Furtwangen

Furtwangen im Schwarzwald is a small city located in the Black Forest region of south western Germany. It belongs to the district (Kreis) of Schwarzwald-Baar. The total population of Furtwangen was 9673 inhabitants on December 31 2004. Furtwangen gained the right to call itself a city in 1873.

The Breg is a small stream which, coming from the mountainous areas around Furtwangen, flows down through the inner city to the east. The Breg is one of the two little rivers which unite to form the river Danube.

Furtwangen is a city with an industrial past:

At one time Furtwangen was a major producer of clocks that were made and sold all over the world. While many different kinds of clocks were produced in Furtwangen, Furtwangen was unique for the production of musical clocks from the factory of Emilian Wehrle.

Emilian Wehrle (1832-1896) made musical clocks in the Furtwangen-Schonenbach area from about 1857 until his death in 1896. These musical clocks included the Trumpeter clock, Flute clock, Singing Bird Clock, and Rooster Clock. These clocks call the hour with the sound of the trumpet, flute, song bird and rooster respectively.

These clocks were the highest quality and were very expensive at the time. Because of this few were produced, and even fewer survived. Today collectors are after these musical pieces, and they continue to be sold at record prices.

This industry was very important in previous centuries, but with the appearance of the quartz watch this branch of the economy is now almost gone.

Today, Furtwangen is a city with a more balanced industry, there are many small and medium-sized industrial companies focused in microelectronics and precision mechanics. Among the cities in Germany Furtwangen one of those with the lowest unemployment rate.

There is a university of applied sciences (Hochschule Furtwangen University). This university specialises in microelectronics, precision mechanics, computer sciences and other faculties. Beside one of the university entrances is the Deutsches Uhrenmuseum (German Clock and Watch Museum) with many historical and modern clocks and watches on display.

Strongly frequented by traffic is the "B 500" road which is also commonly known as the black forest "Panoramastraße". In 1972, the railway connection called Bregtalbahn was closed after 80 years of service. The railway track had led from Furtwangen to Donaueschingen.

In September 2009 Furtwangen University was the location of the first RegioWikiCamp. Stadtwiki Furtwangen was started during this event.

Based on Wikipedia Article Furtwangen im Schwarzwald (this version)