The first mention of Erlangen in verified records was in 1002 and in the 14th century it already had its own town council. In 1686, this open-hearted town welcomed numerous Huguenot refugees from France, for whom the Bayreuth margrave Christian Ernst had an independent "new town" built based on plans for an ideal Baroque town.
The skills of the new arrivals – professionally and commercially – proved a lasting boon to the growth of the town. Stocking makers, glove makers and milliners as well as tapestry manufacturers built it into an important commercial center in Bavaria. Today, Erlangen with its population of some 102,000 is the smallest of the eight Bavarian cities. Its municipal and cultural life is strongly influenced by its more than 24,000 students and some 10,000 employees of the university which was established in 1743. By the year 2010 Erlangen will be the nation’s capital in the field of medicine.
Important dates in the city’s development
1743
Friedrich Alexander University is established
1949
Headquarters of the Siemens-Schuckert works is moved here
1966
Friedrich Alexander University establishes its technical faculty
1974
Erlangen becomes a city
1989
Erlangen becomes the headquarters of the newly founded Siemens Verkehrstechnik, Anlagentechnik, Energieübertragung & -verteilung as well as Medizinischen Technik and advances to become the second largest Siemens location
