Fürstenfeldbruck

Fürstenfeldbruck is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Fürstenfeldbruck. As of 2004 it has a population of 35,494. Since the 1930s, Fürstenfeldbruck has been an air force base.

The name of Fürstenfeldbruck is composed of two parts, namely 'Bruck', Bavarian dialect for 'bridge' (meaning the bridge over the Amper river) and after the famous monastery of Fürstenfeld Abbey.

Geography

Fürstenfeldbruck covers an area of 32.53 km². It is located halfway between Munich and Augsburg, and along the Amper river.

Main sights

• Cistercian monastery (Fürstenfeld Abbey), founded in 1266 by Ludwig II, duke of Bavaria and closed in 1803. It was one of the favourite monasteries of the Wittelsbach family.
• Parish church of St. Magdalene (late 17th century)
• Pilgrim church of St. Leonhard. A Gothic building which can be crossed riding a horse.
• Aumühle, a 14th century mill now housing the municipal library.

Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base

Fürstenfeldbruck has been the site of an Air Base since 1936. It was used by the Luftwaffe before and during World War II. It was used by United States Air Force after World War II and returned to the German government in 1957 and used as a base for the modern German Air Force ever since.

The air force base was the site of the denouement of the Munich Massacre during the 1972 Summer Olympics. The nine Israeli hostages and eight Black September terrorists who held them were flown to the base from the Olympic Village via helicopter, where the terrorists believed they would be flown to a friendly Arab nation. After a bungled ambush and rescue attempt by Bavarian border guards and Munich police, the terrorists shot their bound captives and blew up a helicopter containing four of them. Five of the terrorists and a Munich police brigadier were also killed in the gunfight.

Economy

The American companies Fairchild Semiconductor and National Semiconductor have their European management centers in Fürstenfeldbruck, and the Coca-Cola company has a bottling facility there as well. Also, its home of http://www.leuze.de/ Leuze lumiflex, maker of safety products (light curtains).

Twin towns and sister cities

• Zadar, Croatia
• Cerveteri, Italy
• Livry Gargan, France
• Wichita Falls, United States
• Almuñécar, Spain