and Heidelberg in the west. Regional development was promoted further in 1926 when the first railway was built along the Kocher valley, for the first time connecting Forchtenberg directly to Waldenburg (Württemberg) and beyond. As a result, there was a sharp rise in local business. Kreisreform (county boundary reforms) in 1972 moved Forchtenberg back under the jurisdiction of the new Hohenlohe district. In 1981 the railway was dismantled. In the years that followed, the track was gravelled over. It is now a popular cycling route used by tourists of all ages in the summer months. Districts Sindringen Sindringen was first mentioned in records in 1323 when the rulers of Weinsberg awarded the community the status of a town. Although the Reformation had already taken effect before this time in the area, the town returned to the Catholic line of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein. Despite this, the people of Sindringen remained loyal to the Protestant confession, mainly due to outside military support. Politics Mayors Circa mid 18th century Johanns Georg Matheus Haag Circa 1810 Village Mayor Haag Circa 1820-1837 von Olnhausen 1837-1847 Schall (notary) 1847-1860 Ludwig Blanck 1860-1872 Walther (notary) 1872-1876 Karl Krauß 1876-1892 Karl Böhringer 1892-1900 Paul Hüzel 1900-1906 Christian Wirth 1906-1919 Hermann Hörer 1919-1930 Robert Scholl 1930-1933 Friedrich Kramer 1933-1936 Eugen Maurer 1936-1945 Adolf Hebeiß (represented 1942-1945 by Richard Leitlein) 1946-1948 Wilhelm Wolf 1948-1948 Friedrich Haag 1948-1966 Adolf Hebeiß 1966-2004 Martin Tuffentsammer 2004-2016 Uwe Gysin 2016-today Michael Foss On his retirement in 2004, Martin Tuffentsammer was the longest-serving mayor in South Germany. Coat of arms The coat of arms depicts the silver, winged, armoured character of Michael (archangel) slaying the silver dragon. Economy and infrastructure Forchtenberg is a traditional wine-growing area within the Kocherberg region of Kocher-Jagst-Tauber. Transportation Forchtenberg's main connection to neighbouring communities is provided by the Kocher valley road which runs East to West. A regular bus services runs between Forchtenberg, its outlying communities and the towns of Öhringen and Künzelsau. Schools in Forchtenberg There is a Primary School Grundschule and Senior School Hauptschule in Forchtenberg. In the district of Ernsbach there is an independent primary school. There are Kindergartens in Forchtenberg itself as well as Sindringen and Ernsbach. Sport and leisure Forchtenberg, Ernsbach and Sindringen all have their own sports halls and community centres. The old gymnastics halls in Forchtenberg and Sindringen are supported by an active sports clubs which organise regular tournaments and events. People, culture and architecture