Wolfach was first mentioned in 1084 as Wolphaha and was given a wide variety of names throughout the High and early Late Middle Ages including Wolphaa, Wolua, Wolfacha, Wolva, Wolfach inferius, Wolva, Wolvahe, and Wolffach.
Antiquity and Early Middle Ages
Very little is known about Wolfach before 1000 and there were likely no large settlements in the area. Under Emperor Vespasian, the Roman Empire may have built a trade and military road from Offenburg to Rottweil which passed near the town around 73 AD.[3]
Founding of the Town in the High Middle Ages
The exact age of Wolfach is not known. The noble De Wolphaha family is thought to have lived in the Ruine Wolfach, a hilltop castle that lay north of the town center and was built in the late 11th century.
By the 14th century, the people of Wolfach gained many civil liberties, including the freedom to hold markets. This allowed the town to grow in size and population.
Timber Rafting
As early as the 15th century, the lumber trade was an important source of income for Wolfach because of its location in the Black Forest. The timber trade was aided by timber rafting, which allowed for the cheap and easy delivery of timber to places as far as Strasbourg.
Timber rafting continued until the late 19th century when quicker and more efficient railways deemed the practice obsolete. In 1984, the Wolfach Kinzig Rafers Association (German: Wolfacher Kinzigflößer) was created to preserve the tradition of rafting. A festival is held biennially where rafts are built and floated down the river to celebrate the town's history of rafting.[4]
Destruction by fires
Major fires have forced many of the buildings in the town center and the nearby suburbs to be rebuilt. The most recent major fire was in 1892, which burned the old town hall, school, and two neighbouring buildings. The town hall was rebuilt in 1892/93 in the neo-Renaissance style.[4]
Modern
On April 21, 1945, before fleeing the town, the Gestapo took the French resistants and political prisoners held in the prison of Wolfach to a forest outside of the town, forced them to dig their own graves, and shot them on the spot, just three hours before the arrival of the French 2nd Armored Division commanded by General Leclerc.[5]
Geography
Geographical position
Wolfach lies where the two rivers Wolf and Kinzig meet in the Kinzig valley. The mountains and valleys surrounding the town stretch between 250 and 880 meters above sea level.
City Hall in Wolfach
District villages within the borough of Wolfach include Kirnbach, Halbmeil, Kinzigtal, and St. Roman.
Town Structure
The town center was originally divided into two parts to the north and south of the Kinzig river. The north section was developed as a suburb, where the St. Laurentius–Pfarrei, a Roman Catholic church, still stands today. The south section included a market street and is still lined with shops today. Both sides of the river have been developed to including housing, shops, and other markets. They are connected by a pedestrian bridge and a larger bridge for car traffic.
Due to the harsh topographical location, Wolfach has not received significant expansion. The most significant expansion was the Straßburger Hof, a suburban area which extends to the west of the town center and began construction in 1927.
The current mayor of Wolfach is Thomas Geppert, who was first elected in 2015. He was most recently re-elected in 2022, with 76% of the vote.[10]
The mayoral history of Wolfach can be divided into two time periods. The first, from the founding of the town in the 13th century until 1811, is categorized by the title of "Schultheiß". Although the role was similar to a modern-day mayor, it focused more on tax and debt collection.
The coat of arms of the town of Wolfach displays a golden wolf's hook rod on a blue background and is based on the "Wolfsangel" banner from the "Herren von Wolfach" (Lords of Wolfach) who established their control on the town in 1260. It is believed that they adopted the wolf trap sign as their banner having cleared the area of wolves to establish the town.[14]
In the late 16th century, Wolfach started to become known as a spa town and throughout the following centuries, the people of Wolfach adapted to the increased tourism. In the late 19th and early 20th century, Wolfach received acclaim from the Berlin Magazine.
The First and Second World Wars hurt tourism to Wolfach drastically but in the post-war period, it was able to develop once again.
Wolfach is rich in the tradition of the Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht, where many in the town wear traditional costumes and masks in parades through the town.
Buildings
Fürstenberger Schloss, a historic castle in the town center originating around 1180.[17]
Ruine Wolfach, the ruins of a castle near the town thought to have originated around 1030.
St. Laurentius-Pfarrei, a late Gothic Roman Catholic church near the town center.
Dorotheenhütte, a local glassblowing workshop which uses traditional Black Forest methods. Glassworks are blown, cut, and engraved in front of visitors.
Parks
Flößerpark, a small park showcasing the history of timber rafting on the Kinzig river.[18]
Regular events
Fastnacht or Fasnet (Swabian-Alemannic Carnival), which features parades of Hansele wearing unique, often handmade costumes and masks.[19]
Stadtbrunnenfest, an annual festival which often features markets, shows, live music, arts and crafts, and more throughout the town.[20]
Biker-Weekend, which takes place on Corpus Christi weekend and sees hundreds of bikers riding through the Black Forest and stopping in small towns for food and to socialize.[21]
Flößerfest, a celebration of the town's history of timber rafting with the creation of new rafts and floating them down the Kinzig river.[22]
Schlachtfest der Freiwilligen Feuerwehr (Butchers Festival of the Volunteer Fire Department), where firefighters and other volunteers cook meat platters and for attendees.[23]
Notable people
Natives
Ernst Bassermann (1854–1917), lawyer and politician, member of Reichstag
Hans Klumbach (1904–1992), archaeologist and scholar of classical and provincial Roman studies
Felix Mildenberger (born 1990), a German conductor; principal conductor and artistic director of the Sinfonieorchester Crescendo Freiburg, which he helped found in 2014.
People who are connected to the town
Gustav Trunk (1871–1936), politician, member of the German Centre Party; lived in Wolfach from 1897 to 1900 as beadle
Otmar Freiherr von Verschuer (1896–1969), racial hygienist in the Third Reich, went to school in Wolfach from 1898 to 1909
^ abDisch, Franz (1920). Chronik Der Stadt Wolfach [Chronicle of the City of Wolfach] (in German). Wolfach. pp. 552–553.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Zeitung, Eßlinger Zeitung ONLINE-Das Nachrichtenportal für die Region Esslingen- Eßlinger. "Ergebnisse der Gemeinderatswahl 2024 in Wolfach". www.esslinger-zeitung.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-06-11.
^Disch, Franz (1920). Chronik Der Stadt Wolfach [Chronicle of the city of Wolfach] (in German). Wolfach. pp. 485–486.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Sadlier, Klemens (1971). German Coats-of-Arms. Federal Republic of Germany: Municipal Coats-of-Arms of the Federal State of Baden-Wurttemberg). Vol. 8. Angelsachsen-Verlag. p. 115.
