Altdorf bei Nürnberg
Altdorf bei Nürnberg is a town in south-eastern Germany. It is situated east of Nuremberg, in the district Nürnberger Land. Its name literally means “Altdorf near Nuremberg”, to distinguish it from other Altdorfs.
History
Altdorf is first mentioned in 1129. In 1504 the town was conquered by the Free Imperial City of Nuremberg. In the 16th century, the city government of Nuremberg founded an academy in Altdorf, which became a university in 1622. The university lasted until 1809. Among the alumni of the University of Altdorf were the soldier Albrecht von Wallenstein and the philosopher and scientist Gottfried Leibniz.Discovery of teleosaur fossils
Teleosaur remains have been known from Altdorf bei Nürnberg since 1832, but none have been placed in a specific genus yet.Economy
Even though the times of its once famous university have long passed, Altdorf is the seat of several educational institutions. It is also the home of a number of mid-scale industrial enterprises.Monuments
Altdorf's chief monuments are the church of St. Laurentius, the city hall and the Wichernhaus, which once housed the university. Altdorf also boasts some impressive remnants of its fortifications.International relations
Altdorf bei Nürnberg is twinned with:- Altdorf, Switzerland
- Colbitz, Saxony-Anhalt
- Sehma, Saxony
- Dunaharaszti, Hungary
- Pfitsch, South Tyrol
Sons and daughters of the town
- Stephan Farffler, inventor
- Johann Fabricius, theologian
- Moses Ferst, successful businessman in the United States
- Konrad Mannert, professor and historian
- Friedrichs Lachs, Bavarian-Swedish brewmaster
- Dora Hitz, Impressionist painter
- Klaus Kreuzeder, saxophonist
- Klaus Wolfermann, athlete, Olympic champion
- Thomas Tuschl, biochemist
Personalities who worked in the town
- Johann Richter or Johannes Praetorius , German mathematician and astronomer
- Wallenstein, military leader and politician in the Thirty Years' War
- Abdias Treu, mathematician; taught in Altdorf; also rector of the University of Altdorf
- Johann Christoph Wagenseil, polyhistor, legal scholar and orientalist; taught and died in Altdorf
- Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, philosopher and natural scientist, promoted in Altdorf
- Johann Pachelbel, composer, studied at the University of Altdorf
- Lorenz Heister, surgical professor at the University of Altdorf from 1710 to 1719
- Wolfgang Haffner, Funk and jazz drummer