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.
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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 The largest district, Bad Neuenahr, was originally made up of three communities, which are still seen as districts.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):
History
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 antiquities were discovered in the region and date from the 1st to 3rd centuries.
Most notable is the Villa Rustica of Bad Neuenahr, which, today is open to the public and serves as a museum (Museum Römervilla).
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. During this period, the area was ruled by German Counts von Neuenahr until 1587, until they went extinct in the male line.
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
Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler is the home of the successful women's football team, SC 07 Bad Neuenahr.
Twin towns – sister cities
Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler is twinned with:
Brasschaat, Belgium
Notable people
Cyrillus Jarre (1878–1952), Franciscan Archbishop in Jinan
Markus Stenz (born 1965), conductor
Björn Glasner (born 1973), cyclist
Jan van Eijden (born 1976), cyclist
Pierre Kaffer (born 1976), racing driver
Bianca Rech (born 1981), footballer
Hendrik Still (born 1987), racing driver
Ricarda Funk (born 1992), canoeist
Associated with the town
Karl Marx (1818–1883), philosopher and economist, stayed in a spa resort in Bad Neuenahr in 1877
Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827), is said to have visited the town in his youth. The Beethovenhaus is named in his honor.
Peter Friedhofen (1819–1860), founder of the Charitable Brethren of Maria Hilf, who practiced his trade first in Ahrweiler
Wolfgang Müller von Königswinter (1816–1873), novelist and poet, died in Bad Neuenahr
Blandine Merten (1883–1918), Ursuline nun near Ahrweiler
Ebba Tesdorpf (1851–1920), illustrator and watercolorist, died in Ahrweiler
Paul Metternich (1853–1934), diplomat, died in the district of Heppingen
Max von Schillings (1868–1933), composer and conductor
Christian Hülsmeyer (1891–1957), inventor, physicist and entrepreneur, died in Ahrweiler