Meßstetten

The local economy mixes agriculture with services and small-scale industry. Most of the textiles industry (among them Göla, Sauter, branches and many Löhnnähereien) is gone today, Most of Meßstetten today has a residential character with many citizens working in the highly industrial areas near the railway of Albstadt or in Balingen. Only in Tieringen is an industrial area. A blacksmith developed to an industrial character, also a textile firm. == Geography ==

Location Meßstetten lies in the Swabian Jura on the Heuberg mountain at an elevation of 737 to 988 metres. Lying within the borough of Meßstetten, (917 m) Heinstetten is the highest village in the Swabian Alb. Measured by the elevation of the parish churches, the town is higher than Furtwangen im Schwarzwald, which claims to be the "highest town in Baden-Württemberg". Meßstetten is content with the statement, "one of the highest cities in the Federal Republic of Germany". Administrative structure The formerly independent municipalities of Hartheim, Heinstetten, Hossingen, Oberdigisheim, Tieringen and Unterdigisheim and Meßstetten itself were merged to form the municipal subdivisions of the town. The urban centre of Meßstetten and 19 other villages, hamlets, farms and (individual) houses are divided among the seven districts. The former military base of Bueloch for example has a primary school, gym, kindergarten and a church house, As such the former quartering patch, however, is not an official district, but only one of the city's 18 residential areas. With the exception of the district of Meßstetten, all six other districts have the status of Ortschaften ("civil parishes") within the meaning of the Baden-Württemberg Gemeindeordnung each with their own local council (Ortschaftsrat) and council chair (Ortsvorsteher) as its chairman. With the town borough there are several abandoned, now non-existent, villages. In the east of the district of Hossingen was the Riedhof, built around 1800 and demolished in 1918. In the district of Meßstetten there was a castle with a farmyard in the military training area on the Schlossberg. In the military training area there is an historical storage area for travelling traders, carters and craftsmen at the Dreibannmarke. With finesse it was possible to profit from the customs borders that existed until 1835. After the firing range was established, a meadow on the edge of the restricted area was allocated as a storage area until the Porajmos. The plot of land named in 1600 Freithof and the Kirchlesfels witness to an abandoned village, as does Immishofen, a farm in the Eichhalde, which presumably existed until the 15th century and is documented as a field name in 1496. In the Oberdigisheim district are the deserted villages of Ägelkofen and the hamlet of Geyerbad (Schwefelbad). Ägelkofen was named in 1253 and ceased to exist in the 14th century. North of Wolfenhof in the Unterdigisheim district, there was Beuren, mentioned in 1654 as Beyrental. Unterdigisheim is located southwest of Meßstetten and has about 650 inhabitants. Protected areas There is a total of five nature reserves in the borough of Meßstetten. The nature reserve of Heimberg lies on a slope above Unterdigisheim, the Scheibhalden reserve is east of Oberdigisheim. In the far north of Tieringen lie the Hülenbuchwiesen and immediately adjacent to it the nature reserve of Untereck. The nature reserve of Stromelsberg-Hessenbühl is also in the Tieringen parish, but to the west. Almost the entire area of the borough is part of the protected landscape of the Großer Heuberg. Only the populated areas, nature reserves and the military training area are excluded from this. Meßstetten shares two Special Areas of Conservation: the Eastern Großer Heuberg and Heuberg Military Training Area. The town also shares the bird reserve of the Southwestern Jura and Upper Danube Valley. The entire borough minus the area of the military training area also belongs to the Upper Danube Nature Park. == History ==

Prehistory The area of today's Meßstetten was already settled in the Neolithic era. There are finds from the hohlen Fels ("hollow rock" in the Heuberg Training Area. The reason for this could be the very old trade route, the Bschorner Weg ("Bschorn Road"), which led from the Schmiecha valley via Meßstetten Castle into the Danube valley. The earliest of the established settlements was on the Lochen and dates from the 9th century BC, when Celts increasingly populated the Swabian Jura. Celtic burial mounds have been excavated on the terrain of Weichenwang, Wangen, Frankenreis and Hofen. Ancient history As a result of the Roman conquests in the south of today's Germany, which began in 15 BC, the Celts were subjugated by the Romans. Several finds are documented from this period, including the Celtic Gräbelesberg Castle and road structures. Meßstetten was part of the Roman Empire in the hinterland of the Alb Limes protected by Lautlingen Castle. In the area of the town of Meßstetten, pastor Alfred Ludwig Oetinger (from 1856 to 1868 pastor in Meßstetten and Hossingen) initially had extensive excavations carried out on his own account and later on behalf of the State Collection of Patriotic Antiquities. The extensive finds of grave goods indicate an early settlement of the region by the Celts. According to this, there was a settlement of wooden houses that were terraced on the rocks. Such a settlement could have been near Schreifels. Also the Heuneburg and a source in Egesheim provide rich finds. A Hunnish metal mirror was made from an unusual metal alloy (59% copper, 40% tin, 1% lead). Corresponding workshops have been found on the Gräbelesberg and the Meßstetter Talbach in Lautlingen. Middle Ages Meßstetten was first mentioned in AD 854 in a deed of gift from a high Franconian nobleman named Adelhard. Meßstetten was a transit area and settlement area for Celts and Romans, From an ecclesiastical point of view, the Heuberg belonged to the St. Martin's parish in Ebingen and to the cemetery church in Nusplingen until Meßstetten received a church. St. Lambert's Church was first mentioned in 1275. In 1360, the Tierbergs instituted a Jahrzeit in the church of St. Lambert at Meßstetten, in whose crypt a number of Tierbergs are buried. In the 14th century, three more altars, each with a chaplain, were donated. The parish was also endowed with the patronage rights of Meßstetten and Frohnstetten and formed a small collegiate church with its four clergy in 1354. George of Werenwag ceded the tithe in Meßstetten to Beuron Abbey on 14 October 1477. Count Henry of Hohenberg sold the village to Henry of Tierberg in 1347, who acquired Hossingen at the same time. Together with Tieringen, which he had also bought from Hohenberg in 1345, and his possession of other places he was able to form his own lordship in Meßstetten. In 1370, the Barony of Meßstetten was transferred to the Wildentierberger line. Mining In former times iron ore was mined on the Heuberg. Fidel Eppler was the name of the mine inspector. The buttress wood was bought in Truchtelfingen and used by Lautlingen miners at the Hörnle area. In Oberdigisheim Geppert in 1738 SHW-Ludwigsthal produced iron ore. From an old 3.5 km mine in an ooidal iron ore seam (Doggererzflöz) in Weilheim is wood in the Tuttlinger Fruchtkasten. Steel was produced in Tuttlingen by the Schwäbische Hüttenwerke in Ludwigstal, which produces now iron brakes. In Meßstetten-Michelfeld sand was found in an old arm of Danube. Christian Kiesinger (1876-1969) father of Kurt Georg Kiesinger had a factory. Ooidal iron ore (Bohnerz aus Eisenroggenstein) was found. After the Franco-Prussian War the mining was stopped. Jet work (to make black jewellery which was very fashionable), was called Beinschnitzen. Smuggling until 1835 of 1803 and 1806. Smuggling across the border (Württemberg, Baden, Province of Hohenzollern) in Meßstetten to, from Meßsteten- Heinstetten, Straßberg. 30,000 Bibles (Martin Luther) to Habsburg: Hans Ungnad von Weißenwolff, Freiherr von Sonneck, Hans III (1493–1564), famous Bible printer and smuggler in Bad Urach Smuggler, translator and Slovene refugee Protestant preacher Primož Trubar, who published the first books in Slovene and is regarded as the key consolidator of the Slovene identity, lived in Tübingen Derendingen. The smuggler was called Schwärzer in the local dialect due to the black camouflage color on his face. == Religion ==

The following religions are present in Meßstetten: • Roman Catholic Church • Evangelische Landeskirche in Württemberg in the former Württemberg • Evangelische Landeskirche in Baden in the former Baden, parish in Stetten am kalten Markt • Friedenskirche, United Methodist Church parish in Ebingen • Versammlung of the Brüderbewegung, John Nelson Darby • Gemeinschaftsstunde Süddeutsche Gemeinschaft, Liebenzell Mission, Evangelischer Gnadauer Gemeinschaftsverband • Russian Orthodox Church guest service in Lamprechtskirche Evangelische Landeskirche in Württemberg On 11 May 1525 the priest of (Meßstetten-Ober) Digisheim blessed the army in the German Peasants' War. • Evangelisches Jugendwerk in Württemberg, Part of YMCA,local chairman in Hossingen and Meßstetten. Schutzkonzept • Evangelisches Jugendwerk Überlingen-Stockach, in Hartheim ,Heinstetten Prävention • Kath Jugenddekanat, Prävention • Christian Endeavour, Schutzkonzept • Kath Jugenddekanat Balingen == Culture and sights ==

Food and drink • Brenntar, was a Swabian staple foodstuff, of the old Meßstetten. It is made of a specially roasted flour called Musmehl. Roggensuppe (breakfast) is made of rye flour. • Alb-Leisa, traditional lentil varieties of this region. • Most traditional production of perry. • Dubaknudeln, sweet bread. Shrove Thursday On this day the townhall is in the hands of the Fasnetsnarren. In Meßstetten the carnival play "Müllers Schuh im Mehlkasten" is historical. The Heuberg Training Area was criticized in the construction phase. "Funkenfeuer/Spark-Fire" is historical. In 2018 the ladies of the Royal Harem and Scheich Schrofti criticized the Police School in the construction phase. An old historical "freier Markt" is in the near Oberndorf am Neckar, also in Rottweil. During Fasnet the famous Fasnet-Küchle are made. Persons come with "Affagsichter" and "Schnitzbuckel" In 2017 was a big event in Hartheim. All roads were closed for over five hours. Sitting Bull (Mayor Frank Schroft) had big problems to put in the faucet to get the first beer In 2020 the assault gun fell out because of a barrel burst. Sport Mountains The mountain range is protected as Upper Danube Nature Park, and is a popular tourist destination, especially for hiking, camping, mountaineering, horse back riding, mountain biking, skiing and snowboarding. The Schwäbischer Albverein and the Naturschutzbund Deutschland Alb Guides made many tours. ====Hiking==== The Schwäbische-Alb-Nordrand-Weg is a long distance way. The most famous is the Hossinger Leiter. It is an old way to the Tübingen–Sigmaringen railway from Hossingen and Oberdigisheim. Fitness Course On the Blumersberg Sport- und Freizeitgelände Blumersberg ====Mountainbike==== ====Dirt Park==== Only for bikes without engine drive mechanisms. Hill on the Blumersberg Sport- und Freizeitgelände Blumersberg no taxes. ====Downhill==== =====Tieringen-Balingen===== legal trail, no taxes, for mountainbike from Meßstetten- Tieringen down the Albtrauf to Balingen-Weilstetten Lochenpass 4,7 km car road -bike trail shorten the hairpin bend down to 1,9 km by downhill single trail. (Danube) tour guides • Historic backdrop as an event location. Door to door saleswoman (Hausierin), Schwärzerin and Schlimmeres. Father: smuggling iron ore Tuttlingen (Eisenschmelze Ludwigstal). • Hiking with the Ortsgruppe Hossingen of the Schwäbischer Albverein Startingpoint: Sportheim Eichhalde, Schelmenwasenstraße 11, 72469 Meßstetten. Bibles of Martin Luther paid with cows way Bad Urach smuggler cave Meßstetten border to Crypto-Protestantism in Habsburg Empire Smuggler used caves in Meßstetten and Hossingen. Bibles of Martin Luther, coffee, corn and steel was smuggled. In 1831 the smuggler Haux was shot dead on the path. In the book Via Bologna a murder is on the secret path to the smuggler cave (), today a hiking way. Graves • WW2 Graves Heimatlied Johannes Strölin wrote the traditional Hossingen song. Digital Drawing in the Hossingen Heimatmuseum. Melody: Wohl ist die Welt so groß und weit Gruß an Hossingen 1.Oh Dörflein traut auf Bergeshöhen du liegst mut Stolz im Sinn Wo ich auch immer weilen mag zu dir zieht es mich hin Da wo die Jugendzeit entfloh wie eine Frühlingsnacht mit Wehmut denke ich zurück an die vergangene Pracht Refr. Oh Heimat mein dein Name klingt wie heller Glockenschall in Berg und Tal von Fels und Hang im sanftem Widerhall 2.Wenn ich vom Berg gezogen komm dem stillen Dörflein zu mein Herz schlägt schnell und voller Freud mein liebes Hossingen du Dem Hergott Dank für diesen Platz auf den man dich gebaut Im Blütenkleid erscheinst du so schön wie eine Braut 3.Im Tal auf felsgem Grunde das Lauterbächlein fließt und auch an steiler Felsenwand die Leiter mich begrüßt Durch Felsenkluft und Buchenwald zieh ich der Höhe zu Das grüne Dach des Kirchenturms schau ich in seliger Ruh 4.Und noch ein still verträumter Ort soll nicht vergessen sein Dort stand in längst vergangener Zeit ein Ritterschloß so fein Verfallen und vergessen ist Das Schloß - die Herrn - die Macht durch grüne Matten schlängelt sich so schön der Burtelbach 5. Auch aus der Ferne grüß ich dich du heißgeliebter Ort im Herzen stets behalt ich dich als einen goldenen Hort wenn dann mein letztes Stündlein schlägt will ich begraben sein in Heimaterde bettet mich zur ewigen Ruhe ein Heimatlied actor: Harmonie Lautlingen: Wo auf des Tales schmalen Weg ein Wanderbursch am Bächlein geht 1998 Legends Wangen '' at Meßstetten Places now lost are remembered in legend. A town called "Wangen" between Hossingen and Meßstetten has now disappeared. An as-yet undiscovered Celtic town of Pyrene was mentioned in ancient sources. The identification of Pyrene would bring special honor to researchers, since it is the oldest town in the Upper Danube region known from written sources. In 2010 more vague evidence occurs in old blood in the region of the Upper Danube: a virus of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, CCHF which mostly led to death in earlier times. The locality "Neu-Wangenhausen" (Nüwenghausen), mentioned in a document from 1477, could be no other place in the district. The microtoponyms () of the mountaintop "Weng" in the Heuberg Training Area and "Wangen" by the radar installation Weichenwang are in common use. Antiquities During the construction of a drainage ditch Alfred Ludwig Oetinger, pastor in Meßstetten und Hossingen from 1856 to 1868, discovered a bronze cauldron and potsherds near the Weichenwang. To the great derision of the workmen he secured the finds and forwarded them for scientific evaluation. Around 1850 the area was a frequent target of grave robbers. The pastor then carried out systematic excavations, first on his own, and later on behalf of the "Staatssammlung vaterländischer Alterthümer" (State Collection of Patriotic Antiquities). Schimmelreiter's secret love-affair Another old tale tells of a spectral rider on a white horse (Schimmelreiter), who secretly visited his lover on the Weichenwang. Many times in stormy autumn weather a Schimmelreiter is said to be seen riding toward the Weichenwang (Heiligenwang) from the old castle of Burtel near Hossingen, the remains of which are visible today. More vague evidence occurs in an old document: the noble knight Kunz acquired a castle in Meßstetten on July 14, 1327, from the Lord of Bubenhofen. It may be that lord of Castle Hossingen in financial difficulties so that he had to pawn his fiefdom to the rich lord of Bubenhofen. Perhaps the Schimmelreitier was Kunz, from Neuentierberg Castle, and had he acquired for his beloved her father's castle in Hossingen. In the Herrschaft Werenwag(Unterdigisheim, Hartheim) old tale tells of a spectral rider on a withe horse. His name is Doctor Schroff. Bells in Schwenningen Another old tale tells the transport of the Bells from St Lamprecht to st Columban Church in Schwenningen Heubeg. The local teachers found long time no documents- the message of bells is incredible. The greeting to normal people was Grüß Gott-Hört ihr eure Glocke, to Meßstetten. In 2023 the University of Tübingen found Hans Stokar in Switzerland On 11 May 1525 the priest of (Meßstetten-Ober) Digisheim (since 31.10 1519 Johannes Rieß in Oberdigisheim) blessed the army in the German Peasants' War. Germanus Kopp was the name of the priest of St Lamprecht in the time of German Peasants' War. Roland Steidle, a hobby historian located a Tyrannenbrief of Kallenberg in Karlsruhe archive. People from Hatheim and Unterdigisheim prevent, investigate, prosecute and punish. The church bells was taken away. ==Nature==

Fruit trees To help people to help themselves Württemberg plant an alley of trees. (Dienstbarkeit on private ground). Hossingen Parkplatz Oberbuch () Meßstetten Unterdigisheim () Alte Landstraße Obedigisheim () The tree farms of Wilhelm and the Brüdergemeinde delivered for free. Today in a collective purchase order typical of old apple varieties.Collection point:Naturschutzzentrum in Beuron. The famous old Engelsbirne is produced today in a tree surgery Karle in Dautmergen. Butterflies On 7 July 2017 permission was specially granted by the Regierungspräsidium Karlsruhe for everybody to catch butterflies in Hossingen Rastplatz Oberbuch. It was called Schmetterlingsnacht (Butterflynight). The idea was born at the Schwäbischer Albverein in Hossingen. The state action: Dr. Robert Trusch, Dipl.-Biol, zentrale Landesdatenbank Schmetterlinge, State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe (SMNK), Entomologische Abteilung. Herbert Fuchs (Naturschutzbüro Zollernalb) was the leader of the training course. == Twin towns ==

• There are links with Savigné-sur-Lathan and Luynes, both in France. ==Notable people==

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Meßstetten. • Batian Dreher (Dreer) (born in Heinstetten) poacher, kept prisoner in Bärenthal • Simon Weinckler (born in Heinstetten) poacher, 1538 kept prisoner in Bärenthal • Stefan Löffler (born in Meßstetten) killed the forest keeper • Hans Löffler (born in Meßstetten) poacher • Agnesa Decker (born in Meßstetten, died 1587) not guilty in fire as witch • Louis Schroff (1781-1816) doctor in Werenwag, old tale tells of a spectral rider on a white horse (Schimmelreiter) • Christian Kiesinger (1876-1969) farmer, brick factory in Michelfeld, father of Kurt Georg Kiesinger • Martin Stengel (1877-1945) Lammwirt • Oskar Riegraf (1911-unknown) Oberleutnant, tribunal Standgericht in townhall in Meßstetten 21 April 1945. Under wrong name in America. • Walter Strich-Chapell (1877–1960), actor • Elisabeth Walter (1897–1956), teacher in Heinstetten. On the Heuberg Training Area was a place for gypsies before the Porajmos. In a book from Elisabeth Walter is narrated the story of Schmiedledick by the gypsy. • Wilhelm Strienz (1900–1987), singer • Berthold Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg (1905–1944), member of the failed 20 July plot of 1944 to assassinate Adolf Hitler and remove the Nazi Party from power - hunter in the wood of Meßstetten • Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg (1907–1944), member of the failed 20 July plot of 1944 to assassinate Adolf Hitler and remove the Nazi Party from power. Often on the way from Bueloch to Torfels. Hunter in the wood of Meßstetten. • Hans-Joachim Eckstein (born 1950), university teacher, vicar • Thomas Bareiß (born 1975), member of the Bundestag • Pascal Bodmer (born 1991), Olympic Games 2010 == Web ==

• Video refugees in Meßstetten, army barracks, Zollern-Alb -Kaserne UMC Church) • Naturgucken macht Spaß und schafft Wissen! Artica caja 28.7.2017 Rastplatz Oberbuch Meßstetten - Hossingen • Sammlung Hieronymus Edelmann (1853–1921), Hyronimus Edelmann British Museum == Images ==

File:Albtrauf Hossinger Leiter.jpg|Albtrauf at Hossinger Leiter File:Herrschaft Schalksburg Panorama.jpg|View of the Albtrauf. From left to right: Farrenberg, Hohenzollern Castle Meßstetten and Plettenberg. == References ==