Babenhausen, Bavaria

Babenhausen
Coat of arms
Babenhausen
Location of Babenhausen within Unterallgäu district
Coordinates: 48°9′N 10°15′E / 48.150°N 10.250°E / 48.150; 10.250Coordinates: 48°9′N 10°15′E / 48.150°N 10.250°E / 48.150; 10.250
Country	Germany
State	Bavaria
Admin. region	Schwaben
District	Unterallgäu
Municipal assoc.	Babenhausen ()
Government
• Mayor	Theo Lehner (CSU)
Area
• Total	27.23 km2 (10.51 sq mi)
Elevation	542-567 m (−1,318 ft)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	5,488
• Density	200/km2 (520/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	87727
Dialling codes	08333
Vehicle registration	MN
Website	www.babenhausen -schwaben.de

Babenhausen is a municipality in the district of Unterallgäu in Bavaria, Germany. It is seat of a municipal association with Egg an der Günz, Kettershausen, Kirchhaslach, Oberschönegg and Winterrieden. The view of Babenhausen is dominated by the Fugger castle, a local attraction with its museum, and the Sankt Andreas Church. It is also seat of the Fuggers, a merchant family from Augsburg, which played an important role during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Babenhausen was first mentioned in a document related to a boundary conflict in 1237. Municipal rights can be tracked back to 1315, and in 1337, Emperor Ludwig IV. awarded the city with the town charter of Ulm. Babenhausen finally lost its municipal rights after the Rottweiler verdict in 1466. The castle and its lordship were purchased by Anton Fugger in 1539. Babenhausen became an Imperial Principality in 1803. As an effect of the Rheinbund act, the city was integrated into the Kingdom of Bavaria in 1806. The castle is still today owned by the prince Fugger of Babenhausen.

Babenhausen was connected to the railway in 1894 (Illertalbahn), but local public transportation on this route was discontinued in 1964. The railway embankment now provides a bicycle path. Today the town is known as Markt Babenhausen.