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HISTORY OF THE TOWN >> Schmie
History of the town - Schmie
Situated on the northern edge of the Schmietal valley, the village of Schmie was incorporated in to Maulbronn in 1970.
The history surrounding the origin of the village of Schmie is still a bit of a mystery. There is evidence, however, that the village was founded at the earliest during the Carolingian period.
Two documents belonging to the Lorsch Codex from 788 mention Schmie as the name of a tribal settlement during that period, and not as a name of a village.
In one document dated May 21, 788, "Theothilt in pago Smegowe" pledges all her belongings in Smegowe, what the Schmie valley was then known as, to Lorsch monastery. In another document dated July 18, 788, a nobleman of the Kraichgau valley donates his property in "Smichendale" to the monastery.
Based on the Celtic name of a river, "Smichendale" was the small area of villages along the river Schmie to the Enz estuary within the powerful Carolingian kingdom. One of the main routes for traders and travellers enjoying the particular protection of the king led through Schmie, whose counts were responsible for providing military escorts and protection on the king's roads.
church and
Steinhauerbrunnen
Photo: Erich Blaich
Schmie is of historical interest for another reason: there was an old border at the water shed between the stream of Schmie and the river Salzach in Maulbronn. This border later separated the states of Wuerttemberg and Palatinate.
It was at this border, at Schmie, that there was a "changing of the guard", where the horsemen and soldiers charged with protecting and escorting important travellers and traders changed over.
Schmie was the site of the changing of the guard for years to come. Only after 1800 did it lose its military importance.
Celebrations were held in 1988 to mark the 1,200th anniversary of documented history of the Schmie valley. A new village fountain, on which scenes from the history of the village are elaborately carved in stone, was also erected to mark the occasion.
In spite of much modernisation work that has included extending the local water supply, connecting the village to the sewage network, building new roads and developing new residential areas such as "Grund", Schmie is one of the few villages which still retain some of their former charm. Beautifully renovated old timbered houses, the village church from the 12th century and the town hall add to the flair of the main street.
