Baltringen

Baltringen is a once autonomous village in Baden-Württemberg in the region of Upper Swabia, situated approximately 17 km north of Biberach. Administratively, Baltringen is part of the municipality of Mietingen. Baltringen lies on the river Dürnach.

The area in which the village of Baltringen is now situated, was settled by Alemans in the 3rd century CE, being part of the Agri Decumates. It is located on an important road, connecting Ulm with Lake Constance. This road was partly restored in the early 7th century and new settlements were founded in order to safeguard travelling. The road lead from Meersburg via Ravensburg to Birkendorf, continuing via Baltringen in the direction of Laupheim and then on towards Ulm. This road would have crossed the river Dürnach on the southern entrance of the village by using the existing sandstone bridge.

The first appearance of Baltringen in written sources dates from 1274, when two brothers, Ulrich and Berthold of Baltringen, are mentioned. It is, however, impossible to ascertain a to whether these brothers were of the nobility or not. There is evidence of high court activity in Baltringen; on old maps a place called Galgenberg (gallow's hill) can be found on the road towards Äpfingen.

In 1370, a subsidiary church of the parish church in Laupheim is mentioned as being in Baltringen. During the 14th century, the Herren von Freyberg of Achstetten were the rulers of Baltringen, also owing the right to inflict low justice. During the 15th century, Baltringen changed hands frequently. A great number of owners were burghers of Ulm and Biberach. Little by little the Spital (a hospital foundation) in Biberach bought more and more of Baltringen, so that in 1473 almost all of the village was in its possession.

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