Braunsbach

History

Braunsbach was formed in February 1972 by the voluntary merger of the formerly independent communities of Arnsdorf, Braunsbach, Döttingen, , Jungholzhausen, and Steinkirchen.

In late May 2016, severe weather led to flooding of Orlacher Bach and Schlossbach within 3 hours that strewed rubble across the town causing large damage but no casualties.

Points of interest

• (Braunsbach Castle), in part built in 1250
• Protestant church in the castle
• Döttingen Gate Braunsbach (rest of the wall surrounding the village)
• (Tierberg Castle), 13th century, former hunting lodge of the princes of Hohenlohe
• (Döttingen Castle) (built in the 16th century), now hotel and restaurant
• House of the former Mayor J. M. Gronbach in Orlach (now House Schumm) known for the story "Das Mädchen von Orlach" ("The Girl from Orlach")
• Kocher Viaduct near Geislingen (largest reinforced concrete bridge in Europe 1128 m long and 185 m high)
• Bridge Museum in Geislingen
• Nature reserve "Grimm brook mouth"
• Hall of the Land of Castles (local name: Burgenlandhalle) Braunsbach (in part former synagogue)
• Jewish cemetery in Braunsbach

The Girl from Orlach

"The Girl from Orlach" is a ghost story of the Biedermeier whose protagonist, Magdalena Gronbach, allegedly was capable of extrasensory perception. In February 1831 a white ghost of a woman appeared to her several times. Always when she appeared, a small fire broke out in the house. She said she was the Cistercian nun Mariane Susanne from Orlach who had been born just as Magdalena on September 12, but not in 1812, but precisely 400 years before that, i.e. in 1412. She implored salvation from Magdalena, and when Magdalena wanted to know which reward she would receive she replied: "Do not lay up treasures on earth!" In early June of the same year the ghost of a Capuchin friar appeared to her in the form of a dark menacing black shadow. She fell into a trance and in this state answered all questions she was asked. Thereupon many people came from all over the country to ask for advice regarding what would happen in the future. After having observed Magdalena for five weeks the chief medical officer Justinus Kerner concluded that this was a "state of possession."

References

References

1. [https://www.staatsanzeiger.de/wahl/buergermeisterwahl-braunsbach-2024/ Bürgermeisterwahl Braunsbach 2024], Staatsanzeiger. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
2. Beate Krause. (1 June 2016). "Aufräumarbeiten im zerstörten Braunsbach". [[Bild]].
3. de
4. link. (2013-09-21)
5. link. (2013-12-03)
6. sphinx-suche.de: [http://sphinx-suche.de/weissagungen/orlachmaedchen.htm The Girl from Orlach] {{webarchive. link. (December 3, 2013)