Laichingen
Description
Laichingen is a town in the district of Alb-Donau near Ulm in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It has 10,964 inhabitants (2005).GeographyGeographical locationLaichingen is located on the Laichingen Alb, a branch of the Swabian Jura. It is located on a former volcanic vent on the Alb plateau, about 25 kilometers west of Ulm.Neighboring communitiesThe municipality borders to Hohenstadt in Göppingen district, in the east to Merklingen and Dornstadt, on the south to Berghülen, to the town Blaubeuren and Heroldstatt and on the west to Gutsbezirk Münsingen and to Römerstein, both in the district of Reutlingen and to Westerheim.HistoryIn 1364 offered Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor the town privileges to the population, these however rejected, allegedly because they did not want to build any walls. The tradition of Laichingen linen weaving goes back until the Middle Ages. The poor soils on the Alb gave only small harvests, and so the inhabitants have relied on the growing of flax and the trade with the town of Ulm. One of the in 1677 built weber houses stood in Laichingen till 2002. It was dismantled and rebuilt and can now be visited in the open air museum in Beuren. From 1871, the water supply for the Swabian Jura was planned and built, also Laichingen was connected. In 1950, Laichingen received again the town privileges.