{{Short description|Town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany}}{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}{{Expand German|topic=geo|date=February 2009|Mühlacker}} {{Infobox German place |type = Stadt |image_photo = Mühlacker - Herz-Jesu-Kirche - Ostseite - 2005-07-22.jpg |image_coa = Stadtwappen Mühlacker.svg |coordinates = {{coord|48|57|0|N|8|50|22|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}} |image_plan = Mühlacker im Enzkreis.png |state = Baden-Württemberg |region = Karlsruhe |district = Enzkreis |elevation = 240 |area = 54.32 |postal_code = 75401–75417 |area_code = 07041 |licence = PF |Gemeindeschlüssel = 08 2 36 040 |divisions = 6 |mayor = Stephan Retter<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-11-13 |title=Vom Auswärtigem zum OB in Mühlacker: Der "Blick von außen" macht den Unterschied |url=https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/karlsruhe/ausswaertiger-wird-neuer-ob-von-muehlacker-stephan-retter-100.html |access-date= |website=SWR Aktuell |language=de}}</ref> |leader_term = 2025–2033 |Bürgermeistertitel = Lord Mayor |party = Independent |website = {{URL|https://www.muehlacker.de/}} }}
'''Mühlacker''' ({{IPA|de|ˈmyːlˌʔakɐ|-|De-Mühlacker.ogg}}) is a town in the eastern part of the [[Enz (district)|Enz district]] of [[Baden-Württemberg]], [[Germany]]. [[Mühlacker station]] has direct rail connections with [[Stuttgart]], [[Karlsruhe]], [[Heidelberg]], and [[Pforzheim]].
== Geography == Located in the [[northern Black Forest]], the river [[Enz]] runs through Mühlacker. Both the northern and southern areas are characterised by mountain slopes, which are steeper in the northside.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-07-28 |title=Mühlacker: Mittelzentrum mit Geschichte und Zukunft |url=https://pforzheim-city.de/muehlacker/muehlacker-mittelzentrum-mit-geschichte-und-zukunft |access-date= |website=Pforzheim-City |language=de-de}}</ref>
Mühlacker is made up of six subdivisions: Mühlacker, Enzberg, Großglattbach, Lienzingen, Lomersheim and Mühlhausen an der Enz. The [[core city]] Mühlacker, consisting of the quarters of Mühlacker and Dürrmenz, is the most populous, with around 15,000 people. The least populated area is Mühlhausen, which maintains under 1,000 residents.<ref name=":0" />
==History== The area of Mühlacker was inhabited by agricultural settlers since the [[Neolithic]] era. These included the [[Celts]] during the [[Bronze Age|Bronze]] and [[Iron Age]], as well as the [[Ancient Romans|Romans]] and [[Alemanni]] during [[ancient Rome]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Geschichte von Mühlacker und Dürrmenz |url=https://www.muehlacker.de/stadt/rathaus-politik/stadtportrait/stadtteile/muehlacker-duerrmenz.php |access-date= |website=Senderstadt Mühlacker |language=de}}</ref>
The first named settlement in the area was Dürrmenz, spelled as Turmenz and dated to 779 in the [[Lorsch codex]]. Mühlacker was recorded as a [[Hamlet (place)|hamlet]] in 1292.<ref name=":1" />
By 1482, the ruling, impoverished {{Interlanguage link|Dürrmenz family|lt=Lords of Dürrmenz|de|Dürrmenz (Adelsgeschlecht)}} had sold all of their property to the [[Maulbronn Monastery]]. When the monastery went to [[Ulrich, Duke of Württemberg]] in 1504, Dürrmenz and its hamlets, including Mühlacker, were made part of the [[Duchy of Württemberg]].<ref name=":1" />
===Thirty Years' War=== The [[Thirty Years' War]] brought hardship and misery. In 1648, only 11 inhabitants remained from originally 1242 inhabitants (1622).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Franz |first=Gunther |title=Die Täufer und Schwenckfelder bis zum dreissigjährigen Krieg |url=https://www.leo-bw.de/media/kgl_atlas/current/delivered/pdf/HABW_8_7.pdf |website=Historiscsher Atlas von Baden-Württemberg}}</ref> In the [[Nine Years' War]] (1688–1697), after the {{Interlanguage link|Battle of Ötisheim|de|Schlacht bei Ötisheim}}, Dürrmenz was looted in 1692 by French troops. To defend against future attacks, the [[Eppingen lines]] were erected.<ref name=":1" /> To make up for the population loss, the duke of Württemberg allowed French [[Huguenots|Huguenot]] refugees to settle in the duchy, including 500 in the Welschdorf of Dürrmenz.<ref name=":1" /> Eckenweiher was incorporated to Dürrmenz in 1832.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mühlacker - Altgemeinde~Teilort |url=https://www.leo-bw.de/detail-gis/-/Detail/details/ORT/labw_ortslexikon/7066/M%C3%BChlacker |access-date= |website=LEO-Baden-Württemberg}}</ref>
===Industrialisation=== With the opening of the [[Württemberg Western Railway]] [[Stuttgart]] - [[Bruchsal]] in 1853 the industrial age began in the Dürrmenz-Mühlacker area. As the [[Karlsruhe-Mühlacker railway]] was built in 1863, Mühlacker was at the same railway junction and border station.<ref name=":1" /> As a curiosity, until 1930 it had two stations side by side, the larger Württemberg station and the Baden railway station. Favored by the dismantling of custom barriers 1819-1851 and the abolition of the compulsory guild (1862), industrial enterprises settled near the train station.
===20th century=== {{stack|[[File:Sendeanlage Mühlacker-Stahlfachwerkturm.jpg|thumb|160px|Radio transmitter]]}} [[File:Wasserturm Mühlacker.jpg|thumb|160px|right|Water tower]] After [[World War I]], [[inflation]], [[Great Depression]] and high unemployment interrupted the further development. In 1930, the municipality of Dürrmenz-Mühlacker became the city of Mühlacker. That same year, the large [[Mühlacker radio transmitter]] was put into operation, earning Mühlacker the byname "Senderstadt" ("Transmission City").<ref name=":1" /> Upon request by city officials in 2022, the name became an official title in September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-17 |title=Nun sieht es auch jeder: Mühlacker ist die Senderstadt - Region - Pforzheimer-Zeitung |url=https://www.pz-news.de/region_artikel,-Nun-sieht-es-auch-jeder-Muehlacker-ist-die-Senderstadt-_arid,1959693.html |access-date= |website=Pforzheimer Zeitung |language=de}}</ref> Lienzingen's historical inner town also became recognised as Etterdorf.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 December 2023 |title=Neue Zusatzbezeichnungen: Mühlacker ist "Senderstadt", Lienzingen ist "Etterdorf" |url=https://www.muehlacker.de/stadt/aktuelles/meldungen/zusatzbezeichnungen-senderstadt-und-etterdorf.php |access-date= |website=Senderstadt Mühlacker |language=de}}</ref>
With the dissolution of Oberamt Maulbronn, young city Mühlacker in 1938 was incorporated into district [[Vaihingen an der Enz|Vaihingen]]. During the Nazi period, eight Jewish citizens of Mühlacker were deported to [[Auschwitz]], including three who had fled to [[Le Mans]] in France. Seven were murdered at the camp while the eighth, Theodor Slepoj, survived to see the [[Liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp|liberation of Auschwitz]], but died days later of his previous mistreatment. Commemorative [[Stolperstein|''Stolpersteine'']] for the Holocaust victims were paved into Mühlacker's streets in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 January 2021 |title=Erinnerung an die Verschleppung und den Tod von Mühlacker Bürger im KZ Auschwitz |url=https://www.meinenzkreis.de/startseite_artikel,-Erinnerung-an-die-Verschleppung-und-den-Tod-von-Muehlacker-Buerger-im-KZ-Auschwitz-_arid,1528161.html |access-date= |website=Pforzheimer Zeitung |language=de}}</ref>
The [[World War II]] ended in Mühlacker with destruction by air raids and artillery shelling. After 1945, 3000 refugees and displaced persons found settled in Mühlacker.<ref name=":1" />
Enzberg and Mühlhausen an der Enz became part of Mühlacker in 1972.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-01 |title=50 Jahre unter einem Dach: Enzberg und Mühlhausen gehören ein halbes Jahrhundert zu Mühlacker - Region - Pforzheimer-Zeitung |url=https://www.pz-news.de/region_artikel,-50-Jahre-unter-einem-Dach-Enzberg-und-Muehlhausen-gehoeren-ein-halbes-Jahrhundert-zu-Muehlacker-_arid,1668248.html |access-date= |website=Pforzheim Zeitung |language=de}}</ref> As part of the district reform on 1 January 1973, the district Vaihingen was dissolved. The western region, with the town of Mühlacker became part of the newly formed [[Enzkreis]].<ref name=":1" /> The eastern part of the district Vaihingen was incorporated into the district of [[Ludwigsburg]]. The community of [[Ötisheim]] joined onto the city as a {{Interlanguage link|Vereinbarte Verwaltungsgemeinschaft|lt=''Vereinbarte Verwaltungsgemeinschaft''|de}} so as to act as a single municipality for certain tasks. Mühlacker also acts as a {{Interlanguage link|Mittelzentrum|lt=''Mittelzentrum''|de}} to Ötisheim, [[Maulbronn]], [[Illingen, Baden-Württemberg|Illingen]], [[Knittlingen]] und [[Sternenfels]].<ref name=":0" />
== Culture == Mühlacker is regarded as a [[winemaking]] area, which was cultivated in the 16th-century as part of crop contributions to the Maulbronn Monastery as [[tithe]]. However, wine-growing was disrupted by the [[Year Without a Summer|Year without a Summer]] following the [[1815 eruption of Mount Tambora]] in the [[Dutch East Indies]], forcing farmers to switch to growing [[hops]] for beer.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Filitz |first=Eva |date=9 March 2011 |title=Von Mühlackers glorreichen Zeiten |work=Mühlacker Tagblatt}}</ref> The annual Mühlacker [[wine festival]] takes place to celebrate the wine culture since the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 July 2025 |title=Weinfest hat sich gut etabliert |url=https://www.muehlacker-tagblatt.de/Muehlacker/Weinfest-hat-sich-gut-etabliert-399909.html |access-date= |website=Mühlacker Tageblatt |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-21 |title=Mühlacker Weinfest: Regionale Anbieter bieten erlesene Tropfen - Region - Pforzheimer-Zeitung |url=https://www.pz-news.de/region_artikel,-Muehlacker-Weinfest-Regionale-Anbieter-bieten-erlesene-Tropfen-_arid,2085722.html |access-date= |website=Pförzheimer Zeitung |language=de}}</ref>
==Climate==
{{Weather box | location = Mühlacker (1991–2020 normals) | metric first = Y | single line = Y |collapsed = Y |Jan high C = 5.1 |Feb high C = 6.7 |Mar high C = 11.6 |Apr high C = 16.8 |May high C = 20.3 |Jun high C = 24.2 |Jul high C = 26.3 |Aug high C = 25.5 |Sep high C = 21.2 |Oct high C = 15.9 |Nov high C = 9.7 |Dec high C = 6.0 | year high C = 15.8 |Jan mean C = 1.3 |Feb mean C = 2.1 |Mar mean C = 5.6 |Apr mean C = 9.7 |May mean C = 13.6 |Jun mean C = 17.4 |Jul mean C = 19.2 |Aug mean C = 18.4 |Sep mean C = 14.2 |Oct mean C = 9.9 |Nov mean C = 5.4 |Dec mean C = 2.2 |year mean C = 10.0 |Jan low C = -2.6 |Feb low C = -2.8 |Mar low C = -0.3 |Apr low C = 2.2 |May low C = 6.5 |Jun low C = 10.5 |Jul low C = 12.1 |Aug low C = 11.8 |Sep low C = 8.0 |Oct low C = 4.8 |Nov low C = 1.2 |Dec low C = -1.3 | year low C = 4.3 | precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 55.0 |Feb precipitation mm = 45.3 |Mar precipitation mm = 46.3 |Apr precipitation mm = 38.1 |May precipitation mm = 78.9 |Jun precipitation mm = 56.9 |Jul precipitation mm = 77.1 |Aug precipitation mm = 79.9 |Sep precipitation mm = 51.6 |Oct precipitation mm = 66.4 |Nov precipitation mm = 55.6 |Dec precipitation mm = 61.6 | year precipitation mm = 699.8 | unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm |Jan precipitation days = 17.6 |Feb precipitation days = 14.8 |Mar precipitation days = 14.1 |Apr precipitation days = 11.3 |May precipitation days = 15.3 |Jun precipitation days = 13.5 |Jul precipitation days = 14.2 |Aug precipitation days = 14.1 |Sep precipitation days = 11.2 |Oct precipitation days = 13.9 |Nov precipitation days = 14.5 |Dec precipitation days = 18.8 |year precipitation days = 172.9 |Jan sun = 64.0 |Feb sun = 87.5 |Mar sun = 146.8 |Apr sun = 204.7 |May sun = 217.7 |Jun sun = 243.1 |Jul sun = 254.6 |Aug sun = 228.2 |Sep sun = 182.8 |Oct sun = 118.5 |Nov sun = 71.5 |Dec sun = 53.6 |year sun = 1867.5 |Jan humidity = 86.4 |Feb humidity = 82.1 |Mar humidity = 76.2 |Apr humidity = 71.7 |May humidity = 74.2 |Jun humidity = 74.8 |Jul humidity = 71.5 |Aug humidity = 76.9 |Sep humidity = 80.2 |Oct humidity = 86.8 |Nov humidity = 88.3 |Dec humidity = 88.7 | source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name=WMO>{{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231012163235/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Muehlacker_10736.csv | archive-date = 12 October 2023 | url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Germany/CSV/Muehlacker_10736.csv | title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020 | work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020) | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = 12 October 2023}}</ref> }}
==Sights== Since 1930, Mühlacker has been transmitter site, at which between 1934 and 1945 the tallest tower ever built of wood stood (height: 190 metres).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historie |url=https://sender-muehlacker.de/wahrzeichen/historie/ |access-date= |website=Sender Mühlacker |language=de}}</ref> The water tower, built in 1972, stands at 42 metres and is traditionally lit up as a decorative light during Christmas season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 December 2021 |title=Ein leuchtendes Wahrzeichen |url=http://sonderthemen.muehlacker-tagblatt.de/glueckwuensche-zu-weihnachten-und-neujahr-20-dezember-2021/lokales/ein-leuchtendes-wahrzeichen-165694 |access-date= |website=Mühlacker Tagblatt |language=de}}</ref>
Burg Dürrmenz, a [[hill castle]], was constructed in the 13th century by the {{Interlanguage link|Dürrmenz family|lt=Lords of Dürrmenz|de|Dürrmenz (Adelsgeschlecht)}}. Following repeated destructions and reconstructions, the castle was left as what are now known as the {{Interlanguage link|Ruine Löffelstelz|lt=Löffelstelz ruins|de}}.<ref name=":1" />
==Twin towns – sister cities== {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}} Mühlacker is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Partnerstädte|url=https://www.muehlacker.de/stadt/rathaus-politik/staedtepartnerschaften/|publisher=Mühlacker|language=de|access-date=2021-12-09}}</ref> *{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Bassano del Grappa]], Italy *{{flagicon|GER}} [[Schmölln]], Germany
==Notable people== *{{Interlanguage link|Ulrich I of Dürrmenz|de|Ulrich I. von Dürrmenz}}, (died 1163), Reich Chancellor under Holy Roman Emperor [[Frederick Barbarossa|Barbarossa]] and [[Bishop of Speyer]] *[[Anna Catharina Wedderkopf]] (1715–1786), businesswoman, consultant and feminist *[[Hellmut G. Haasis]] (born 1942), writer and historian *[[Verena Veh]] (born 1977), volleyball player *[[Florian Naroska]] (born 1982), water polo player *[[Kim Kurniawan]] (born 1990), Indonesian footballer
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website}} {{in lang|de}} *[http://sites-of-memory.de/main/muehlackercemetery.html War memorials in Muehlacker cemetery at "Sites of Memory" webpage]
{{Commons}} {{Cities and towns in Enz (district)}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Enzkreis]]