Eschau

{{Infobox German location |image_coa = DEU Eschau (Unterfranken) COA.svg |coordinates = {{coord|49|49|13|N|9|15|26|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}} |image_plan = Eschau in MIL.svg |state = Bayern |region = Unterfranken |district = Miltenberg |elevation = 171 |area = 38.11 |postal_code = 63863 |area_code = 09374 |licence = MIL |Gemeindeschlüssel = 09 6 76 123 |divisions = 4 [[Ortsteil]]e |website = [http://www.eschau.de/ www.eschau.de] |mayor = Gerhard Rüth<ref>[https://www.statistik.bayern.de/wahlen/kommunalwahlen/bgm/ Liste der ersten Bürgermeister/Oberbürgermeister in kreisangehörigen Gemeinden], [[Bayerisches Landesamt für Statistik]], 15 July 2021.</ref> |leader_term = 2020–26 |party = CSU }}

'''Eschau''' ({{IPA|de|ˈɛʃaʊ}}) is a [[Market town|market municipality]] in the [[Miltenberg (district)|Miltenberg district]] in the ''[[Regierungsbezirk]]'' of [[Lower Franconia]] (''Unterfranken'') in [[Bavaria]], [[Germany]]. It has a population of around 3,800.

== Geography ==

=== Location === Eschau lies in the Bavarian Lower Main (''Bayerischer Untermain'') region. The community is located in the southwestern part of the ''[[Mittelgebirge]]'' [[Spessart]]. The river [[Elsava]], a tributary of the [[Main (river)|Main]], flows through the municipal territory. The main village is located in the valley of the Elsava but the municipality extends into the wooded hills and encompasses the outlying village of Wildensee, located to the east in the valley of the [[Aubach (Elsava)|Aubach]].

===Subdivisions=== The community has the five ''Gemarkungen'' (traditional rural cadastral areas): Eschau, Hobbach, Oberaulenbach, Sommerau and Wildensee.

Eschau has ten ''[[Ortsteil]]e'': Eschau, Unteraulenbach, Wildenstein, Wildenthal, Hobbach, Oberaulenbach, Sommerau, Schafhof, Wildensee and Hofwildensee.

===Neighbouring communities=== Eschau borders on (clockwise from the north): [[Heimbuchenthal]], [[Dammbach]], [[Altenbuch]], [[Stadtprozelten]], [[Dorfprozelten]], [[Collenberg]], [[Mönchberg]] and [[Elsenfeld]]. Except for the former two (Aschaffenburg district) these are all part of the Miltenberg district.

== History == Eschau was an ''[[Amt (country subdivision)|Amt]]'' of the Lordship of Wildenstein held by the Counts of Erbach and mediatized by [[Prince primate|Prince Primate]] [[Karl Theodor Anton Maria von Dalberg|von Dalberg]] ([[Principality of Aschaffenburg]]/[[Grand Duchy of Frankfurt]]) in 1806, which in 1814 passed to [[Austrian Empire|Austria]], and shortly thereafter to the [[Kingdom of Bavaria]].

==Demographics== Within town limits, 3,395 inhabitants were counted in 1970, 3,89|1 in 1987 and in 2000 4,145. On 2 January 2008, another count yielded the figure 4,213.

By age, the population breaks down thus: *0 - 6 — 206 *6 - 14 — 365 *15 - 17 — 138 *18 - 24 — 384 *25 - 29 — 273 *30 - 49 — 1.252 *50 - 64 — 841 *65 + — 754

==Economy== Municipal taxes in 1999 amounted to €1,961,000 (converted), of which net business taxes amounted to €383,000.

According to official statistics, there were 8 workers on the social welfare contribution rolls working in [[agriculture]] and [[forestry]] in 1998. In producing businesses this was 332, and in trade and [[transport]] 56. In other areas, 135 workers on the social welfare contribution rolls were employed, and 1,478 such workers worked from home. There was one processing business. Eight businesses were in construction, and furthermore, in 1999, there were 63 agricultural operations with a working area of 758 ha, of which 407 ha was cropland and 345 ha was meadowland.

== Governance== ===Mayor=== The mayor is Gerhard Rüth ([[Christian Social Union in Bavaria|CSU]]).

=== Community council === The council is made up of 16 council members with seats apportioned thus: * [[Christian Social Union of Bavaria|CSU]] 5 seats * [[Freie Wähler]] 4 seats * [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]] 4 seats * Hobbacher Wählergemeinschaft (HWG) 3 seats

=== Coat of arms === The community’s [[Coat of arms|arms]] might be described thus: Per fess embattled of one, in chief Or a pair of balances sable, in base three mullets of six, one and two, argent.

The [[County of Rieneck|Counts of Rieneck]] are known to have been in Eschau by 1232. The settlement was raised to market community in 1285. When the Counts died out in 1559, Eschau, together with the Lordship of Wildenstein passed to the Counts of Erbach, with whom it stayed until the [[Holy Roman Empire|Old Empire]] came to an end in 1803. The [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]]s gules and Or (red and gold) are drawn from the arms once borne by the Counts of Rieneck. The mullets (star-shapes) are drawn from the arms once borne by the Counts of Erbach. The battlement-shape forming the [[escutcheon (heraldry)|escutcheon]]’s [[Division of the field|partition]] stands for the market community’s fortifications. As a symbol of law and justice, the balance stands for the community’s market rights.

The arms have been borne since 1962.<ref>[http://www.hdbg.de/gemeinden2/bayerns-gemeinden_detail.php?gkz=9676123 Description and explanation of Eschau’s arms] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120912081922/http://www.hdbg.de/gemeinden2/bayerns-gemeinden_detail.php?gkz=9676123 |date=2012-09-12 }}</ref>

==Attractions== [[File:Wasserschloss Oberaulenbach 01.JPG|thumb|''Wasserschloss Oberaulenbach'']] [[File:BurgruineWildensteinEschau.jpg|thumb|''Burg Wildenstein'']] Notable historic buildings include the ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Wasserschloss Oberaulenbach|de}}'', a Renaissance castle (private property), the castle ruin {{Interlanguage link multi|Burg Wildenstein (Eschau)|de|3=Burg Wildenstein (Eschau)|lt=Burg Wildenstein}} and the ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Wasserschloss Sommerau|de}}'' (also private property).

Also nearby, but located just outside the municipal territory, is the plateau of [[Geishöhe]], one of the few Spessart hills whose peak is not densely wooded and thus offers a panoramic view.

== Education == In 1999 the following institutions existed in Eschau: *[[Kindergarten]]s: 200 places with 162 children *[[Primary school]]s: 1 with 20 teachers and 326 pupils

== Notable people == The [[Expressionism|expressionist]] painter {{Interlanguage link multi|Fritz Schaefler|de}} (1888−1954) spent his childhood until 1900 in Eschau.

The CSU politician {{Interlanguage link multi|Berthold Rüth|de}} was born on 28 March 1958 in Hobbach, Eschau. He has been a Member of the Bavarian ''Landtag'' since 6 October 2003.

== References == {{reflist}}

{{Authority control}} [[Category:Miltenberg (district)]]