Reutlingen: Germany

Reutlingen: Germany
Reutlingen is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is the capital of the same-named district Reutlingen. As of September 2004 it has a population of 109,939. Reutlingen has a university, which was founded in 1855, originally as a weaver’s school. Reutlingen is located at 48° 29’ 34 North, 9° 12’ 45 East, 380m above sea level. It lies right next to the Swabian Jura, hence why it is often called The gate to the Swabian Jura (German Das Tor zur Schwäbischen Alb).
History
The first settlements in the area are believed to date from the 4th/5th century..
Some time around 1030, Count Egino started to build a castle on top of the Achalm, the largest mountain in Reutlingen (about 400m). One of the towers of this castle stands until today and is open for visitors. The name Reutlingen was first mentioned in writing in the so-called Bempflingen Treaty (German Bempflinger Vertrag) which is dated approximately 1089-1090.
Around 1180, Reutlingen receives market rights and between 1220 and 1240 it is promoted to city status and city-walls and fortifications are built. Shortly thereafter, from 1247-1343, the town’s landmark, the Maria’s Church (German Marienkirche) was built.
The largest disaster in the history of Reutlingen happened in 1726, when a large fire swept through the city, destroying 80% of all residential houses and almost all public buildings, making 1200 families homeless. The impact of this fire, which lasted three days, can be seen in various spots throughout the city until today