Goldbach, Bavaria

Goldbach is a market community in the Aschaffenburg district in the Regierungsbezirk of Lower Franconia (Unterfranken) in Bavaria, Germany.

The market community is one of the most heavily populated communities in the Aschaffenburg district and is well known for the “housing” that encloses the Autobahn A 3. It is believed that the name has its roots in the yellow loess soil, which during heavy rainfalls colours the local brook, also called the Goldbach, with a somewhat golden tinge. Gold is also the German word for gold, and Bach means “brook”. Supposedly, the place was first called Gelbbach, gelb being the word for “yellow”.

On 1 July 1971, the formerly self administering community of Unterafferbach was amalgamated with Goldbach.

In 1218, Goldbach had its first documentary mention. From the mid 15th century, Goldbach was under the authority of the Archbishop of Mainz. In 1814, Goldbach was transferred to Bavaria. On 26 May 1995, Goldbach was granted the designation Markt (“Market”).

The community’s arms might be described thus: Gules a bend wavy Or, in chief a noble coronet argent set with colourful stones, in base a wheel spoked of six of the third. The German blazon describes the coronet as a Laubkrone, or “leaf crown”. The “bend wavy Or” – that is to say, wavy slanted golden stripe – is canting. As explained above, the community’s name means “Gold Brook”, and this bend is a visual representation of just such a thing. From the 7th to the 11th century, Goldbach belonged to the area of the Frankish royal estate, which is what the crown symbolizes. Until 1803, Goldbach found itself under Electoral Mainz hegemony, a fact recalled by the Wheel of Mainz on the other side of the bend. The tinctures Or and gules (gold and red) are taken from the arms once borne by the Counts of Rieneck, who until they died out in 1559 held the Vogtei as the vassals of the Archbishop of Mainz. The arms have been borne since 1965.

Courseulles sur Mer, Calvados, France since 1994; the commune lies at Juno Beach.

Goldbach has two Catholic parish churches. The alte Kirche (“old church”), as Saint Nicholas’s Church (St. Nikolaus Kirche) is called, is found in the old village centre. The sandstone Romanesque Revival church that exists today was built in 1894 and 1895 on the spot where once there was an older building that had become too small. The newer church was later enlarged by adding a modern annex. In the west of the community, which at the time was a new development area, the modern church St. Maria Immaculata was consecrated in 1961, as Saint Nicholas’s had itself become too small to accommodate the community’s growing numbers. The plain clinker brick building with a 37 m tall asymmetrical tower seats 600. The chancel is graced by a monumental painting by the artist Curd Lessig as well as by a modern octagonal altar lamp whose ornate glass panes depicts Biblical scenes. One peculiarity of the church is its organ threesome. Besides the main organ with its 36 speaking stops, built in 1964 by the organ building firm Michael Weise, the church also has at its disposal a Baroque organ from 1782 that was thoroughly restored in the early 1980s and a positive organ from Hartwig Späth’s workshop. At community limits with Hösbach, the Evangelical Johanneskirche (“Saint John’s Church”) is situated.

In Goldbach there is a lively sport, culture and club life. Drawing attention from well beyond the region is the Winterlaufserie (“Winter Run Series”), carried on TV Goldbach, which is said to cover 10 km on each of nine appointed times. Further clubs are VfR Goldbach, AC Bavaria Goldbach, Gesangverein Harmonie Goldbach (singing club), Gesangverein Sängerkranz Goldbach (singing club), KJG St. Nikolaus, KJG St. Maria Immaculata, DJK Goldbach 1985 e. V., MSC Goldbach, KKS Goldbach, BRK Goldbach, Freiwillige Feuerwehr Goldbach (volunteer fire brigade), RG Goldbach, F. W. V. Goldbach.

Goldbach lies right on the A 3 between Frankfurt (roughly 45 km away) and Würzburg (roughly 75 km away). Between Goldbach and Hösbach, when the Autobahn was being widened to six lanes, a “housing” was built over the roadway to reduce the noise pollution.

On the way out of the community, going towards Unterafferbach, is a forest swimming pool. The indoor swimming pool at the elementary school is open to the public in the winter months. Throughout the community are 10 playgrounds, 3 football pitches and 2 sport halls.