Geography

Districts

History

At the end of the 16th century, Count Philipp Ludwig II allowed Protestant refugees from the Netherlands to found their own settlement near Hanau, to which these Walloons brought their knowledge of jewellery production. For this reason goldsmiths are still educated there. In the 19th century the Neustadt (New Town), as it was called, was merged with Hanau.

In the 19th century Hanau was a centre of the German democratic movement and contributed significantly both in 1830 and in the Revolution of 1848. Also in 1848 the German Gymnastic League (Turnerbund) was founded here.

During World War II Hanau was for the most part destroyed by British airstrikes in March 1945 a few days before it was taken by the US Army.

Nowadays many inhabitants work in the technological industry (VAC, Heraeus) or commute to Frankfurt. Frankfurt International Airport is only 30km away.

Population

• Hanau is the 6th largest town in Hesse. Having recently lost its status as administrative centre of the Main-Kinzig-Kreis (Main-Kinzig district) to Gelnhausen, proposals have been made, that Hanau should form its own administrative district.
• More than 20% of the inhabitants are foreign nationals.

Twin towns

• Dartford, United Kingdom
• Tottori, Japan
• Yaroslavl, Russia
• Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, France
• Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
• Francheville, Rhône, France
• Doorn, Netherlands

In addition it is associated with two other towns:

• Waltershausen, Thuringia, Germany
• Pays de Hanau, France

Sights

• The German House of Goldsmiths (Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus)
• Philippsruhe Castle
• Health Establishment at Hanau-Wilhelmsbad
• St Mary's Church (Marienkirche)
• Dutch-Walloon Church (Niederländisch-Wallonische Kirche)

Famous persons

• The Brothers Grimm (Brüder Grimm) collected many German fairy tales and started work on the German Glossary.
• Tayfur Havutçu, Turkish footballer
• Paul Hindemith, composer
• Rudi Völler, football/soccer world champion 1990 and coach of the German national team, when it was runner-up in 2002.
• Wilhelm Wagenfeld, Designer (1900-1990)
• Mike Minnix, USAF & Aviation (1962 - )
• J. C. C. Devaranne was born in Hanau on March 8, 1784.

Sports

• Turngemeinde 1837 Hanau a.V. (TGH), one of the oldest of Germany's sports clubs
• Hanauer Rudergesellschaft 1879 e.V. (HRG), one of Germany's oldest rowing clubs
• 1.Hanauer FC 1893 e.V. (Hanau '93), Hesse's oldest football/soccer club

External links

• Official site
• HanauOnline Webzine
• Staatliche Zeichenakademie Hanau (Hanau State Academy)
• U.S. Army in Hanau