Have you ever heard of a bear that helped build a village? As you stand right here in Bermatingen, you might be surprised to learn it is not just a legend but a piece of the town’s history. Bermatingen is a charming village nestled in southern Germany. Its name, first mentioned in 779 as Permodingas, suggests a connection to a bear, which translates to “bär” in German. This connection is reflected in the town’s coat of arms, featuring a black bear holding a red tongue and red claws. This is no coincidence! The bear is a canting symbol, meaning that it is a visual wordplay on the town’s name.
The village has a long history of changes, going from Alemannian farmers in the 5th to 7th centuries to the last mention of a family of knights in 1303 who built Burg Bermatingen, a castle to the northeast of Bermatingen. In 1390, the Schenken von Ittendorf sold their claim on the village to Salem Abbey, marking a new chapter for Bermatingen. The Abbey became a crucial factor in the village’s development – a testament to their influence is the Gasthaus Adler, a half-timbered house dating back to 1390.
Bermatingen suffered a devastating fire in 1590, almost completely leveling the village. The Abbey, however, showed their support by contributing to rebuilding the village. This effort left its mark on a crest plate with the arms of Peter Müller, the head of the Abbey at that time, above the entrance to a building dating back to 1596.
A significant event took place in 1525 during the German Peasants’ War: the Seehaufen, a group of 8,000 peasants, under the leadership of Eitelhans Ziegelmüller, took Bermatingen as their base. They then used this base to attack surrounding towns, castles, and monasteries as far as Buchhorn, which is present-day Friedrichshafen. During this time, they established their headquarters in the Kehlhof, a half-timbered farmhouse behind Bermatingen’s town hall.
Today, Bermatingen is a thriving village with a rich history, a charming town center, and an impressive parish church, St. Georg. As you explore the village, remember the bear, the abbey, and the fire that shaped Bermatingen’s fascinating past.