Gersthofen, a town steeped in history, lies nestled on the western bank of the Lech River, a mere seven kilometers north of Augsburg. Its story stretches back to the time before the Roman Empire, when Alemanni tribes made Gersthofen their home. The town, or rather, its settlement core, grew out of a former monastery farm. By the second half of the 7th century, a Germanic man named Gerfred had established a manor farm, which later evolved into a Carolingian estate and finally a Widdum, a church estate with its own church and community.
The name Gersthofen itself is derived from the clan leader, Gerfred, who first settled there. The town’s earliest mention was in 969, when Bishop Ulrich of Augsburg bestowed land and income belonging to the newly founded monastery of St. Stephen to Gerfredeshoua, as it was known then. Gersthofen’s importance grew through the centuries. In 1143, a papal bull confirmed Gersthofen’s status as a possession of the Augsburg cathedral chapter. This meant the chapter had significant power and control over the community, including the authority to appoint the town’s mayors.
Over time, the cathedral chapter acquired the whole village, gradually gaining control through purchases and exchanges. They established a chief bailiff in Gersthofen to administer their jurisdiction. Alongside the cathedral chapter, Augsburg citizens and monasteries also claimed ownership of individual farms and plots of land, creating a complex system of land ownership.
In 1803, Gersthofen’s fate changed with the secularization of church lands, a consequence of the Napoleonic Wars. The town was subsequently incorporated into the Bavarian state.
During the 1900s, Gersthofen’s development took a significant leap forward with the construction of the Lech Canal, complete with a hydroelectric power plant. This brought a steady supply of electricity and facilitated the growth of the Hoechst plant, a prominent chemical company that attracted many new residents to Gersthofen. The town’s population soared after World War II, with the arrival of displaced persons seeking a new home.
Gersthofen’s growth continued, and in 1950, it was elevated to market town status. In 1969, the town gained city status, a testament to its increasing population and prosperity. Today, Gersthofen is a vibrant city with a rich history and a diverse culture.