Griesheim, Hesse

Despite being inhabited since around 4500 BCE, the first historical mention of the Griesheim area was first mentioned in 1165 CE. Wine was historically an important source of income in Griesheim. The Protestant Reformation reached the town in 1529.

The Thirty Year War hit Griesheim hard. The surviving inhabitants fled behind the walls of the Darmstadt, where many died of plague. Only 370 survived to rebuild the community after the end of the war in 1648.

In the late 18th and early 19th Centuries the production and trade of fir tree seeds was a major industry in Griesheim. The city also became a woodworking center.

In 1874 in the southwest part of Griesheim an artillery range opened. In 1908, August Euler opened one of the first Griesheim Airport, one of the first airfields in Germany.

From 1918 to 1930, the city was occupied by France. During World War II, 65% of its buildings were destroyed, and after the war it housed some 4000 refugees. On 12 September 1965, after its successful reconstruction, Griesheim was granted township rights by the Hessian state government.

Farming remains important to the city's economy. Griesheim has a museum of local history and culture, including archaeological finds and the history of its connection to St. Stephen. The museum also exhibits archaeological finds.[3]

Since 1977 the "Griesheim Week" or "Onion Market" festival has been held annually in late September in the city center between Wagenhalle and Hans-Karl-place.

The area of Griesheim has previously belonged to the following territories or administrative units:

• 1806 to 1820: Office Pfungstadt, which belonged to the province Starkenburgring the Grand Duchy of Hesse.
• 1821-1832: District Dörnberg in the province Starkenburgring.
• 1832-1848: Gross-Gerau district, with the beginning of the Grand Duchy of Hesse.
• 1848 to 1852: Region of Darmstadt, while the division of the province Stark castle in administrative districts.
• 1852-1938: Darmstadt circle with the reintroduction of the province Starkenburgring.
• 1938-1977: County Darmstadt. As part of local government reform in 1938, the three Hessian provinces Starkenburgring, Rheinhessen and Oberhessen.
• 1977: Darmstadt-Dieburg, in the district of Darmstadt from municipal reform in Hesse.

Tram Lines 9 and 4 run between Griesheim and Darmstadt. The central nodal point of the Darmstadt tramway network is the Luisenplatz in the city center of Darmstadt. Bus lines 45 and 46 go from Griesheim to Riedstadt, Groß-Gerau and Trebur.

The main road passing west-east is the Bundesstraße 26, or B26. Griesheim is situated just west of the Bundesautobahn 5 and Bundesautobahn 67 west of the Autobahn-interchange Darmstädter Kreuz (Darmstadt Cross).

Griesheim is twinned with:[4]

• Bar-le-Duc, France (1975)
• Gyönk, Hungary (1990)
• Pontassieve, Italy (2008)

Since 1990, Griesheim also has a town friendship with Wilkau-Haßlau in Germany.[4]

• 
  Evangelical Lutheran church
• 
  Catholic Church St. Stephan
• 
  Town hall
• 
  Museum
• 
  Former officers mess
• 
  Former tram depot

• Trams in Darmstadt

• Official website (in German)
• Weatherstats of Griesheim