Marktbreit

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Marktbreit
The Malerwinkel in Marktbreit
The Malerwinkel in Marktbreit
Coat of arms of Marktbreit
Coat of arms
Marktbreit   is located in Germany
Marktbreit
Marktbreit
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Location of Marktbreit within Kitzingen district
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Country Germany
State Bavaria
Admin. region Unterfranken
District Kitzingen
Municipal assoc. Marktbreit
Government
 • Mayor Erich Hegwein (CSU)
Area
 • Total 20.15 km2 (7.78 sq mi)
Population (2013-12-31)[1]
 • Total 3,673
 • Density 180/km2 (470/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 97338–97340
Dialling codes 09332
Vehicle registration KT
Website www.marktbreit.de

Marktbreit am Main is a town in the district of Kitzingen in the Regierungsbezirk Unterfranken in Bavaria situated at the most southern point of the Main river. It is the birthplace of Alois Alzheimer who first identified the symptoms of what is now known as Alzheimer's Disease. With its Suburb Gnodstadt, Marktbreit has about 4,000 inhabitants (2004).

History

File:Flurersturm Pfarrgasse Rosmaringasse.jpg
The town wall tower Flurersturm

Near Markbreit, the site of a large Roman legionary fortress was discovered in 1985 and celebrated as a minor scientific sensation.[2] It was built in Augustan times in enemy territory beyond the "Limes" frontier in preparation for an invasion of the rest of Germany.[3]

It was identified on aerial photos in 1985, and archaeologists were active in 1986-1992. They discovered a remarkable place, because the palisade (2¼ km long, using 21,000 trees) appeared to be finished and several buildings were complete. The surface area of 37 ha suggested that the base was built for two legions or one legion and many auxiliary troops. There were no traces of actual occupation and it took some time to conclude that this was not the result of erosion, but from the fact that the base had been prepared but was never used.

The headquarters (praetorium), the residences of three centurions, store rooms (horrea), and kilns had already been finished before the settlement was abandoned. There are no traces of violence, and precious objects appear to have been taken away, which suggests that Marktbreit was evacuated when strategic realities had changed and made it unnecessary.

However, a rebellion in Pannonia delayed the execution of the invasion plan, and the defeat of Varus in the Teutoburg Forest put an end to all Roman ambitions east of the Rhine, and the base was never used.

Marktbreit was first mentioned as "broite inferior" in a document of the count of Castell in 1266. It is very likely that there was a settlement for some hundred years at the delta of the Breitbach. In 1557, King Ferdinand allowed the settlement to hold markets, and the name Marktbreit was given to the small town. In the 17th and 18th century Marktbreit was an important marketplace because the shortest way to the Danube from the Main (which ends in the Rhine) starts in Marktbreit.

References

External links


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