| Type: | Stadt |
| Image Coa: | Wappen von Bad Windsheim.svg |
| Coordinates: | 49.5°N 35°W |
| Image Plan: | Bad Windsheim in NEA.svg |
| State: | Bayern |
| District: | Neustadt a.d.Aisch-Bad Windsheim |
| Elevation: | 321 |
| Area: | 78.26 |
| Postal Code: | 91438 |
| Area Code: | 09841 |
| Licence: | NEA, SEF, UFF |
| Gemeindeschlüssel: | 09 5 75 112 |
| Divisions: | 14 Ortsteile |
| Website: | www.bad-windsheim.de |
| Mayor: | Jürgen Heckel[1] |
| Leader Term: | 2020 - 26 |
Bad Windsheim (East Franconian: Winsa) is a historic town in Bavaria, Germany with a population of more than 12,000. It lies in the district Neustadt an der Aisch-Bad Windsheim, west of Nuremberg. In the Holy Roman Empire, Windsheim held the rank of Imperial City (until 1802). Since 1810 Windsheim is part of Bavaria. In 1961, it became a spa town and has since been called "Bad Windsheim".
The climate in this area shows only small differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfb" (Marine West Coast Climate/Oceanic climate).[2]
A document from 741 proves for the first time the existence of the town, then called Uuinidesheim. The name changed to "Windsheim" by linguistic development, meaning "the home of the wind".
In the late stage of World War II, a Volkssturm battalion took control of the town and refused to surrender to the approaching American troops, declaring Windsheim a "fortress". Demonstrations led by a number of women demanding the local Nazi representative in the town to uphold orders for the destruction of Bad Windsheim ahead of the Allied approach (early April 1945). American troops eventually captured the town after deploying fire bombs through aerial bombing. The civilian population was forced to flee from Windsheim under enemy fire. The town was rebuilt after the war.
The town is known for its waters and spa, Franken-Therme, and an open-air museum, the Freilandmuseum, which brings together old farms and farmhouses from the area. On the first weekend in August every year Bad Windsheim is the location for an event called Weinturm Open Air, a concert on the top of a hill in the town. The town also features a war memorial in the form of a large statue of Roland.
| Native Name: | Reichsstadt Windsheim |
| Conventional Long Name: | Imperial City of Windsheim |
| Common Name: | Windsheim |
| Era: | Middle Ages |
| Status: | City-state |
| Empire: | Holy Roman Empire |
| Government Type: | Republic |
| Year Start: | 1248 |
| Year End: | 1802 |
| Event Pre: | City founded |
| Date Pre: | before 741 |
| Event Start: | Gained Reichsfreiheit |
| Event1: | Political alliance with Nuremberg |
| Date Event1: | 1344 |
| Event End: | Mediatised to Bavaria |
| Event Post: | Renamed Bad Windsheim |
| Date Post: | 1961 |
| P1: | Bishopric of Würzburg |
| Flag P1: | DEU Würzburg COA.svg |
| S1: | Electorate of Bavaria |
| Flag S1: | Flag of Bavaria (lozengy).svg |
| Capital: | Windsheim |