Bergneustadt

Infobox German Location
Art = Stadt
Name = Bergneustadt
Wappen = Wappen-bergn.jpg
lat_deg = 51 |lat_min = 2
lon_deg = 7 |lon_min = 39
Bundesland = Nordrhein-Westfalen
Regierungsbezirk = Köln
Kreis = Oberbergischer Kreis
Höhe = 206 - 500
Fläche = 37.86
Einwohner = 20491
Stand = 2006-06-30
PLZ = 51702
Vorwahl = 0 22 61
Kfz = GM
Gemeindeschlüssel = 05 3 74 004
Straße = Kölner Str. 256
Website = [http://www.bergneustadt.de/ www.bergneustadt.de]
Bürgermeister = Gerhard Halbe
Partei =

Bergneustadt is a municipality in the eastern part of the Oberbergischer Kreis (district), in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located 50 km east of Cologne. It is part of the Berg region.

History

In 1301 the place the first time was mentioned documentary namely " of the Drost Rutger von Altena begins with the construction of the Niestat " (source: Documentary first namings of oberbergischer places of Klaus Pampus). It was founded as a frontier city of Mark against the archbishop of Cologne. So Bergneustadt received its town charter already in the first years.

Older than the mainvillage are Wiedenest (1154), Altenothe (1237), Belmicke (1296); they all are a part of Bergneustadt since 1969. The "Bonte Kerk" (coloured church) in Wiedenest dates from the 11th century and is one the marvelloust churches in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The coat of arms

The arms were granted on December 24, 1876.

The town developed around a castle built in 1301 by Rüttger von Altena ordered by Earl Eberhard II of the Mark. The oldest seals of the city date from the middle of the 14th century and already show the present arms. The upper part of the arms shows the arms of the Counts of the Mark, the lower part the older arms of the (oldest) Counts of Berg, from which the Counts of the Mark descended. From 1922-1969 the city used a mural crown on the arms.

Buildings and institutions

Historical buildings

* In the district Wiedenest stands a "colored church" with colorful medieval paintings at the ceiling.

Public utilities

Libraries

* Stadtbücherei (public library) Bergneustadt

Banks

* Sparkasse (savings bank) Gummersbach-Bergneustadt with four offices (city centre, district Stadtwald, district Wiedenest, district Pernze)
* Deutsche Bank with one office
* VolksBank Oberberg e.V. with one office

chools

*"Gemeinschaftsgrundschule Bergneustadt 'Auf dem Bursten' " "(primary school)"
*"Katholische Grundschule Bergneustadt" "(catholic primary school)"
*"Gemeinschaftsgrundschule Bergneustadt-Hackenberg" "(primary school)"
*"Gemeinschaftsgrundschule Bergneustadt-Wiedenest" "(primary school)"
*"Wüllenweber Gymnasium" "(grammar school/high school Bergneustadt)"
*"Städtische Realschule Bergneustadt" "(city secondary school)"
*"Gemeinschaftshauptschule" "(general school Bergneustadt)"

Religious groups and communities

Protestant parishes and churches

* Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Bergneustadt "(lutheran denomination)" with
• Altstadtkirche "(17th century)"
• Versöhnerkirche, district Stadtwald "(1966)"
• Gemeindecentrum Hackenberg "(1976)"
* Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Wiedenest "(lutheran denomination)" with churches in
• Wiedenest "(Bunte Kerk, 11th century)"
• Neuenothe "(chapel, 1960s)"
• Pernze "(1960s)"

= Roman-Catholic parishes and churches =

* Roman-Catholic parish Saint Stephanus, Bergneustadt
* Roman-Catholic parish Saint Matthias, Hackenberg
* Roman-Catholic parish Saint Anna, Belmicke, with a chapel in Wiedenest/Pernze

Evangelical parishes

* Evangelisch-freikirchliche Gemeinden (Brüdergemeinden) Wiedenest
* Evangelisch-freikirchliche Gemeinden (Brüdergemeinden) Hackenberg
* Evangelisch-freikirchliche Gemeinde (Baptisten) Bergneustadt, Wilhelmstrasse
* Common Bible school - Wiedenest "(this is the bible school of the German brethrens)"
* Christen ohne Namen "(= Christians without a name)"
* Ecclesia

Other religious groups

* Jehovah's Witnesses
* New Apostolic Church

Associations

* TV Bergneustadt "(different sports, "e.g." handball, gymnastics, karate)"
* Chess association Bergneustadt/Derschlag
* Stamp collector's association Bergneustadt
* Baris Spor Hackenberg "(football)"
* SSV Bergneustadt "(football)"
* Bodyguard "(kickboxing, Thai-boxing, boxing, yoga)"
* Table tennis association "Schwalbe" Bergneustadt
* Soar club Bergneustadt
* German Red Cross Bergneustadt
* HSG Bergneustadt-Gummersbach
* BSV "(swimming)"
* THW-Bergneustadt
* The Voices "(choir with newer repertoire)"

Economy

The city's major employer is "Innomotive Systems Europe GmbH" (briefly called "ISE") - a supplier of the automotive industry which is specialized in the development and production of innovative structural and safety systems for automobiles.

Population

Belmicke

It is located 8.4 km E of Bergneustadt and is in the easternmost district. The area was first time named in 1296 as Belmiche.

Transport

Road

Bergneustadt is connected to the German "Autobahn"-Network ("Motorway network") by a feeder road between the city centre and the A4 (exit No. 26).The "Bundesstraße" ("Federal Road") B55 runs through the city centre, through the district "Wiedenest" and along the district "Pernze". It connects the town with the cities Gummersbach (in the West) and Drolshagen (in the East).

Public transport

At the bus stop "Graf-Eberhard-Platz" in the city centre are stopping the following bus lines:
* No. 301 : Gummersbach —- Bergneustadt —- Olpe
* No. 313 : Bergneustadt (city centre) —- Attenbach
* No. 314 : Bergneustadt (city centre) —- Hackenberg (district)
* No. 315 : Bergneustadt (city centre) —- Stadtwald (district)

Air transport

There is an airfield with a 600 m (1968.5 ft) long grass airstrip in the district "Auf dem Dümpel".Planes with one motor and a maximal weight of 3400 pounds and helicopters with a maximal weight of 11400 pounds are allowed to alight. [cite web | url=http://www.sfc-bergneustadt.org/wiki/Anflug | title=German description of the airfield | year=2006 | publisher=Segelflieger-Club Bergneustadt e.V.| accessdate=2007-30-09]

Town Twinnings

* , F, 1967
* , NL, seit 1968:"Châtenay-Malabry and Landsmeer are also twinned since 1986"
* „Arbeitsgemeinschaft Neustadt in Europa“ "(see the germane Wikipedia: „Neustadt in Europa“)"

Persons

* Friedhelm Julius Beucher, politician, member of the Bundestag (Federal Diet) from 20 December 1990 to 17 October 2002
* Anja Harteros, opera singer
* Horst Janzen, painter

References

* Günther Aders, "Quellen zur Geschichte der Stadt Bergneustadt und des alten Amtes Neustadt von 1109 bis 1630" = "Sources for the History of the City of Bergneustadt and the old Amtes Neustadt from 1109 to 1630", pg. 71, 1951, 7-268
* Marianne Hack and Hubertus Dan - "Literaturverzeichnis zur Geschichte Bergneustadts im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert" = "Bibliography to the History of Bergneustadts in the 19th and the 20th centuries", Gummersbach, 1991
* "Bergneustadt 1301-1951", Festschrift, Bergneustadt 1951

ources

External links

* [http://www.bergneustadt.de Official Website] de icon
* [http://homepages.compuserve.de/Czoelner/Nachbarstadte/Bergneustadt/bergneustadt.html General information about Bergneustadt] de icon
* [http://www.oberberg24.de/ News of Oberberg] de icon
* [http://www.belmicke.de Shooting club Belmicke] de icon
* [http://www.tus-belmicke.de TuS Belmicke] de icon
* [http://www.heit-tech.de/ Webcam Bergneustadt and private meteorological station] de icon