Ilvesheim

Welcome to Ilvesheim

The Community of Ilvesheim is located in the “Oberrheinischen Tiefebene” (Upper Rhine Lowland Plain) between the cities of Mannheim and Heidelberg at the “Altneckarschleife”. Its first known mention dates back to a gift deed from the 8th century. The history of Ilvesheim, as well as the history of several other towns in proximity range, is connected with the Monastery in Lorsch - founded in the year 764. The Neckar has been deeply entwined with the history of Ilvesheim. About 8000 years ago it broke through the barricade of alluvial material, tore away the “Sandkegel” up to the “Atzebuckel” and changed the Ilvesheimer parish lastingly. The township is sized at about 590 hectare. As the remains of a sand dune the “Atzebuckel”, with its 102 m altitude, is the highest spot in this area.

Historical Tour

A historical town tour invites visitors and tourists to get accustomed with the 1250 years the parishes history - to discover the countless cultural facilities and historical buildings. The tour starts at the “Bügerhaus Hirsch” on “Hauptstraße”, located left hand to the city hall.

Trivia

• The oldest findings of human settlement in Ilvesheim date back to the Bronze Age (2000-1200 B.C.). Six cremation graves, containing decorated bangles and bronze needles, stand as prove.
• In 1700 Friedrich von Hundheim reconstructed the destroyed Erlenburg. The castle nowadays is still intact and hosts the state school for the blind and visually impaired. The last known Schlossherr (castle owner) was Albert von Hundheim. Following his death in 1855 the castles ownership moved to the then state of Baden. Since 1868 the school for the visually impaired owns the estate.
• Early on there has been active shipping traffic on the Neckar. In the 18th and 19th century horses pulled ships on the “Leinpfad” (a path) next to the river. This method of transportation is known as “Treideln.” Huge floats were used to transport equipment and cargo down the stream. In 1878 Treidel shipping traffic was discontinued. The “Kettenschlepper”, steam run ships that pulled several engineless ships behind it, continued this work until 1925. Due to this development “Treideln” went out of fashion and with it raftsmen and fishermen disappeared over time. After 1935 ships only seldom passed the Ilvesheimer part of the Neckar as between 1921 and 1925 the Neckar canal was built. The canal took over the usage of the Neckar as a transportation route and made Ilvesheim into an island.