Pfullingen

Pfullingen (German pronunciation: [ˈpfʊlɪŋən] ; Swabian: Pfullenga) is a town in the district of Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 3 km southeast of Reutlingen at the foot of the Swabian Alb. With its almost 20,000 inhabitants it is famous for its Handball team, which in 2006 had to file for bankruptcy, the Schönbergturm and the People mover. Pfullingen is situated in the Northern foothills of the Alb in the valley of the river Echaz. Pfullingen is surrounded by the cone-like hills Achalm and Georgenberg as well as some mountains of the Albtrauf. Pfullingen was first mentioned in a chart by Emperor Otto I in 937. It was the main settlement in the Pfullichgau. At the end of the 14th century Pfullingen lost its city privileges after having been conquered and destroyed by the forces of the Free Imperial City Reutlingen. About 1500 Pfullingen became part of Württemberg, its city privileges being restored only in 1699. Pfullingen is home to many schools, in 2013 Wilhem-Hauff-Realschule held an exchange with East Bergholt High School. The Friedrich-Schiller-Gymnasium, which is named by a famous German poet, held an exchange with Park Ridge High School, New Jersey.