Kazmaier Families in Württemberg

Kazmaier history in Württemberg apparently begins in the early 16th century in Honau [1], a little village at the foot of the Swabian Jura. First written records [2] of Honau date from the year 937 when King Otto the Great gifted "the priest of our beloved Count Hermann, named Hartbert, in Alemannia in the shire of the same in Pfullichgau in a place called Honau with the fishing rights in the formerly royal fishing estate from the source of the river Echaz to the swirl, which the locals mistakenly call he lake, with all that goes to bed and bottom of the river”. Hartbert, originally from the diocese of Chur and assigned to Count Hermann as a spiritual adviser, accompanied him, who was also the Duke of Swabia, on his travels through the country. Hermann performed the secular government obligations and Hartbert the spiritual ones. 949 Hartbert was appointed abbot of the imperial monastery Ellwangen and soon after he was made bishop of Chur. 

Honau's main street 1916 with Lichtenstein Castle in the background

The award of the fishing rights to this highly respected and deserving man clearly underlined the role the Echaz River with its fish-rich water played in Honau. The Echaz yielded, besides drinking water, trout which was a popular Lenten food and still today characterizes the tradition of Honau’s gastronomy. The narrow valley with the bounding rocks and forests offered abundant water and fish, but only little potential for agriculture and even in the 20th century Honau’s farmers relocated to the Swabian Alb plateau to save the tedious and time-consuming ways. Those who stayed in the valley had to find other sources of income, trout farming and fishery, gastronomy, the exploitation of tufa as building material, the utilization of hydropower as a drive for various mills and later for trade and industrial establishments. In 1448 Honau’s location was accurately determined by adding ‘below Lichtenstein’[3]. As the last stop before the curvy and steep climb to the “Alb” Honau’s farriers, wainwrights and biasing services have likely been in a strong demand among travellers.

[1] Honau lit. transl. as high meadow (Hohe Aue)