“Schallsched” whispers the wind. That’s the local Alemannic name for Schallstadt. This town in Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald boasts a rich history and a strong connection to the land. Schallstadt is known for its wine production. The annual wine festival in late summer is a must-see.
Schallstadt’s story stretches back centuries. A donation document from the Lorsch Monastery first mentions Schallstadt in 776. By 1218, the villages of present-day Schallstadt belonged to the Counts of Freiburg. They inherited the Zähringer rule in Freiburg im Breisgau.
The Counts of Freiburg took over the rule of Badenweiler during the 14th century. This included the communities of today’s Schallstadt. In 1503, it passed to the Margraves of Baden via the Margraves of Hachberg-Sausenberg. Then in 1806, Schallstadt became part of the Grand Duchy of Baden.
Schallstadt wasn’t always one entity. In 1971, Schallstadt and Wolfenweiler merged. They formed the new municipality of Schallstadt-Wolfenweiler. Four years later, Mengen joined them. Ebringen also joined. However, Ebringen challenged the incorporation. They argued that Pfaffenweiler was not part of the new municipality as planned. Ebringen won the case in early 1976. The incorporation of Ebringen was declared void. The municipality name Schallstadt-Wolfenweiler was simplified to Schallstadt at the end of 1977.
The name Schallstadt has an interesting origin. The Old High German word “Scalc” means serf. Expert Adolf Bach suggested that Schallstadt means a place where serfs live. It could also refer to a place of a person named Scalc.
Mengen is another district within Schallstadt. It was first mentioned in 768 in the St. Gallen Abbey cartulary. The name comes from the Germanic personal name Mago. Mago+ingas became Maginga. It means “among the people of Mago”.
Leutersberg, another part of Schallstadt, was first mentioned in 1347. It means “Mountain of Luzo”. Wolfenweiler was first mentioned in 873. Its name means “Weiler of Wolvo”. Wolvo means wolf. A Weiler is a hamlet.
Martin Waldseemüller is the most famous son of Schallstadt. He was born around 1472/1475 in Wolfenweiler. He was a cartographer of the Renaissance. Waldseemüller created the first world map. It named the landmasses in the west “America” after Amerigo Vespucci.
Waldseemüller enrolled at the University of Freiburg in 1490. He studied mathematics and geography. Later, Waldseemüller taught cosmology. He also worked as a cartographer. Waldseemüller died on March 16, 1520. His most famous work is the 1507 world map.
Today, Schallstadt is a vibrant town. It has about 6,100 inhabitants. It lies at the edge of the Black Forest. Schallstadt is a place where history and nature intertwine. Take a moment to appreciate the blend of tradition and progress here in Schallstadt.