Wolfratshausen


Wolfratshausen is a town of the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, located in Bavaria, Germany. The town had a population of 18,122 as of 31 December 2014.

History

The first mention of "Wolveradeshusun" appears in documents from the year 1003. About 100 years later, Otto II, the Graf of Deißen-Andechs, built a castle on a hill overlooking the valley. The castle was destroyed on 7 April 1734 when lightning struck the tower storing black powder. Stones from the ruins were transported to Munich where they were used to build the Residenz.
From 1280 the town was designated a market town. In the 15th century, people were using the Loisach and Isar rivers for water transport, especially logging. Even today, you can ride a raft from Wolfratshausen into Munich.
During World War II, a forced-labor subcamp of Dachau concentration camp named Föhrenwald was located between Wolfratshausen and Geretsried. Following the war, the labor camp was used as a displaced persons camp by the Allies. In 1957, Föhrenwald was transformed into a suburb of Wolfratshausen and renamed Waldram, to honor the Lord of Münsing who was one of the founders of the Benediktbeuern Abbey.
In modern times, Wolfratshausen was formerly the seat of the district government, but this moved to Bad Tölz in 1972.

Geography

Wolfratshausen sits at the confluence of the Isar and Loisach Rivers, at approx. 30 km southwest of Munich. A canal joins the two rivers to return water diverted for power generation at the Isar Amper Werke to the Isar. The town covers 9.13 square kilometres and is 577 meters above sea level.

Town subdivisions

The town of Wolfratshausen is split into the following subdivisions:
Former Bavarian Prime Minister Edmund Stoiber lives in Wolfratshausen. It is the birthplace of actors Saul Rubinek and Towje Kleiner.
It is also the place where took place the assassination of Croatian businessman Stjepan Đureković, allegedly by UDBA agents.
In about 1286 the martyrdom of the Roman-catholic saint Nantovinus occurred in the town's part of Nantwein, named after him.

Personalities

Buildings of Note

A police German TV-series "Hubert ohne Staller" shows the town.