Furtwangen | Baden-württemberg | Germany
Furtwangen im Schwarzwald is a small city located in the Black Forest region of south western Germany. It belongs to the district (Kreis) of Schwarzwald-Baar along with the two more important cities of Villingen and Schwenningen. The total population of Furtwangen was 9673 inhabitants on December 31, 2004. Furtwangen gained the right to call itself a city in 1873. The Breg is a small stream which, coming from the mountainous areas around Furtwangen, flows down through the inner city to the east. The Breg is one of the two little rivers which unite to form the river Danube.
Furtwangen is a city with an industrial past:
At one time Furtwangen was a major producer of clocks that were made and sold all over the world. While many different kinds of clocks were produced in Furtwangen, Furtwangen was unique for the production of musical clocks from the factory of Emilian Wehrle.
Emilian Wehrle (1832–1896) made musical clocks in the Furtwangen-Schönenbach area from about 1857 until his death in 1896. These musical clocks included the Trumpeter clock, Flute clock, Singing Bird Clock, and Rooster Clock. These clocks call the hour with the sound of the trumpet, flute, song bird and rooster respectively.
These clocks were the highest quality and were very expensive at the time. Because of this few were produced, and even fewer survived. Today collectors are after these musical pieces, and they continue to be sold at record prices.
This industry was very important in previous centuries, but with the appearance of the quartz watch this branch of the economy is now almost gone.
Today, Furtwangen is a city with a more balanced industry, there are many small and medium-sized industrial companies focused in microelectronics and precision mechanics. Among the cities in Germany, Furtwangen is one of those with the lowest unemployment rate.
There is a university of applied sciences. This university specialises in microelectronics, precision mechanics, computer sciences, informatics, digital media, industrial technologies, medical and life sciences, mechanical and medical engineering etc. Beside one of the university entrances is the Deutsches Uhrenmuseum (German Clock and Watch Museum) with many historical and modern clocks and watches on display. Tourists are often highly interested in visiting this museum.
Strongly frequented by traffic is the B 500 road which is also commonly known as the black forest Panoramastraße. In 1972, the railway connection called Bregtalbahn was closed after 80 years of service. The railway track was led from Furtwangen to Donaueschingen.
Pinning down the source of Europe's second largest river
LEADIN:
Europe's second largest river is causing ripples in a German town, where people are fighting over where its true source lies.
There's a dispute over the spring that feeds the famous waterway.
STORYLINE:
The picturesque Black Forest town of Donaueschingen is at the heart of the debate over where the Danube starts its journey.
Experts agree it starts its 3,000 kilometre flow to the Black Sea at the confluence of the Breg and Brigach rivers.
But local residents near the rivers have been fighting for two generations over the right to claim ownership of the spring that forms the true source of the Danube.
At stake is more than just historical accuracy.
People in both Donaueschingen where the Breg and Brigach meet, and Furtwangen, which is located at the headwaters of the Breg - the longest of the two rivers - earn their livelihoods from a regular stream of tourists who come to marvel at the source of the Danube.
The waterway is seen as one of Europe's most romantic rivers - inspiring the Danube Waltz.
It's also used for shipping and industry.
In Furtwangen, people argue that because the Breg is the largest river feeding into the Danube it is the true source.
But generation after generation in Donaueschingen has learned that the true source of the Danube is an underground stream, fed by rain waters in the Black Forest.
That stream is then said to rush to the surface in their town and becomes the Danube Creek, which flows into the Brigach and then joins the Breg nearby to create the rushing Danube.
Donaueschingen resident Ernst Zimmermann explains says Danube has had its source in the area for a long time.
The Danube has had a source since its existence. We think that the Celts who were responsible for naming the Breg and Brigach might also be responsible for naming Danube, he explains.
We believe the source is here in Donaueschingen and for hundreds of years people have adored it. And even people who came here after the Celts left passed on their knowledge.
The Danube is a big revenue earner in terms of tourism.
In Donaueschingen, local authorities are reconstructing a pool in the centre of the old town, which they say is fed by the streams of the source of Danube.
It will be reopened as a tourist attraction in 2014.
A 1,400 kilometre bike path crosses Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary along the banks of the 2,857 kilometre long river, attracting thousands of cyclists from around the world each year.
One of the biggest attractions along the tour is the confluence of Breg and Brigach.
Here at a small green island people can watch as the strong waters of the Breg and the shallow, silent stream of the Brigach converge and see the Danube begin its journey east.
But people in Furtwangen say the true source of the Danube is 50 kilometres upstream - at the headwaters of the Breg.
And some, like Franz Dold and his son, are making a business out of proving their claim to the right to call their river the source of the Danube.
They are the owners of the Kolmenhof, a farm located right next to the source of the Breg.
Dold's parents gave up farming in 1957 and opened the business - hoping to earn more money with a small hotel and restaurant than they were able to eke out of working the land.
Here on a mountain, some 1,078 meters high, several small streams come together to form the source of the Breg.
Here we are at the farthermost point from the Danube. There is no farther point than that and that's why for me it is the source of the Danube, says Dold.
At the beginning the Danube carries the name Breg, it's a Celtic name. And when the Breg merges with the Brigach the rivers form the Danube. For us there is no doubt that the source of the Danube is here.
9 Dec - Germany
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The real source of the Danube River in Furtwangen, Germany - Adevaratul Izvor al Dunarii
Donauquelle Source du Danube
La source officielle du Danube est celle de la Breg, près de Furtwangen. La Breg se réunit ensuite à la Brigach à Donaueschingen.
Die offizielle Quelle ist Donau diejenige von Breg, nahe Furtwangen. Breg, was dann in Brigach Donaueschingen verbunden ist.
At the source of the river Danube
It takes 2000 miles from the source in the Black Forest in Germany to the mouth at he Black Sea in Romania - the Danube is Europe's longest and most majestic river.
Here it starts at a little but beautiful spring at Donaueschingen.
STAY HUMAN, KEEP ON TRAVELING & WATCH OUT FOR THE SIGNS!
europe-berlin-guide.com
Geschichten vom Schwarzwald. - Die Donauquelle.
Hello möchten Sie mehr Schwarzwald erleben?
Vöhrenbach
Vöhrenbach is a town in the district of Schwarzwald-Baar, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated on the Breg River, 12 km west of Villingen-Schwenningen.
BikeTube HD 13 Brigach & Breg
Radtour zu den Quellen der Donau mit Start in Villingen.
Donauquelle, Danube source, Duna-forrás
Donauquelle, Danube source, Duna-forrás
DONAUQUELLE
Soon you'll find some news at the site donauquelle.com |
We're producing a documentation about the river Danube.
Auf der Internetseite donauquelle.com wird eine umfangreiche Dokumentation der Sanierung der Donauquelle und des Kirchplatzes St.Johann in Donaueschingen erscheinen. Darüberhinaus begleiten wir die Donau bis nach Rumänien.
(c) by wespo bild- und tonträgervertrieb gmbh
Breg und Linach von oben
Die Umgebung der Gemeinde Vöhrenbach im Schwarzwald gesehen mit einer Phantom 3 Advanced
Furtwangen City in the Black Forest
We built this city Furtwangen with wooden play cubes
Donauquelle im Schwarzwald
Donauquelle
izvorul Dunării
donauquelle
apprentis humides
Donauquellen
Donauquellen
This is where the Danube / Donau river begins... sort of
The Danube's source is in the town of Donaueschingen in Germany at the Donauquelle (spring). This film is taken at the point where the Danube *starts* at the Dibayzusammenfluss. In the style of David Attenborough. Filmed on my bike ride from the UK to Romania.
Donaukolonie 2008
2e von der Donauquelle (Bregquelle) bis nach Sigmaringen
nyk&angel vizita la izvorul dunarii.wmv