” church (October 13th)

1972

Incorporation into the town of Albeck (February 6th), Hörvelsingen (February 13th) and Göttingen (March 19th)
Foundation of the Langenau joint body of local authorities (Verwaltungsverband Langenau).

1972

Langenau twinned with Bridgend / Wales (April 14th)

1973

Langenau becomes part of the new Alb-Donau district
and is now part of the regional council of Tübingen (formely Stuttgart

1976

600th anniversary of Langenau as a town

1976

Construction of the A7 motorway, numerous palaeontological finds e

1980

Documents and historical material are moved from the attic of the town hall to today’s archive in the Pfleghof

1981

Foundation of the Museum of the History of Hungarian Germans (Ungarndeutsche Heimatstuben) (opened May 30th)
and the prehistoric and early history collection (Vor- und Frühgeschichtliche Sammlung)

1988

Completion of the renovation of the new town library and the Pfleghofsaals hall, a place for cultural events (opening September 14th)

1990

Langenau twinned with Somberek / Hungary (September 15th)
Langenau has around 12,000 inhabitants

1991

Langenau twinned with Langenau / Saxony (November 6th)

1991

The renovation of the tower of St. Martin’s church is completed
Celebration of the first tower festival on the 500th anniversary of the tower of St. Martin’s church

1994

Langenau twinned with Albeck / Carinthia (07.05.)

1999

Renovation of the town hall

2003

Langenau has about 14,000 inhabitants
1000th anniversary celebrations commemorating the town’s first mention in a document.
Celebrated by citizens’ celebration (July 25th–27th) and ceremony (September 9th)

Sources:
Häge, Hans: "Langenauer Stadtgeschichte 1945 bis 1984" (Langenau, 1986)
Junginger, Ernst: "Aus der Geschichte Langenaus" (flyer for the Museum of Local History (Heimatmuseum)
Dr. Schmidt, Uwe: "Die Geschichte der Stadt Langenau - von den Römern bis heute" (Theiss Stuttgart, 2000)