Kehl

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Kehl
Image:Wappen Kehl.png

Country	Germany
State	Baden-Württemberg
Administrative region	Freiburg
District	Ortenaukreis
Population	34,303 (2005)
Area	75.06 km²
Population density	457 /km²
Elevation	139 m
Coordinates	48°34′ N 7°49′ E
Postal code	77671-77694
Area code	07851
Licence plate code	OG
Mayor	Günther Petry (SPD)
Website	kehl.de

Kehl is a town in southwestern Germany in the Ortenaukreis, Baden-Württemberg. It is located at the river Rhine, directly opposite to Strasbourg.

[edit] History

The village of Kehl was first mentioned 1038. In 1338 the first permanent bridge between Kehl and Strasbourg was completed. In 1678 the city was taken over by France and being considered as a part of the defense system of Strasbourg. Hence the village was transformed into a fortress in 1683 by the French architect Vauban. In 1774 - again ruled by the House of Baden - Kehl received town ordinances and privileges by the margrave Karl Friedrich von Baden. After several changes of the sovereigns (France, Baden and Austria) the city was finally returned to Baden in 1815 and the fortress was dismantled.

In 1861 the first railway bridge was built and the first direct connection from Paris to Vienna was established. Required changes of trains were performed in Kehl.

After the Battle of France Kehl was turned into a suburb of Strasbourg. This state continued until 1953 when the city was returned to the Federal Republic of Germany.