A Greeting from the Lord Mayor

Dear fellow residents, dear visitors to our town,

700 years of the town wall. 600 years of St George’s. Two buildings, two anniversaries, and far more than two impressive numbers. These landmarks stand for our town’s history, its sense of self and its identity. They tell of generations who have shaped, protected and built Nördlingen.

The town wall gave people security. It protected the citizens, safeguarded trade and prosperity, and laid the foundations for our town’s successful development. To this day, it encircles Nördlingen as an almost entirely preserved landmark, reminding us that community grows where people take responsibility for one another.

St George’s, in turn, has always been more than a place of worship. For six centuries, the ‘Daniel’ has shaped the townscape and guided people on their way. The church has been, and remains, a place of faith, encounter and solidarity.

Together, the town wall and St George’s give Nördlingen its unmistakable face – visible expressions of a history that continues to shape our town today.

Yet anniversaries also invite us to consider what our history can teach us about the future. The generations before us created buildings that have endured for centuries. They took responsibility, made courageous decisions and laid the foundations on which we are fortunate to live today. We, too, bear responsibility for the town community of tomorrow. A town worth living in is made not only by its historic buildings, but above all by the people who bring them to life: through commitment, solidarity, creativity and the courage to try something new. Our history gives us direction, but it also calls on us to keep Nördlingen open, vibrant and ready for the future.

The anniversary year 2027 will vividly show the strength of this community spirit. 100 events invite us to experience history in many different ways. Major exhibitions, concerts, cultural highlights and numerous other projects will make the anniversary a special experience. Above all, it is the countless clubs, schools, parishes, initiatives, institutions and committed residents who are shaping this year with their ideas and dedication. My heartfelt thanks go to them all, even now. This anniversary is therefore more than a celebration of our historic buildings. It is a celebration of the people who make our town what it is. It shows how alive tradition can be when it is sustained by a strong community.

I warmly invite you to attend the many events of the anniversary year, join in the celebrations and, together with us, honour the past, experience the present and shape Nördlingen’s future with confidence.

I wish us all an unforgettable anniversary year in 2027.

Yours,