Recall the year 1248. Leonberg was founded by Ulrich I, Count of Württemberg. It was strategically placed on a hill. It served as a defense against western enemies. These included Markgröningen and Weil der Stadt. Also, it protected against the counts of Tübingen and Calw.
Leonberg is famous. It is known for its market square. The town has a centuries-old horse market. It once hosted Württemberg’s early parliaments. The Pomeranzen Garden is special. It is Germany’s only remaining terraced garden. It dates to the late Renaissance.
Picture Leonberg in the Middle Ages. The old town has historical half-timbered houses. The old Town Hall stands among them. With the water tower on Engelberg Hill, it defines Leonberg. The Schwarzer Adler guesthouse is key. It was the first documented seat of parliament.
Consider the layout of Leonberg. It lies on the east bank of the Glems River. This is on the lower slopes of Engelberg. The Glems flows into Leonberg from the southeast. It turns northwest towards Eltingen. It then goes northeast into the old town.
Leonberg merged with Eltingen in 1938. In 1975, Gebersheim, Höfingen, and Warmbronn joined Leonberg. Central Leonberg has Silberberg and Ramtel. It includes Gartenstadt and Eichenhof.
Imagine the fortifications. Stone walls surrounded Leonberg. The count’s castle stood in the southwest. A moat was to the east. There were two gates with towers. A swing bridge completed the defenses. Most walls and gates were removed after 1814/1815. The moat was filled in 1786.
The Stonehouse survived. It stood near the uppermost tower. It was used for housing. It was not destroyed in the great fire of 1498. Today, it is the Schwarzer Adler guesthouse. Its timber-gable roof dates to the 15th century. It is one of southern Germany’s largest original roofs.
The town of Leonberg suffered a great fire in 1498. Forty-six houses burned down. Around 200 people became homeless. Most left Leonberg.
Leonberg fell under Esslingen during the Holy Roman Empire. It became part of Württemberg in 1383. The Thirty Years’ War halved the population. The bubonic plague was the cause.
Remember the witch hunts. Leonberg governor Lutherus Einhorn tried 15 women. Eight were executed. Katharina Kepler, Johannes Kepler’s mother, faced trial in 1615. She was nearly tortured in the Stonehouse cellars. She was released in 1620.
The Leonberger dog breed appeared in 1846. It was registered and named after the town.
Germany’s first motorway tunnel was completed in Leonberg in 1938. It is the Engelberg Tunnel. During World War II, prisoners made aircraft parts there. They were from the Leonberg concentration camp. A memorial now stands above the tunnel.
By 1961, Leonberg had over 20,000 residents. Leonberg exists in its current form since 1975. In 2004, Leonberg adopted Linux for its office systems.
Leonberg’s Pomeranzen Garden dates to 1609. Heinrich Schickhardt designed it. It was a retreat for widows. It was restored in 1980.
The annual horse market began in 1684. A procession marks the occasion. Schools close for the day. The fair includes sports and seminars now.
Music has a strong tradition in Leonberg. The Lyra Eltingen dates back to 1897. The Leonberg symphony orchestra started in 1970.
So, remember Leonberg. Think of its history. Recall its landmarks. It is a town of resilience and beauty. It has a unique place in German history.