The following article was copied from the 19 January 2011 edition of the Bavarian News and originally written by Gini Sinclair. I appreicated the concise history of the area that was given in the article. As this particular newspaper often has articles about places in Bavaria (one of the 16 states of Germany), I will probably copy them onto the blog for your general information and so that I can keep a copy without loads of newspaper clippings everywhere :)
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The city of Ansbach is a community of more than 40,000 people in the Franconian region of Bavaria. Ansbach is home to the US Army Garrison Ansbach, which also has installations in Katterbach, Oberdachstetten and Illesheim. A number of Americans call this area home, enjoying the rural surroundings mixed with the urban offerings of the city of Ansbach.
Founded around 700 AD Ansbach has served as home to members of a royal family. In 748, a Franconian nobleman Gumbertus, founded a Benedictine monastery in the town. The monastery became a chapter house, a building attached to a cathedral where religious meetings are held. A town grew up around the chapter house, and in 1221, it was mentioned in official records.
In the 14th century, the Hohenzollern family took control of the city and for the next 500 years Ansbach was the permanent residence of the Franconian Hohenzollerns. In the 17th century, Ansbach was a typical baroque residence. Then in 1806 Napoleon I gave the city of Ansbach to the Kingdom of Bavaria and the Hohenzollern era ended.
The historical center of Ansbach didn't suffer much destruction during World War II and it has kept its baroque character. A tour of the downtown area gives visitors a look at buildings dating from the 15th century to the modern era. The Margraves' Palace across the street from Schlossplatz, has 27 rooms open to visitors. This palace served as home to the Margraves Brandeburg-Ansbach, a German rank of nobility equivalent to a British Marquess. Inside the palace is a two story festival hall, the Margraves' audience room with a porcelain chandelier, and a tiled hall with about 2,800 tiles from the Ansbach Faience Manufacture.
The gardens of the Margrave's Palace, Hofgarten, has an orangery built in 1728. The architect, Karl Friedrich of Zocha, built it to resemble the Gran Trianon of Versailles in France. This building is used today for classical concerts and conferences. The gardens are always open with free access.
St. Gumbertus Church, which dominates the skyline of Ansbach, was built in the 14th and 15th centuries with additions in the 16th century. The church served as the court church for the Margraves of Brandenburg-Ansbach, and today is the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Under the church is a Roman Crypt, which can be visited, that incorporates the remains of a stone church built on the site in 1040. The crypt contains 25 coffins of the Margraves and their family members.
St. Johannis Church was built during the 15th century and has three naves and several painted windows. Today it serves as a Protestant church for the community. Behind this church is a small section of the surviving town wall. This portion of the city wall dates from the 15th century and is part of the building complex that houses the Margraves' Museum. The Margraves' Museum is dedicated to the history of Ansbach and the surrounding area.
The City Hall, built in 1623, has coats of arms over the doorway which shows the different affiliations of the town. Across the street, at an angle, is the Stadthaus, built in 1532, this building serves today as the place where the lord mayor and town council work. On the Stadthaus is the tourist information office.
The base of the Herrieder Tower was built in the 15th century. The clock tower was built in 1750. In the tower is a carillon which plays the song "Auf Ansbach Dragoner, auf Ansbach Bayreuth," at 11 am and 5 pm.
Ansbach is home to one of the best preserved baroque synagogues of southern Germany. The synagogue was built in 1744 and can only be visited by taking part in the city tours conducted by the tourism office.
The area surrounding Ansbach is rural with the Nature Park Frankenhoehe just north of the town. The park is 110,450 hectares {about 273,000 acres] of land stretching across Germany to Baden Wurttemberg. There are 200 kilometers of marked hiking trails that can be used by residents.
An indoor Olympic swimming pool offers water fun for those who can't make the trip to the Franconian Lake District, less than one hour from Ansbach. The local golf club is actually located in the nearby town of Colmberg. In the winter, Ansbach is cold enough that local ponds turn into surfaces for ice skating. For those who prefer cross-country skiing, the city has three trails where they can use snow machines when needed.
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