Erlenbach am Main
| Erlenbach a.Main | ||
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 Erlenbach a.Main
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Location of Erlenbach a.Main within Miltenberg district
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| Coordinates: 49°48′14″N 9°9′50″E / 49.80389°N 9.16389°ECoordinates: 49°48′14″N 9°9′50″E / 49.80389°N 9.16389°E | ||
| Country | Germany | |
| State | Bavaria | |
| Admin. region | Unterfranken | |
| District | Miltenberg | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Michael Berninger (CSU) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 16.33 km2 (6.31 sq mi) | |
| Population (2015-12-31) | ||
| • Total | 9,996 | |
| • Density | 610/km2 (1,600/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) | |
| Postal codes | 63906 | |
| Dialling codes | 09372 | |
| Vehicle registration | MIL | |
| Website | www.stadt-erlenbach.de | |
Erlenbach am Main (officially: Erlenbach a.Main) is the biggest town in the Miltenberg district in the Regierungsbezirk of Lower Franconia (Unterfranken) in Bavaria, Germany. It harbours one of the Miltenberg district’s two hospitals, and is well known for its good wine. Erlenbach was until 25 years ago Bavaria’s newest town.
Erlenbach lies in Lower Franconia in Bavaria’s northwest, at the Mainviereck (“Main Square”), near Aschaffenburg.
The formerly self-administering neighbouring communities of Mechenhard and Streit wer amalgamated with Erlenbach in 1976 and 1978 respectively.
When human beings first took ownership of the region is a matter shrouded in the mists of time. In 1876, four barrows from the Bronze Age (roughly 1550–1250 BC) were discovered. In 1981, two typical Urnfield culture graves from the time about 1000–800 BC were found.
In the first century AD, the Roman Empire reached all the way to the Main. This watery stretch of the Limes Germanicus was enforced with castra. To avoid the Romans, the Germanic peoples moved their settlements to the other side of the Main, the east side, or right bank. After the Roman Empire fell, it would still be many years before the Franks thrust into the Main region in 531 and founded settlements of their own.
The first farms in Erlenbach were likely only built sometime between 800 and 950.
About 1183, Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa granted Erlenbach market rights. The Imperial award was given visible expression with a market and freedom sign. It shows a great cross on whose top stands a cock. On the crossbeam a hand rises up on one side and on the other a sword. The upheld hand made clear that the Erlenbach dwellers stood under the Emperor’s special protection, and that any who set himself against it would have to reckon with the Sovereign’s upraised sword.
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Wikipedia