In 870, the remains of St. Walpurga were transferred from their original Heidenheim interment to Eichstätt, where in 1035 the newer burial site was enshrined as the Benedictine Abbey of St. Walburga, which continues to this day.[4][5]
Hortus Eystettensis ("Garden at Eichstätt") is the name of an important botanical book first published in 1613 and written by Basilius Besler.
World War II
Allied prisoners of war were held at Oflag VII-B in Eichstätt during World War II. Activities carried on by the prisoners there included attempted escapes and the production of plays and musical works. These included Hamlet and the Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare, the premiere of Post-Mortem by Noël Coward - featuring Desmond Llewelyn,[6] later best known as Q in the EON Bond movies - and of the Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard by Benjamin Britten.[7][8]
Attractions
The town is dominated by the Willibaldsburg. Besides the cathedral, Eichstätt also has 12 churches and 10 monasteries.
Mayors
1944–1945: Hans Rösch, NSDAP
1945–1948: Romuald Blei
1948–1949: Richard Jaeger CSU
1949–1951: Romuald Blei
1951–1976: Hans Hutter, CSU
1976–1994: Ludwig Kärtner, CSU
1994–2012: Arnulf Neumeyer, SPD
2012–2020: Andreas Steppberger, FW
2020–present: Josef Grienberger, CSU
Education
Eichstätt is home to the Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt (KU), the lone Catholic university in Germany. The KU was founded in 1980, and was granted full rights of a university, including Ph.D. and Habilitation degrees by the State of Bavaria.[9][1]
Saint Walpurga, also spelled Valderburg or Guibor (AD 710 – 25 February 777 or 779), was an Anglo-Saxon missionary to the Frankish Empire. She was canonized on 1 May c. 870 by Pope Adrian II. Saint Walpurgis Night (or "Sankt Walpurgisnacht") is the name for the eve of her feast day, which coincides with May Day. At Eichstätt, her bones were moved to a rocky niche, which allegedly began to exude a miraculously therapeutic oil, which drew pilgrims to her shrine.[10][circular reference]
