Wachtberg

Summary

Wachtberg is a municipality in the Rhein-Sieg district, of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated approximately 15 km south of Bonn. In 2021 the Wachtberg municipality had approximately 20,352 inhabitants.

Wachtberg
The water castle Adendorf
The water castle Adendorf
Flag of Wachtberg
Coat of arms of Wachtberg
Location of Wachtberg within Rhein-Sieg-Kreis district
Rhineland-PalatinateBonnCologneEuskirchen (district)Oberbergischer KreisRheinisch-Bergischer KreisRhein-Erft-KreisAlfterBad HonnefBornheim (Rheinland)EitorfHennef (Sieg)KönigswinterLohmarMeckenheimMuchNeunkirchen-SeelscheidNiederkasselRheinbachRuppichterothSankt AugustinSiegburgSwisttalTroisdorfWachtbergWindeck
Wachtberg is located in Germany
Wachtberg
Wachtberg
Wachtberg is located in North Rhine-Westphalia
Wachtberg
Wachtberg
Coordinates: 50°37′N 07°08′E / 50.617°N 7.133°E / 50.617; 7.133
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. regionKöln
DistrictRhein-Sieg-Kreis
Subdivisions13
Government
 • Mayor (2020–25) Jörg Schmidt[1] (CDU)
Area
 • Total49.68 km2 (19.18 sq mi)
Highest elevation
269 m (883 ft)
Lowest elevation
75 m (246 ft)
Population
 (2022-12-31)[2]
 • Total20,581
 • Density410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
53343
Dialling codes0228 (Bonn),
02225 (Meckenheim)
Vehicle registrationSU
Websitewww.wachtberg.de

Geology edit

Geological situation edit

Wachtberg is located on the left bank of the Rhine between the Kottenforst forest to the north, the Voreifel to the west, the lower Middle Rhine Valley to the east and the Ahrgebirge to the south. The municipality was named after one of its highest points, the Wachtberg, located between Berkum and Villip (extinct for 25 million years, now with a height of 258 m).

Political division edit

The municipality was formed in 1969 with the Bonn Act (formally Gesetz zur kommunalen Neugliederung des Raumes Bonn, abbreviated as the "Bonn-Gesetz") and merged 13 now incorporated villages:

  • Adendorf (with Klein-Villip)
  • Arzdorf
  • Berkum
  • Fritzdorf
  • Gimmersdorf
  • Holzem
  • Ließem
  • Niederbachem
  • Oberbachem (with Kürrighoven)
  • Pech
  • Villip (with Villiprott)
  • Werthhoven
  • Züllighoven

Until then, most of the villages belonged to the so-called "Amt Villip"; Adendorf, Arzdorf and Fritzdorf were added to the newly founded municipality by the town of Meckenheim. Niederbachem is the biggest village within Wachtberg with 4276 inhabitants (July 2018).

The town-hall is in the village of Berkum, approximately in the center of the area. The Rodderberg mountain is in the east of the Wachtberg district.

Landmarks edit

 
The water castle Gudenau

Four water castles are still inhabited:

  • Burg Münchhausen (near Adendorf)
  • Wasserburg Adendorf (near Adendorf)
  • Burg Gudenau (near Villip)
  • Burg Odenhausen (near Berkum)

Several water mills are situated on the streams, of which the Broicher Mühle near Villip is in continuous use since 886.

At the top of the mountain Wachtberg there is a cenotaph, built in 1923 by 10 of the 13 villages.

 
The water castle Adendorf

The radome near Berkum has a diameter of 49 m.

In contrast to this several villages have ensembles of timber framed houses.

References edit

  1. ^ Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020, Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 29 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2022 – Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. Mai 2011" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 20 June 2023.

External links edit

  • Official site (in German)
  • Tourist brochure (in German)