Waldkirchen

Sister cities

• Landshut
• Prachatice
• Serrara Fontana

History

Mentioned for the first time in 1203, it soon became an important trading place along the "Goldener Steig" (Golden Path), a salt-trading route between Bavaria and Bohemia in the late Middle Ages. In the 13th century the Bishop of Passau gave Waldkirchen the title of a "Markt" (market). After several raids by Bohemian soldiers during the 15th century the city built a "Ringmauer", a big stonewall, to surround it, which is still to be seen in many places of the city. Belonging to the Bishop of Passau's territory for more than 600 years, the city became part of the Kingdom of Bavaria in 1806 and in 1871 of the German Empire. Waldkirchen burned down six times between 1492 and 1945. The last fire was on April 26, 1945, when the 16th Company of Regiment Grossdeutschland, SS Panzer Grenadier Division "Das Reich" arrived from St. Pölten, Austria. Each squad of ten men was armed with one light machine gun, one machine pistol, two Panzerfaust and rifles. Eight civilians were killed in combat with the 11th Armored Division, and 48 houses and city's historical church were destroyed. In the course of the action 120 families also lost shelter. The devastated city was rebuilt during the 1950s and was chartered in 1972. Waldkirchen was host of the 2007 Landesgartenschau.

Most-observed species

• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  567
• Common Chaffinch

  Fringilla coelebs Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  414
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  410
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  387
• Peacock

  Aglais io (Linnaeus, 1758) · Insecta
  343
• Coal Tit

  Periparus ater (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  334
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  324
• Great Spotted Woodpecker

  Dendrocopos major (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  293

Most recent

• M 3.8 — 2008-08-12
  6 km SE of Maria Schmolln, Austria
• M 2.8 — 2008-08-06
  2 km SE of Schalchen, Austria
• M 3.8 — 2005-10-06
  1 km S of Ranshofen, Austria
• M 2.5 — 2002-03-10
  2 km NNE of Waldmünchen, Germany