Kötzting
| Bad Kötzting | ||
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 Bad Kötzting
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Location of Bad Kötzting within Cham district
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| Coordinates: 49°10′37″N 12°51′18″E / 49.17694°N 12.85500°ECoordinates: 49°10′37″N 12°51′18″E / 49.17694°N 12.85500°E | ||
| Country | Germany | |
| State | Bavaria | |
| Admin. region | Oberpfalz | |
| District | Cham | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Markus Hofmann (Freie Wähler) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 62.17 km2 (24.00 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 409 m (1,342 ft) | |
| Population (2015-12-31) | ||
| • Total | 7,301 | |
| • Density | 120/km2 (300/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) | |
| Postal codes | 93444 | |
| Dialling codes | 0 99 41 | |
| Vehicle registration | CHA, KÖZ, ROD, WÜM | |
| Website | www.bad-koetzting.de | |
Bad Kötzting (before 2005: Kötzting) is a town in the district of Cham, in Bavaria, Germany, near the Czech border. It is situated in the Bavarian Forest, 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Cham.
Bad Kötzting has the charming character of a small town and offers quite a variety of attractions for tourists. The locals pride themselves with having one of the largest mounted religious processions in the world, the "Kötztinger Pfingstritt". Legend has it that in the year 1412, a man who got injured during forestry was asking for the last rites before dying in a village approximately 7 kilometres (4 miles) away from Kötzting. The local priest was unable to comply with the wishes of the man because he needed protection from bears, wolves, and other dangers luring along the way. After asking the young men of the village to protect him, they accompanied the priest to the dying man. After a safe journey, the participants vowed to repeat the ride every year. That is how it remained ever since. Every Whit Monday, the ride of over 900 horses and riders is repeated. The horses wear ornaments and the riders wear traditional Bavarian clothes. The ride starts in Kötzting and goes to the village "Steinbühl", where according to the legend, the man asking for anointment, was dying. Only men from the region are allowed to participate in the procession, the participating horses, however, come from all over Bavaria. The annual fair is also in town when the procession takes place. A local "Bierzelt" and numerous rides invite the public.
Impressionen from the Kötztinger Pfingstritt, 2001
Bad Kötzting is a founding member of the Douzelage, a unique town twinning association of 24 towns across the European Union. This active town twinning began in 1991 and there are regular events, such as a produce market from each of the other countries and festivals. Discussions regarding membership are also in hand with three further towns (Agros in Cyprus, Škofja Loka in Slovenia, and Tryavna in Bulgaria).
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Wikipedia