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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Ahrweiler

Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler (German pronunciation: [baːt ˌnɔʏənʔaːɐ̯ˈʔaːɐ̯vaɪlɐ]) is a spa town in the German Bundesland of Rhineland-Palatinate that serves as the capital of the Ahrweiler district. The A61 motorway connects the town with cities like Cologne and Mainz. Formed by the merging of the towns (now districts) of Bad Neuenahr and Ahrweiler in 1969, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler consists of 11 such districts.

Geography

Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler rests in the Ahr valley (German: Ahrtal) on the left bank of the Rhine river in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate. Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler nestles in the Ahr Hills (German: Ahrgebirge).

The highest hill in the area is the Häuschen at 506 metres (1,660 ft) above sea level. Nearby are the hills of Steckenberg, Neuenahrer, and Talerweiterung. There used to be castles on the last two of these hills.

Neighbouring communities

Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler is surrounded by the following villages and towns (clockwise from the north): Grafschaft, Remagen, Sinzig, Königsfeld, Schalkenbach, Heckenbach, Kesseling, Rech and Dernau. The nearest cities are Bonn and Koblenz.

Districts

Bad Neuenahr is divided into Ortsbezirke which consist of one or more districts. The Ortsbezirke are represented by local councils. The largest district, Bad Neuenahr, was originally made up of three communities, which are still seen as districts.

Population statistics as of 31 March 2013 (main and secondary residence):

Local District Subdivision Population (30 June 2015)
Ahrweiler District: Ahrweiler 7,411
Bachem District: Bachem 1,214
Bad Neuenahr Districts: Beul, Hemmessen and Wadenheim 12,132
Gimmigen District: Gimmigen 735
Heimersheim District: Heimersheim and Ehlingen 3,194
Heppingen District: Heppingen 873
Kirchdaun District: Kirchdaun 368
Lohrsdorf District: Lohrsdorf and Green 672
Ramersbach District: Ramersbach 567
Walporzheim District: Walporzheim and Marienthal 698

Climate

Climate data for Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler (1991-2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 16.9
(62.4)
20.7
(69.3)
25.4
(77.7)
30.5
(86.9)
33.4
(92.1)
36.4
(97.5)
40.4
(104.7)
38.9
(102.0)
34.5
(94.1)
28.5
(83.3)
22.4
(72.3)
19.0
(66.2)
40.4
(104.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 5.9
(42.6)
7.3
(45.1)
11.4
(52.5)
15.9
(60.6)
19.8
(67.6)
22.9
(73.2)
25.2
(77.4)
25.1
(77.2)
20.7
(69.3)
15.5
(59.9)
10.0
(50.0)
6.5
(43.7)
15.5
(59.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 2.9
(37.2)
3.5
(38.3)
6.5
(43.7)
10.2
(50.4)
14.1
(57.4)
17.2
(63.0)
19.2
(66.6)
18.7
(65.7)
14.7
(58.5)
10.5
(50.9)
6.5
(43.7)
3.6
(38.5)
10.6
(51.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −0.3
(31.5)
−0.2
(31.6)
2.1
(35.8)
4.6
(40.3)
8.4
(47.1)
11.6
(52.9)
13.5
(56.3)
13.1
(55.6)
9.6
(49.3)
6.0
(42.8)
2.9
(37.2)
0.5
(32.9)
6.0
(42.8)
Record low °C (°F) −20.3
(−4.5)
−21.8
(−7.2)
−14.1
(6.6)
−6.4
(20.5)
−2.7
(27.1)
1.6
(34.9)
4.0
(39.2)
4.5
(40.1)
0.1
(32.2)
−7.0
(19.4)
−12.5
(9.5)
−20.1
(−4.2)
−21.8
(−7.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 46.0
(1.81)
42.0
(1.65)
48.0
(1.89)
39.0
(1.54)
58.0
(2.28)
60.0
(2.36)
62.0
(2.44)
64.0
(2.52)
53.0
(2.09)
49.0
(1.93)
46.0
(1.81)
53.0
(2.09)
620.0
(24.41)
Source: wetterlabs.de: Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler

History

Ahrweiler, St. Laurentius Church
Plaque at Landskron ruin
Thermal Badehaus und Kurhaus from Bad Neuenahr
Casino from Bad Neuenahr
Luxury Steigenberger Hotel in Bad Neuenahr in autumn time

Antiquity

Discoveries dating to the Hallstatt period (1000–500 BC) show farming activity by Celts that dwelled in the area. The Gallic Wars (58–50 BC) resulted in the forced relocation of the indigenous Eburones to the Middle Rhine. Several Roman discoveries date from the 1st to 3rd centuries. Most notable is the Villa Rustica of Bad Neuenahr [de].

Middle Ages

In 893 AD, Ahrweiler was mentioned as Arwilre, Arewilre, Arewilere, and later Areweiller in the Prüm Urbar (register of estates owned by Prüm Abbey). The abbey of Ahrweiler owned a manor with 24 farmsteads; 50 acres of farmland and 76 acres of vineyards. The first mention of a parish church occurred in Neuenahr Castle and surrounding county (Newenare) from 1204 to 1225. In 1246 was founded one of the oldest German inns Gasthaus Sanct Peter.

Modern Times

Close to Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, the national Government bunker was built between 1960 and 1972 inside two abandoned railway tunnels that were built as part of the Strategic Railway. The bunker was maintained and kept in a working condition for about 30 years and decommissioned in 1997. The location is a museum since February 2008.

During the 2021 European floods much of the town was submerged and many died.

Economy

  • The German Army's (German: Deutsches Heer) Logistics Centre (main depot) is located in an underground facility.
  • Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler has been home to the traditional mineral water "Heppinger" since 1584.
  • The "Apollinaris" mineral water company was founded in Bad Neuenahr in 1852.

Transport

The town has five stations on the Ahr Valley Railway and provides hourly connections to Bonn.

Sport

Twin towns – sister cities

Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler is twinned with:

Notable people

Ahrweiler Marktplatz 23 Memorial plate birthplace Georg Kreuzberg

Associated with the town

References

  1. ^ Wahlen der Bürgermeister der verbandsfreien Gemeinden, Landeswahlleiter Rheinland-Pfalz, accessed 30 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Bevölkerungsstand 2022, Kreise, Gemeinden, Verbandsgemeinden" (PDF) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt Rheinland-Pfalz. 2023.
  3. ^ "Zahlen & Daten Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler". Stadt Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler – offizielle Website.
  4. ^ "More than 100 dead as flood 'catastrophe' hits Germany and Belgium". the Guardian. July 16, 2021.
  5. ^ "Städtepartnerschaft mit Brasschaat". bad-neuenahr-ahrweiler.de (in German). Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  6. ^ Frick, Hans. "Beethoven in Ahrweiler". Kreisverwaltung Ahrweiler. Retrieved 7 February 2024.