Reutlingen celebrates 25 years of being a second division city: memories and challenges!

Reutlingen celebrates 25 years of being a second division city: memories and challenges!

Reutlingen, the charming city in southern Germany, has an unruly past that is reflected in its historical heritage. A city that has been the center of life with its market square since 1180 and has established itself as an important metropolis in Baden-Württemberg to this day. Known for its textile industry, as well as mechanical engineering and leather goods, the city has a lot to offer. With a population of an estimated 116,456 people (as of June 2018), Reutlingen is an important part of the Stuttgart metropolitan region.

As the history books show, Reutlingen was first mentioned in the Treaty of Bempflingen in 1089 and received market privileges from Friedrich Barbarossa in 1180. St. Mary's Church, a true treasure of Gothic architecture, was built between 1247 and 1343 and attracts many visitors with its 71 meter high tower and golden angel statue. Spreuerhofstrasse, the narrowest street in the world at just 31 cm at its narrowest point, is also a popular photo opportunity.

A look back at August 15, 2000

A special event took place on August 15, 2000, when a special exhibition entitled “50s in Fifty Memories” opened in the local history museum. Over 5,000 visitors flocked to the exhibition, which was almost twice as many as other exhibitions. A clear sign of the citizens' interest in their history, which underlines the importance of cultural events in the city, as gea.de reports.

But not everything was rosy: Reinhold Keil, the director of the Reutlingen district clinics, warned of financial problems that threatened due to a landmark ruling by the Federal Court of Justice on single and two-bed room surcharges. Possible deficits of up to two million German marks had to be expected, as the surcharges for one- and two-bed rooms were to be reduced accordingly. These financial concerns highlight the challenges facing health care in the region.

Football and public safety

Another highlight of the day was SSV Reutlingen's second division debut, which received positive feedback from the police and the city. Operations manager Hans-Georg Viereck led 80 police officers on duty to ensure security and order. In addition, 300 parking spaces at Entenschnabel and 300 more at Kreuzeiche were taken up by outdoor pool visitors. Police plan to increase the number of officers to three at future games to accommodate traffic control.

In a conversation with Klaus Klaiber from the public order office, smaller possibilities for improvement were discussed. So there were more people with disabilities than expected, which supported the proposal for ramps. Despite these small challenges, there was positive feedback about the noise situation at the game, but there were complaints about a “Latin Night” event on Saturday evening.

With a variety of sights, historical sites and a lively cultural life, Reutlingen has a lot to offer. The city is often referred to as the “Gateway to the Swabian Alb” and impresses with its romantic hiking trails along the Echaz River and the impressive cityscape. The old market square, St. Mary's Church, the Tübinger Gate and the medieval hospital from the 1300s are just some of the attractions that make Reutlingen a special place - as thecrazytourist.com also recognizes.

In Reutlingen, tradition combines with modern life and the city remains a place where history is kept alive.