Eschach, Germany

Eschach has a share of the natural regions Eastern Swabian Foothills (Östliches Albvorland) and Swabian-Franconian Mountain Forests (Schwäbisch-Fränkische Waldberge), both of which belong to the Swabian Keuper-Lias Lands. It is located north of Schwäbisch Gmünd on the Frickenhofer Höhe, a ridge that stretches southwest of the Kocher River. The municipality borders Sulzbach-Laufen in Schwäbisch Hall district to the north, Abtsgmünd to the northeast, Obergröningen to the east, Schechingen to the southeast, Göggingen to the south, Täferrot to the southwest, and Ruppertshofen and Gschwend to the west. In addition to the eponymous Eschach, the municipality consists of the hamlets Batschenhof, Helpertshofen, Holzhausen, Kemnaten, Seifertshofen, Vellbach and Waldmannshofen, the farms Dietenhalden, Gehrenhof, Götzenmühle and Hirnbuschhöfle, as well as the deserted village of Alt-Dissenberg. According to data from the Statistical Office of Baden-Württemberg, as of 2014, the land was distributed as follows Eschach is an ancient settlement area, as evidenced by the numerous finds and remains from various settlement periods, originating from the Middle and Late Stone Age, as well as from the Celtic period and the time of the Alamannic landtaking in the 8th century. The farms likely originated during this time. Under the Staufer emperors in the 12th century, more extensive settlement took place. After that, the Counts of Oettingen were mainly the local lords in Eschach. In 1359, they sold all their rights and properties to the Lords of Hohenrechberg.