Pleinfeld is situated on the rivers Swabian Rezat and Arbach, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north of Weißenburg in Bayern, and 45 kilometres (28 mi) south of Nuremberg. Other rivers in the municipality area are Brombach river and Banzerbach river, both tributary of the Swabian Rezat. The town's altitude is around 382 metres (1,253 feet) above sea level. The highest point of the municipality is located near Dorsbrunn, 505 m (1,657 ft) asl. Pleinfeld is the biggest town at the Großer Brombachsee, a lake in the Franconian Lake District. Simultaneously, Pleinfeld is located on the most northern part of the Altmühl Valley Nature Park.
Map of the Bishopric of Eichstätt with its exclaves Herrieden, Ornbau, Spalt, Pleinfeld und Abenberg
The origins of the town date back to the 7th century. Pleinfeld was first mentioned in 770. In medieval and early modern period Pleinfeld was part of Prince-Bishopric of Eichstätt and remained under their jurisdiction until the late 18th century. During the Thirty Years' War the population decreased very sharply. Pleinfeld becomes part of Bavaria in 1803 by the process of mediatisation. The train station was opened at 1 October 1849. Parts of Pleinfeld were damaged in April 1945 by an Allied bombing raid, but large parts of the old town remained undamaged. The reorganisation of communities in Bavaria between 1972 and 1978 meant that Pleinfeld came in charge of the previously independent surrounding villages, enlarging the town in size and population. The Franconian Lake District has made Pleinfeld a tourist destination in 21st century.
Stefan Frühwald has held the office of mayor since May 2019. He is a member of the CSU political party.
Culture and places of interest
Architecture
Pleinfeld's old town is surrounded by an early modern town wall with a fortified gate, the Spalter Tor, as landmark building. The wall was erected in the 16th century. Several fountains, statues and historic buildings including the town hall, the castle and the Saint Nicholas Church are in the old town. The center is the market square. Several mills are lined up along the river in the north of Pleinfeld, starting nearby the old town. Other points of interests are the Sandsee castle on a hill northeast of the town and the Saint John of Nepomuk bridge, an old stone bridge.
Museums
The Pleinfeld local history museum shows the history of the town and of the old tradition to brew beer.
Pleinfeld has 4 kindergartens, one primary school, one Hauptschule, a music school and a private school which provides Montessori education. There is a library. The Mehrgenerationenhaus offers courses for adult education.
Sports
In Pleinfeld several sports clubs are located. The two biggest are the Catholic sports club DJK Pleinfeld and the general sports club 1. FC/Vfl Pleinfeld which provides for instance football, athletics, table tennis and gymnastics. Furthermore, there are several Yacht clubs in the municipality.
The Pleinfeld Brombachhalle, which seats 1,400, is the county's largest arena. Nearby the arena is a public swimming pool.
The biggest sports event in Pleinfeld is the marathon every September.
The local dialect of the region is East Franconian German, referred to in German as Fränkisch, with Pleinfeld being at the southern point of its extension. Traveling south, people speak Bavarian German and Alemannic German dialects.
