“Villa Walarhusin” sounds like a fairytale. But it’s the old name of Wallhausen. Now, let’s dive into the story of Dettingen-Wallhausen.
Dettingen-Wallhausen is a unique place. It combines two distinct areas. Wallhausen sits right on the shore of Überlinger See. Just two kilometers away, Dettingen rests on the Bodanrück hills.
The history of Dettingen-Wallhausen is long. Stone Age people lived here. They built pile dwellings along the lake. Evidence of these settlements dates back 10000 years. A large burial mound field exists on Ameisenberg. These “Celtic graves” are from 800 to 400 BC.
The name Tettingen appears in a document from 730 AD. This writing relates to the Christianization of the Alemanni region. In 839, King Louis the Pious gifted Dettingen to Reichenau Monastery. Before this, the town belonged to the royal palace of Bodman.
Wallhausen’s first written mention was in 1187. Emperor Frederick Barbarossa signed a document here. A monument stands in Wallhausen to remember this event. It marks the spot at the Linzgaublick bus stop.
Two castles once stood in Wallhausen. Alt-Dettingen and Neu-Dettingen were their names. Neu-Dettingen is now Burghof. Since 2006, it has been a tavern, beer garden, and popular spot for hikers. Both castles disappeared by the 14th century.
Burkhardt von Tettingen bequeathed his inheritance to his wife and daughters. Sixteen years later, they sold Wallhausen Castle to the Mainau Commandery. This sale put it in the possession of the Teutonic Order. Wallhausen was plundered in 1632 during the Thirty Years’ War. The population decreased greatly. The castle was rebuilt in 1661. In 1805, Mainau’s holdings, including Wallhausen, went to the Grand Duchy of Baden.
Until the 1950s, Wallhausen’s harbor bustled. It was a hub for timber and granite transport. The people also depended on fishing and agriculture. As tourism grew, the cargo harbor transformed. It became a marina with a gas station and a shipyard.
The harbor still serves as a ferry dock to Überlingen. Dettingen-Wallhausen became a resort town in 1988. Parts of its population rely on tourism.
Dettingen has many shops and businesses for its size. It also has a small industrial area. Many residents work in Konstanz. In 2007, Wallhausen lost its last local shop. In 2008, locals started a cooperative village store.
Dettingen-Wallhausen lost its independence in 1975. It became part of Konstanz. The community even sued to prevent this change.
The parish church of St. Verena was built in 1779. Franz Anton Bagnato designed it. St. Leonhard’s Chapel in Wallhausen dates back to 1714. It features the coat of arms of Franz von Schönau. He was a former owner from Mainau. The Marienschlucht gorge lies between Bodman and Wallhausen. The Teufelstisch is an impressive sight. It is a 50-meter-high rock needle in Lake Constance. It’s east of Wallhausen’s harbor.
Franz Romer was a famous son of Dettingen. He was a sea captain. In 1928, he crossed the Atlantic in a folding boat. After his journey, he died in a hurricane off the American coast. A plaque at Dettingen Town Hall remembers him and his feat.
Dettingen-Wallhausen shows how history and nature blend. From ancient settlements to modern times, it has a rich story to tell.