Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler


Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler is a renowned 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 of Bad Neuenahr and Ahrweiler in 1969, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler consists of 11 such districts.

Geography

Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler rests in the Ahr valley on the left bank of the Rhine river in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate. Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler nestles in the Ahr Hills.
The highest hill in the area is the Häuschen at metres 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 : Grafschaft, Remagen, Sinzig, Königsfeld, Rhineland-Palatinate, 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 be 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 The largest district, Bad Neuenahr, was originally made up of three communities, which are still seen as districts.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 :
Local DistrictSubdivisionPopulation
AhrweilerDistrict: Ahrweiler7,411
BachemDistrict: Bachem1,214
Bad NeuenahrDistricts: Beul, Hemmessen and Wadenheim12,132
GimmigenDistrict: Gimmigen735
HeimersheimDistrict: Heimersheim and Ehlingen3,194
HeppingenDistrict: Heppingen873
KirchdaunDistrict: Kirchdaun368
LohrsdorfDistrict: Lohrsdorf and Green672
RamersbachDistrict: Ramersbach567
WalporzheimDistrict: Walporzheim and Marienthal698

History

Antiquity

Discoveries dating to Hallstatt period shows farming activity by local Celts that dwelled in the area. The Gallic Wars resulted in the forced relocation of the indigenous Eburones people to the Middle Rhine. From the 1st to 3rd century, several Roman discoveries were made. Most notable is the Villa Rustica of Bad Neuenahr.

Middle Ages

In 893 AD, Ahrweiler was mentioned as Arwilre, Arewilre, Arewilere, and later Areweiller in the Prüm Urbar. 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 from 1204 to 1225.
In 1246 was founded one of the oldest German inns Gasthaus Sanct Peter.

Twin towns

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

Sport