Bad Wurzach (until 1950 Wurzach) is a small spa town in southern Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. It is a well known health-resort destination, and home to the oldest bog spa (in German: Moorheilbad) in Baden-Württemberg, as well as one of the largest contiguous raised bog areas in Europe. It is situated northeast of Ravensburg and part of Ravensburg County, located in the Upper Swabia region. Since 1950 the town has carried the predicate Bad (spa). It is the third-largest municipality by area in the state of Baden-Württemberg, second only to Stuttgart, which is the capital of the state, and Baiersbronn. Geographical location The municipality of Bad Wurzach (a spa town) lies in a broad lowland between the regions of Allgäu and Upper Swabia. Castle and town are adjacent to the so-called Wurzacher Ried (:de:Wurzacher Ried, Wurzach Reed Marsh). The "Ried" is a very large mire. Covering almost 7 square miles (18 km2) it is the largest contiguous, intact raised bog in Central Europe. The Council of Europe awarded this nature reserve the European Diploma of Protected Areas. The town's height above sea-level varies between and . Municipal subdivisions The borough of Bad Wurzach consists of the following communities: Bad Wurzach (population 5,399) Arnach (1,436) Dietmanns (791) Eintürnen (735) Gospoldshofen (619) Haidgau (972) Hauerz (1,128) Seibranz (1,219) Unterschwarzach (1,385) (925) Neighboring communities The town borders with two communities in the county Biberach, as well as two cities and four communities in the county Ravensburg. The communities are, beginning in the north and going clockwise, Eberhardzell and Rot an der Rot in the county Biberach, and Aitrach, Aichstetten, Leutkirch im Allgäu, Kißlegg, Wolfegg and Bad Waldsee in the county Ravensburg. History The town is first recorded on 13 June 1273 as 'Oppidum Wurzun. On 27 May 1333, "Emperor Louis the Bavarian granted to Hans, Truchsess of Waldburg, the town rights of Memmingen, a much larger town 25 kilometres away, to the settlement of "Wurzun". With town rights, Wurzach was given the right to exercise lower jurisdiction, the right to hold markets, and the right and duty to erect a surrounding wall to protect itself. In 1514 the Leinwandschau ("examination") was established. In 1515, the construction of the nunnery of Maria Rosengarten began. Its well preserved main buildings still stand today. On 14 April 1525, there was a battle between peasants on the Leprosenberg ("Leper Hill") just outside the town gates,