Baunatal

Baunatal
Town
Baunatal seen from Burgberg
Coat of arms
Location of Baunatal within Kassel district <imagemap>File: Baunatal in KS.svg | 240x240px poly 268 62 270 75 288 78 307 79 325 69 319 49 311 45 313 37 323 32 335 38 341 28 331 25 309 28 295 35 Bad Karlshafen poly 407 305 386 301 379 301 379 291 370 273 351 269 341 237 330 226 328 213 329 206 339 215 348 215 350 210 341 201 339 188 346 182 362 190 364 178 354 166 342 158 323 155 315 163 309 174 314 186 306 189 302 195 292 196 295 185 301 174 302 167 298 157 289 153 286 143 314 143 323 125 321 114 313 111 303 110 295 108 288 100 294 97 307 106 319 106 324 112 328 130 336 134 337 140 351 147 357 155 353 161 361 169 375 160 368 147 366 132 356 127 351 107 340 98 328 103 311 104 300 93 306 84 297 76 312 76 324 69 319 43 316 35 332 38 336 60 341 67 355 69 368 66 361 91 374 101 393 105 397 134 407 143 418 148 419 165 407 173 394 183 394 209 374 216 377 224 398 218 400 227 417 242 416 252 428 257 435 245 438 257 510 274 526 292 436 316 408 316 429 316 408 315 406 306 Gutsbezirk Reinhardswald poly 214 147 225 163 234 174 240 167 254 163 261 154 269 144 283 140 312 139 318 123 316 113 300 114 289 111 283 102 290 88 301 89 296 79 272 79 263 62 246 63 223 77 242 101 Trendelburg poly 350 143 342 140 342 132 330 128 327 114 329 106 336 100 340 110 347 110 353 119 352 129 363 131 365 140 358 142 352 145 Trendelburg poly 237 256 234 243 233 237 224 237 213 218 223 213 222 200 218 192 233 178 261 157 280 144 285 148 286 155 297 160 299 174 290 193 291 200 302 201 314 191 320 186 311 176 323 157 340 162 362 177 361 185 346 179 337 188 340 196 337 200 347 210 343 213 330 203 325 215 324 227 312 236 299 237 281 232 270 233 261 250 Hofgeismar poly 363 169 356 163 359 156 353 145 357 142 360 144 364 141 368 149 374 159 Hofgeismar poly 370 48 355 66 372 66 365 93 377 103 392 107 399 135 414 146 426 151 447 149 444 141 437 138 429 126 429 114 435 110 460 128 469 131 475 119 469 109 456 100 449 87 438 80 432 65 429 53 415 60 385 61 379 49 Wesertal poly 437 245 429 246 429 252 422 249 425 242 409 230 401 215 378 222 376 216 400 209 396 185 405 174 421 164 420 151 428 157 426 168 419 180 416 189 496 201 471 222 438 247 Reinhardshagen poly 210 146 232 174 217 191 221 210 211 211 211 221 215 224 219 237 229 237 233 243 231 246 234 256 222 256 205 261 192 267 182 263 180 251 173 246 164 249 161 253 147 255 149 247 154 247 154 243 140 237 137 224 155 213 180 194 201 189 Liebenau poly 219 260 255 256 267 246 268 234 280 233 296 238 313 235 326 229 336 238 337 245 325 252 325 259 306 262 309 267 302 267 302 283 306 286 311 295 314 309 306 311 308 319 301 324 297 317 291 318 289 305 284 293 272 293 261 299 244 303 243 281 Grebenstein poly 317 309 313 296 306 285 304 271 308 270 308 263 322 262 338 244 339 252 344 256 343 263 348 272 352 285 373 289 377 307 376 317 367 316 365 307 361 313 364 320 353 316 349 308 Immenhausen poly 327 346 337 336 342 321 343 310 348 310 350 317 359 321 375 318 376 310 383 303 404 308 405 316 396 325 385 341 396 349 393 364 381 364 368 357 360 363 379 372 374 374 371 390 348 383 341 375 340 360 Fuldatal poly 326 344 338 329 344 309 322 307 310 312 308 320 298 330 289 336 292 343 299 340 309 346 Espenau poly 301 379 301 365 297 351 290 351 289 345 301 341 308 346 328 347 339 359 338 375 330 383 320 383 315 385 Vellmar poly 175 289 184 284 179 280 177 268 182 266 192 267 215 261 240 281 235 284 242 302 256 301 274 295 285 298 289 316 291 320 298 319 299 323 295 332 286 337 286 343 278 346 275 339 267 339 267 341 253 341 249 352 230 359 219 347 225 344 224 331 218 331 212 318 217 318 215 308 202 293 192 285 Calden poly 100 321 107 323 113 318 137 311 137 305 131 295 136 279 149 284 149 292 159 289 161 279 177 282 176 269 180 266 180 255 173 248 164 248 160 256 147 256 147 250 152 245 140 238 137 250 113 245 100 260 94 272 98 298 84 305 Breuna poly 164 381 165 369 151 365 145 369 134 356 131 349 135 343 135 313 138 304 133 294 136 281 144 282 148 291 159 289 161 281 177 282 172 290 185 290 190 286 203 305 212 312 212 323 214 332 223 332 222 341 217 342 228 360 237 361 236 370 222 374 212 380 191 389 185 383 Zierenberg poly 165 443 180 446 184 441 192 441 197 432 197 427 192 421 194 414 193 402 190 389 183 391 171 390 171 399 179 407 178 411 173 411 170 408 155 415 153 421 158 422 163 414 164 424 Zierenberg poly 237 373 238 357 246 353 248 343 262 343 268 338 273 339 276 344 286 347 288 351 297 351 301 360 299 365 302 378 287 375 273 377 267 375 249 379 Ahnatal poly 197 434 200 435 203 427 228 437 229 430 239 426 240 419 258 411 258 401 252 395 250 380 238 372 219 377 193 388 195 411 193 418 197 425 Habichtswald poly 102 322 105 324 116 319 134 311 133 320 130 345 132 355 142 368 148 366 161 370 161 381 183 383 188 388 184 391 173 391 171 396 178 407 174 411 169 407 154 414 153 423 158 424 161 418 161 424 166 433 161 442 165 448 155 449 138 447 129 449 108 452 107 457 93 459 91 471 86 479 80 494 64 495 54 491 52 475 73 461 61 442 64 413 56 402 75 389 63 377 55 363 83 356 97 366 97 358 108 350 100 337 Wolfhagen poly 64 495 80 493 94 460 107 458 109 451 135 450 140 457 140 468 135 472 137 488 146 496 147 504 156 513 151 516 153 523 161 526 151 542 143 545 144 551 149 571 133 582 119 584 111 580 108 559 85 538 74 529 79 509 Naumburg poly 144 547 152 545 161 527 155 519 159 513 151 501 148 494 139 490 134 478 141 469 142 460 136 452 139 448 164 451 179 453 187 468 194 467 201 472 202 483 206 494 202 505 190 510 186 519 185 532 177 550 160 555 158 555 Bad Emstal poly 205 491 202 484 204 474 196 465 190 467 179 459 180 452 168 450 166 445 182 447 187 440 195 440 200 435 203 426 226 438 230 432 236 429 242 437 246 452 252 457 261 453 267 458 268 468 263 469 260 477 247 477 235 468 225 467 221 471 222 487 Schauenburg poly 221 487 221 475 229 469 237 471 241 476 257 479 263 474 272 469 270 465 274 464 278 468 286 468 290 474 299 474 310 470 314 477 323 476 328 478 323 484 311 500 323 512 317 523 306 516 295 521 288 520 279 528 271 516 246 511 Baunatal poly 320 526 327 515 315 499 320 488 330 480 330 476 336 456 351 466 354 482 354 495 345 503 355 523 356 528 344 535 328 537 328 534 Fuldabrück poly 354 487 355 466 364 462 358 455 365 450 370 453 380 444 393 457 404 461 409 475 400 477 393 482 389 493 382 498 376 490 372 491 370 485 Lohfelden poly 357 526 349 504 355 495 356 484 369 485 370 488 376 491 379 496 394 497 396 481 404 478 420 478 421 491 430 492 433 496 441 509 430 512 432 518 441 516 445 518 439 523 441 533 439 549 439 564 421 578 399 572 389 563 387 548 379 534 364 536 Söhrewald poly 443 533 444 524 446 520 443 517 435 517 432 514 442 511 436 495 448 491 454 489 455 476 461 469 477 466 480 475 527 478 525 489 515 498 503 503 482 500 468 521 460 534 Helsa poly 435 492 432 488 427 489 421 478 410 474 406 458 398 457 385 448 380 443 384 439 395 445 408 440 412 435 421 437 434 430 448 429 451 445 478 450 466 465 457 470 455 474 454 485 443 492 Kaufungen poly 439 428 442 410 473 413 507 416 509 442 477 434 Nieste poly 385 439 395 442 404 440 409 432 421 435 437 427 441 407 434 402 410 394 401 389 392 387 392 399 380 400 365 412 372 419 385 423 Niestetal poly 326 477 312 476 313 470 306 469 298 473 286 466 275 462 267 452 257 437 249 422 258 412 272 393 262 382 277 378 295 382 312 387 336 385 345 386 365 390 376 378 388 388 388 396 378 398 364 411 366 421 382 427 381 437 367 444 355 447 356 458 346 458 337 450 327 454 327 466 Kassel desc bottom-right </imagemap>
Baunatal Baunatal
Coordinates: 51°15′32″N 09°25′06″E
Country	Germany
State	Hesse
Admin. region	Kassel
District	Kassel
Government
• Mayor (2021–27)	Manuela Strube (SPD)
Area
• Total	38.27 km2 (14.78 sq mi)
Elevation	210 m (690 ft)
Population  (2022-12-31)
• Total	28,339
• Density	740/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes	34225
Dialling codes	0561, 05601, 05665
Vehicle registration	KS
Website	www.baunatal.de

Baunatal is a town in the district of Kassel, in Hesse, Germany. It is a comparatively young town which arose from fusion of the formerly independent municipalities Altenbauna, Altenritte, Großenritte, Guntershausen, Hertingshausen, Kirchbauna and Rengershausen in 1966.

In 1999, the town hosted the 39th Hessentag state festival.

Geography

Boroughs of Baunatal

Geographic location

Baunatal directly borders on the south of Kassel and is located to the west of the valley of the Fulda river. West and northwest the town borders on the Habichtswald with the Baunsberg (413,4 m above sea level) in the north. Baunatal got its name from the Bauna river, which traverses the town from the northwest to the southeast until it flows into the Fulda near Guntershausen.

Neighbouring communities

Baunatal borders in the north on the municipality of Schauenburg and the urban district of Kassel, in the east on the municipality of Fuldabrück, in the southeast on the municipality of Guxhagen, in the south on the municipality of Edermünde and in the west on the town of Niedenstein.

History

The Volkswagenwerk Kassel was built in 1957 on the former premises of the Henschel & Son company in Altenbauna. In 1960, just one year after start of production, the number of employees exceeded 6,000. Due to this rapid development the residential area and housing demands were rising. As a consequence of this the three municipalities Altenbauna, Altenritte and Kirchbauna fused into Baunatal on 1 January 1964.

On 1 July 1966 with incorporation of Großenritte, Baunatal received town privileges by the Government of Hesse. First mayor of the new founded town was Horst Werner. At this time the number of inhabitants was 11,705 and the number of employees of the Volkswagen factory was about 13,400.

On 1 October 1971 the municipality of Hertingshausen joined Baunatal. On 1 August 1972 finally the municipality of Buchenhagen, which was a fusion of Guntershausen and Rengershausen, joined Baunatal. The population of Baunatal was about 19,300 in 1972. Currently (31 December 2022) the number of inhabitants is 28,339.

Transport

Baunatal is connected to the city of Kassel by trams and buses. The town also has its own bus network called StadtBus Baunatal which is operated by the Regionalverkehr Kurhessen GmbH (RKH). In addition the quarters Rengershausen and Gunterhausen are connected to the national rail network and provide connection to the Main–Weser Railway and the Frederick William Northern Railway by means of the RegioTram Kassel.

Baunatal is connected to the motorways A 7, A 44 and A 49.

Politics

Town council

The local election held on 14 March 2021 yielded the following results:

Parties and voter communities		% 2021	Seats 2021	% 2016	Seats 2016
SPD	Social Democratic Party of Germany	50.9	23	61.4	27
CDU	Christian Democratic Union of Germany	21.7	10	19.6	9
GREENS	Alliance '90/The Greens	19.5	9	10.5	5
FDP	Free Democratic Party	8.0	3	8.5	4
Total		100	45	100	45
Voter turnout in %		42.8		46.2

Mayors

Mayors of Baunatal since 1 July 1966:

• Horst Werner
• Martin Hesse
• Hans Joachim Pioch
• Heinz Grenacher
• Manfred Schaub
• Silke Engler
• Manuela Strube

Culture

Stadtmuseum

The Stadtmuseum is a museum of local history located in Baunatal-Altenritte. The main focus of the museum is the history of the 20th century particularly with regard to the following topics: first railway construction, history of the Henschel & Son arms factory, everyday life during nazism, history of the Volkswagen factory since 1957, urban development of Baunatal since 1966.

Heimatmuseum Hessenstube

The Heimatmusesum is a museum of local history located in Baunatal-Altenritte. The museum delivers insight into living and working environment of people in the ancient villages of Baunatal from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. The museum presents rural housing conditions, a historical smithy and historical workshops of joiners, shoemakers and woodturners.

Dorothea Viehmann

Baunatal is the birthplace of the famous storyteller Dorothea Viehmann. She was one of the most important sources of the fairy tale collection of the Brothers Grimm. Dorothea Viehmann was born as Katharina Dorothea Pierson on 8 November 1755 in Rengershausen.

Hünstein

The Hünstein is a cultural monument located in Baunatal-Großenritte. The menhir consisting of quartzite was a site of ritual meetings during the 4th and 3rd century BC. A legend says that a giant threw the menhir from the nearby Hirzstein with intent to destroy the steeple of Kirchbauna.

Industry

Baunatal is known for the Volkswagen factory, which is the second largest of the brand with 13,500 employees. The factory does not construct vehicles but rather delivers components and assemblies to other plants of the company. The sphere of business is mainly divided into the following parts: gear manufacturing, foundry, exhaust systems, car body pressing, Original Teile Center (original parts center), Volkswagen coaching. The premises have a total area of 2,404,737 m² (25,884,374 sq ft) and are directly connected to the rail network and the motorway A 49. In June 2015, a robot killed a man at the Volkswagen facility, in what is believed to be a case of human error.

Sport

Baunatal hosts the following sports clubs and teams:

• KSV Baunatal (e.g. football, handball)
• GSV Eintracht Baunatal (e.g. football, handball)
• Pinguine Baunatal (Inline hockey)

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Baunatal is twinned with:

• Vire-Normandie, France (1983)
• Sangerhausen, Germany (1990)
• San Sebastián de los Reyes, Spain (1990)
• Vrchlabí, Czech Republic (1991)
• Caterham, United Kingdom (2016)

In honour of the twinning to Baunatal there is an Avenida de Baunatal (English: Baunatal Avenue) in San Sebastián de los Reyes. Additionally, one station of Line 10 of the Madrid Metro is named after this Avenida. As the addition "Avenida" is typically omitted, the station is simply called Baunatal.