Riedlingen () is a town in the district (Kreis) of Biberach, Baden-Württemberg, in the south-west of Germany. It is one of the destinations of the Upper Swabian Baroque Route. Riedlingen has approximately 10,000 inhabitants.
Geography
The town is situated on the river Danube. Furthermore, there it lies in a dale which is created by the extensions of the Swabian Alps. Around Riedlingen there are seven villages which are part of the urban district. These are called Neufra, Daugendorf, Grüningen, Pflummern, Zwiefaltendorf, Zell and Bechingen.
History
Riedlingen is probably an Alemannic foundation. The first written reference dates back to 835. The medieval city was built 1247–1255, situated east of the hamlet of the Earl of Veringen. It was a typical town with its foundations kept in rectangular and square roads with the marketplace as the centre.
Even in the late 13th century the city was in possession of the Habsburgs, but which they pledged later. In 1314 the city belonged to the Counts of Hohenberg, later to the lords of 1384 and finally to the Steward of Waldburg [2]. The Reformation in the 16th century initially found strong support by the urban population. However, it could not prevail against the Catholic Church's Counter Reformation. From 1654 to 1658 Riedlingen a Capuchin monastery was built. In 1680 the city was claimed by Austria.
Culture
In Riedlingen there are many sports clubs, such as the football club TSV Riedlingen which plays in the German "Kreisliga A". The carnival group called "Gole" has many followers. In the town centre there are several bakeries, cafes, and a cinema which acts as a theatre, stage and cafe within the same building.
The writer Ernst Jünger used to live close to Riedlingen in the Jünger-Haus Wilflingen.
Economy
The main employers in Riedlingen are the metalworking companies "Silit" and " Feinguss Blank".
Transportation
Train transportation is served by the Ulm–Sigmaringen railway.
Famous people from Riedlingen
In the history of the city of Riedlingen, eleven people have been honoured so far. Wilfried Steuer and Winfried Aßfalg are the current living honorary citizens.
1914: Adolf Gröber (1854–1919), Member of the Reichstag and Landtag (Centre Party) 1917: Carl Buz (1853–1919), professor 1926: Franz Xaver Maier (1859–1931), mayor 1953: Theodor Selig (1874–1967), priest 1959: Josef Kohler (1879–1967), tax official 1964: Kilian Fischer (1886–1975), mayor 1967: Franz Zeller (1879–1953), teacher 1967: Odilo Burkart (1899–1979), general director 1981: Albert Burkart (1898–1982), painter 1992: Wilfried Steuer (born 1933), former district counsilior, politician (CDU) and former manager in the energy industry 2010: Winfried Aßfalg, museum director, author, photographer, local historian