Historic overview – Gernsbach and its history
A small brief survey

1085
The counts of Eberstein settled in the area of „Oos“, „Alb“ and „Murg“.
They received this area from the bishopric Speyer. At the same time farmers from Franconia settled in the area of Gernsbach (farming and exploitation of the woods).

1219
Gernsbach was mentioned in a document as „Markt- and Kirchdorf“.

1243
Gernsbach received its own Parish and was called the first time a town.

1272
The first documented entry of the castle “Neu Eberstein” near Gernsbach, the ancestral seat of the counts of “Eberstein”.

1387
„ Wolf von Eberstein“ sold half of the town Gernsbach to margrave “Rudolf VII of Baden“. Beginning of the common reign (“Kondominat”) of the town.

1417/1418
A fire destroyed Gernsbach. Reconstruction and confirmation of the right to be a town and the market-regulations.

1488
Regulations of the rafting and wood trade by the sovereign.

1556
The Reformation was due to alternation of religion for sovereign and inhabitants.

1583
Inhabitants of Gernsbach were liberated from serfdom.

1624
Inheritance brought the earls of Wolkenstein and Gronsfeld more influence in ruling the town.

1660
The family of the counts of Eberstein died out, because there was no male descendant. The dynasties of Baden and Wolkenstein and the bishopric of Speyer fought to be sovereign. During the course of the European wars of succession Gernsbach was repeatedly looted and pillaged.

1784
The forester of the newly founded forestry „Eberstein“ baron Friedrich Drais von Sauerbronn installed plant nurseries and began with reforesting the totally deforested areas. 1796 hHe installed a special school to study forestry.

1787/1798
Fires destroyed the medieval town. The architect Friedrich Weinbrenner (1766-1826) designed the reconstruction.

1803
Gernsbach belongs to „Baden“.

1849
At the end of the German Revolution there was an important fight in Gernsbach. The winning troops of the government occupied Gernsbach. Result: 29 dead persons and many destroyed buildings.

1857
Foundation of the Saving Bank Gernsbach. Start of the modern capital market.

1869
Railway connection between Rastatt and Gernsbach was finished. Industrialization and tourisme started.

1881
Foundation of the paper mill „Zellulosewerk Schulz & Cie“ later „Schoeller & Hoesch“. This was the year of birth of the paper industry in the „Murg“ Valley.

1913
No more rafting on the „Murg“.

1928
The railway through the „Murg“ Valley from Rastatt to Freudenstadt was finished.

1936
Gernsbach annexed Scheuern

1956
Opening of the first German school for paper manufacturing. International centre for paper, cellulose and corrugated cardboard. Seat of the professional associations of paper in “Baden-Württemberg”.

1964
Start of the twinning with Baccarat

1971
Staufenberg (1971), Lautenbach (1973), Obertsrot/Hilpertsau (1974) and Reichental (1975) were annexed by Gernsbach.

1979
The European flag was awarded due to the merit of the German-European friendship.

1997
After four years of construction the tunnel underneath Gernsbach was opened. Construction of the rehabilitation centre (about 200 beds) for heart and circulation patients. The conversion of the hospital into a clinic for geriatrics rehabilitation

1998
The Council of Europe in Strasbourg awards the „Europaplakette“.

2002
Opening of the new railway system Rastatt-Forbach.

>> top <<


Text: Winfried Wolf, archivist of Gernsbach

Home