Villingen-SchwenningenVillingen-Schwenningen is the largest city of the Schwarzwald-Baar district located in the south of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It has 81,246 inhabitants (as of 2008).
HistoryIn the Middle Ages, Villingen was a town under Austrian lordship. During the Protestant Reformation it remained Catholic. Villingen came in the center of international attention when it was besieged by marshal Tallard in 1704. Colonel Von Wilstorff put up a stout defence of the outdated fortifications and after six days the siege failed.
Schwenningen remained village until the 19th century. In 1858 the first watch factory was established, from which time on watch making and precision mechanics have been important industries.
As part of the Baden-Württemberg territorial reform of 1972, Villingen and Schwenningen were merged with a number of surrounding villages to form the city of Villingen-Schwenningen. Nevertheless, the two halves of the city are separated by a plateau and remain distinct.
Villingen is a big center of the German Carneval. The traditional Narros represent the old citizens of Villingen: Alt Villingere, Morbili, Hansele, Suribbel.
The town is the birth place of German footballer Sebastian Rudy and Croatian footballer Robert Prosinečki whose parents were working in Germany at the time.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villingen-Schwenningen
