a town of Württemberg, circle of Neckar, on a river of that name, 7 miles N.E. of Stuttgart. Pop. about 7000. The town is very ancient, and previous to 1803 was one of the free cities of the German empire. It is surrounded by walls, and has five suburbs, one of which stands on an island in the river. On a commanding height above the town stands an old castle. The church of Our Lady is a Gothic edifice built in 1440, and has a tower 230 feet high. The town-hall is a handsome building. Esslingen has a richly endowed hospital, an orphan asylum, and a normal and other schools. The manufactures include