Veldenz
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| Veldenz | |
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| Coat of arms | Location |
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| Administration | |
| Country |  Germany |
|---|---|
| State | Rhineland-Palatinate |
| District | Bernkastel-Wittlich |
| Municipal assoc. | Bernkastel-Kues |
| Local subdivisions | 2 |
| Mayor | Norbert Sproß |
| Basic statistics | |
| Area | 14.41 km² (5.6 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 170 m (558 ft) |
| Population | 943 (31/12/2006) |
| - Density | 65 /km² (169 /sq mi) |
| Other information | |
| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) |
| Licence plate | WIL |
| Postal code | 54472 |
| Area code | 06534 |
| Website | www.veldenz.de |
Veldenz is a municipality in the district of Bernkastel-Wittlich and the former seat of the County of Veldenz, a significant principality of 120 villages and towns in today's Rhineland-Palatinate, in western Germany.
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[edit] Geography
[edit] Location
The municipality lies in the Mittelmosel region in a broad valley landscape, formed from level ground and former loops of the Mosel river. Veldenz is on the right bank of the Mosel approximately two kilometres inland directly below the Hunsrueck forest. About 850 hectares of the 1441hectares of the area is wooded; about 130 hectares consists of vineyards.
[edit] Neighbourhood
Veldenz has two divisions, Veldenz and Thalveldenz. Neighbouring municipalities are Burgen and Mülheim. The nearest main towns are Bernkastel-Kues, about ten kilometres away, and Wittlich, about 17 kilometres away. Trier is approximately 45 kilometres distant.
[edit] Climate
Veldenz lies within the temperate region; relative to other regions of Germany it has a very warm and sunny climate - in neighbouring Brauneberg on the 11. August 1998 Jörg Kachelmann's Meteomedia Weather station recorded the highest ever measured German air temperature of 41.2°C. (This is not regarded as a German record since the weather-station is excluded from the official measurements on the basis of its location on a slate-mountain). Due to Veldenz’s situation in the lee of the Eifel range rain is common in the Northwest. Evaporation from the nearby Mosel leads to regular high humidity, especially in the summer and is a partial cause of close weather and thunderstorms.
[edit] History
Around 500 BC the Treveri, a Gaulish tribe, settled in the fertile Veldenz valley. From around 50 BC to 500 AD there was a Roman settlement. About the year 1129 Gerlach I built a castle, today's Schloss Veldenz. In 1286 Rudolf von Habsburg granted Veldenz city and market charters. In 1444 the castle and surrounding area came into the possession of the Counts of Pfalz-Zweibrücken due to the extinction of the Veldenz male line; from 1543 to 1694 it became the Principality of Pfalz-Veldenz. In the year 1752 in nearby Burgen the reknownd robber Johann Peter Petri, called Schwartzer Pete (Black Pete) was born. He has given his name to the card game Schwartzer Pete, German version of Old Maid. From 1777 to 1797 Veldenz belonged to Bavaria. In 1835 the Veldenz Lion replaced the Bavarian Lion on the city arms. Even today there are many examples of the construction conducted by the counts in the 18th Century this includes the Rathaus.
[edit] Politics
Veldenz is a member of the Bernkastel-Kues Verbandsgemeinde. Political responsibility and twelve seats in the local council is divided between two constituencies. The mayor of the local community is Norbert Sproß.
Result of the Local Elections 13. June 2004:
| Number | Per cent | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voters | 749 | 100,0 | 12 |
| Votes Cast | 501 | 66,9 | |
| Spoilt Papers | 21 | 4,2 | |
| Valid Papers | 480 | 95,8 | |
| Election Group 1 | 316 | 65,8 | 8 |
| Election Group 2 | 164 | 34,2 | 4 |
[edit] Arms of Veldenz
The coat of arms shows the Veldenz Lion and the Wittelsbach diamonds. In the year 1835 the lion of the King of Bavaria was placed on the arms, and remained there until the end of the First World War when the last Bavarian king Ludwig III abdicated during the November Revolution.
[edit] Culture and Sights
[edit] Village Life
In 1993 and 1995 Veldenz won the silver medal in the Federal Beautiful Village Competition. In the Elisenberg, Kirchberg, Mühlberg, Grafschafter Sonnenberg and Carlsberg there are vineyards. In the village, there are still about a dozen wineries, Riesling is the most common variety. There is also a Heritage Association, which continues the old customs, holds home evenings and village walks. There is a Men's Singing Club, a women's choir and a folk music orchestra, who are all involved in the conduct of public events. Veldenz has a volunteer fire brigade and a sports club.
[edit] Sights
Well known sights are the Villa Romana and Schloss Veldenz. There are other historical buildings such as the Rathaus, a 12th Century signal tower from the, a Mint, a Celtic Wall and several museums with exhibitions. Other attractions are a second hand market, a farm garden, a wild garden, the Josefine Heights, the Pioneer Rocks, and many ore and slate mines, the Roter Bohles Recreation Park and many impressive rock formations.
[edit] Regular Events
Veldenz regularly holds a Heritage and Wine festival, a City Hall celebration, an Oktoberfest and a Christmas market. Also Concerts as part of the Mosel Festival Week. The Community organises an annual Arts and Crafts market.
In nearby Bernkastel-Kues the Middle Mosel Wine Festival, one of the largest wine festivals of the Moselle take place annually, in which Veldez participates.
[edit] Economy and Infrastructure
Winegrowing and Tourism play an important role. In the village, there are two village squares, three village houses, a town hall, several cabins and barbecue places, a wine-and a forest trail, a memorial, a cemetery, two churches and a sports field. Veldenz also has its own elementary school, a kindergarten, a youth room, a football pitch, and four children's playgrounds. In the village there is a regional children's and youth home. Some 45 km of footpaths lead to the village. Veldenz is served by the Verkehrsverbund Region Trier (VRT).
