Thüngersheim

Thüngersheim is located at the River Main. It is a community in the county of Würzburg (Bavaria, Administrative District Lower Franconia). The village is molded by the surrounding vineyards, more than 2 square kilometres (0.8 square miles).

Crest

The crest shows the local patron St. Michael. It was awarded to the village in 1581 by Julius Echter of Mespelbrunn, then Bishop of Würzburg.

Geography

Geographic data

Located in the rain shadow of Rhön and Spessart, the average annual rainfall is 550 to 600mm. This makes the Main valley to one of the dryest regions of Germany.

Neighbouring communities

Thüngersheim has common borders with Retzbach in the north, Retzstadt in the north east, Güntersleben in the east, Veitshöchheim in the west and Zellingen and Erlabrunn (both separated from Thüngersheim by the river Main).

History

• Formation of the village during the first phase of franconian settlement between 530 and 700 A.C.
• 1098: Thüngersheim is documented for the first time.
• 1154: The first vine is planted.
• 1614: Completion of the parish church St. Michael
• 1713: Georg Anton Urlaub is born in Thüngersheim.
• 1803: Thüngersheim belongs to the grand duchy of Ferdinand von Toskana (as part of the principality Würzburg).
• 1814: The grand duchy of Würzburg (which Thüngersheim belongs to) becomes part of Bavaria.
• 1870: A station and a railroad control center are build. Vine trade is shifted from the main to the railroad.
• 1930: Foundation of the vinegrowers co-operative by 55 local vinters.
• 1933: The barrage Erlabrunn is build.
• 1945: On March 16th the out-sourced municipal archive is destroyed during the bombing of Würzburg.
• 1966: The majority of the vinters agrees on the land consolidation, 2.2 square kilometres of vineyards.
• 1998: "900 years" celebration

Religion

Denominations

Thüngersheim is predominantly catholic (parish curch St. Michael). In 2003 a parish community was formed with St. Maternus Güntersleben.

Pilgrimage to the Kreuzberg (Cross Mountain)

A prominent religious event is the pilgrimage to the Kreuzberg. It is undertaken once a year. The destination is the Kreuzberg in the Rhön, which is also called the holy mountain of the Franconians. It dates back to the 18th century.

Politics

Municipal council

The municipal council consists of 14 members (plus the mayor). Seven members belong to the free voters community, five to the Christian Social Union (CSU), and two to the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

Town twinning

Thüngersheim is twinned to St. Aignan de Grand Lieu (France). More information (in German and French ) is available at [1].

Population development

• 1939: 1.753
• 1950: 2.345
• 1961: 2.270
• 1970: 2.432
• 1987: 2.453
• 1993: 2.505
• 1994: 2.567
• 1995: 2.596
• 1996: 2.615

1996: female 1.300, male 1.315

Culture and sights

Buildings

The parish church St. Michael is worth seeing (literature – in German – is referenced below). Three of the once four gate lodges are still present. They were part of the fortfication (a ring of walls surrounding the town centre).

Associations

(all the information is in German)
Gesangverein
Fußballverein
Musikverein
Laienspielgruppe

Libraries

Municipal library located in the former town hall and catholic public library.

Businesses and infrastructure

Thüngersheim is the domicile of the Winzergenossenschaft Thüngersheim eG (vinters' co-operative) founded in 1930. With more than 2 square kilometres (0.8 square miles), Thüngersheim is one of the largest vine villages in Franconia.

Transportation

Thüngersheim is located at the Bundesstraße (federal road) 27 and at the railroad line Würzburg-Gemünden.

Education

The only school is the elementary school (first to fourth grade).

Recreation facilities

• Open air bath
• Gymnasium
• Sports stadium (soccer, tennis, handball)

Personalities

Georg Anton Urlaub, a co-worker of Tiepolos was born in Thüngersheim.

Literature

(all the literature is in German)

• Johann Valentin Hart: Main, Wein, Thüngersheim. 1933.
• Richard Glaab: Thüngersheim – Gegenwart und Vergangenheit einer mainfränkischen Winzergemeinde. Thüngersheim, Gde. (Hrsg.), 1982.
• Adam Oechsner: Die Mundart von Thüngersheim. Würzburg, Univ., Diss., 1920.

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External links

(all the pages in German)

• Gemeinde Thüngersheim
• Winzergenossenschaft Thüngersheim
• Gesangverein Thüngersheim
• Musikverein Thüngersheim
• Schützenverein Thüngersheim
• Fußballverein Thüngersheim (Seite befindet sich im Aufbau)
• street-map of Thüngersheim (Michelin)