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State capital Stuttgart

City districts

Birkach

Birkach is one of the smallest districts in Stuttgart. In the tranquil Filder suburb, there is not much of the hustle and bustle of the city. The residents benefit from the idyllic and village-like location - and that in direct proximity to the big city.

The Spitalhof also known as "Hinderers Haus", is one of the oldest farms in Birkach. In 1995/1996 the building was completely restored.
The Protestant village church in Birkach, also called Franziska Church, was consecrated in 1780. It was named after Countess Franziska von Hohenheim, the wife of Duke Carl Eugen von Württemberg.
Villa Eckstein was built around 1900. It was donated by the big businessman Friedrich Eckstein, who also paid for the construction of the Birkach water pipeline. Since 1966 it has housed the Protestant kindergarten.
Birkach is jointly administered with the neighboring district of Plieningen. The district town hall in Plieningen is the point of contact for residents of both districts.

History

The village of Birkach first appears in documents in 1140. 150 years later, the village was sold to the Cistercian monastery of Bebenhausen, which lies to the north of Tübingen. In 1478, Birkach became the property of the Count of Württemberg.

To counteract the poverty in the village, the Birkach priest Kohler founded Württemberg's first industrial school in 1794, where children learned how to use a spinning wheel. However, industrialization did not take hold in Birkach. Birkach was incorporated on April 1, 1942 and has been administered jointly with Plieningen since 1946.

Schönberg is one of the younger districts of Stuttgart. According to a local chronicle, development began in the early 20th century. At that time, the "talkesselmüden" Stuttgart discovered the place on the Filder plain for their recreation in the immediate vicinity. Spa houses were built on the southern slope of the Schönberg, close to the city. And those who could afford it simply built their own house in the healthy air.

In the 20th century, Birkach quickly doubled its population and expanded through extensive new construction.

Today

Birkach is located in the countryside and is considered particularly livable. In addition to numerous children's playgrounds, there is also a youth farm and a children's and youth center. Various social institutions such as the Nikolaus-Cusanus-Haus, the Mobile Youth Work and different types of housing of the Stuttgart Center for the Disabled enrich the place. Together with the Schönberg district, Birkach is one of the most sought-after residential locations in the state capital.

Birkach looks back on a rural past, which is still reflected in the village's appearance with its restored half-timbered houses in the Alte Dorfstraße. The local supply is good and, together with trade, gastronomy and handicrafts, surprisingly diverse. The campus of the University of Hohenheim extends far into the Birkach district and invites you to take a walk.

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Explanations and information

Picture credits

  • Thomas Hörner
  • Thomas Hörner
  • Thomas Hörner
  • Thomas Hörner
  • City of Stuttgart
  • Klaus Fanz
  • GettyImaages/Wavebreakmedia
  • Zehntscheuer Plieningen. Photo: City of Stuttgart
  • TransFair e.V./Jakub Kaliszewski