Solnhofen

Solnhofen is a municipality in the district of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen in the region of Middle Franconia in the Land of Bavaria in Germany. It is in the Altmühl valley.

Solnhofen
View on Solhofen
Location of Solnhofen within Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district
Solnhofen
Solnhofen
Coordinates: 48°53′N 11°0′E
CountryGermany
StateBavaria
Admin. regionMittelfranken
DistrictWeißenburg-Gunzenhausen
Subdivisions3 Gemeindeteile
Government
  Mayor (202026) Tobias Eberle (SPD)
Area
  Total13.50 km2 (5.21 sq mi)
Elevation
410 m (1,350 ft)
Population
 (2022-12-31)
  Total1,740
  Density130/km2 (330/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
91807
Dialling codes09145
Vehicle registrationWUG
Websitewww.solnhofen.de

The local area is famous in geology and palaeontology for Solnhofen limestone. This is a very fine-grained limestone from the Jurassic period Lagerstätte that preserves detailed fossil specimens. Alois Senefelder used specially prepared blocks of the fine Solnhofen limestone for the process of lithography which he invented in 1798. The quarrying of this lithographic limestone subsequently yielded spectacular finds, including Archaeopteryx, commemorated in the bird's full name Archaeopteryx lithographica. All 13 known specimens have come from the Solnhofen area.

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