Ahrweiler () is a district in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise) the districts of Euskirchen, Rhein-Sieg and the city of Bonn in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the districts of Neuwied, Mayen-Koblenz and Vulkaneifel.

History

The region was conquered by the Romans under Julius Caesar about 50 BC. Some hundred years later the Roman fort of Rigomagus (Gaulish for "king's field") was founded, later to become the city of Remagen. The Vinxtbach, a narrow brook and an affluent of the Rhine, was defined as the borderline between the Roman provinces of Germania superior and Germania inferior. There was originally a Roman villa here; the German suffix, "weiler", is from the Latin term "villare", meaning "land attached to a Roman villa, farm". Portions of a Roman aqueduct have also been found nearby.

Many towns were first mentioned in the 9th century, among them Sinzig and the eponymous village of Ahrweiler (since 1969 a part of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler). The name of Ahrweiler was first noted in the Land Register of the Abbey of Prüm, which during the ninth century, owned almost all of the property in the town.

Jewish history

In Jewish texts, the town was called Aroil'ra (ארוילרא). From the 13th century and on, there was a considerable Jewish community in Ahrweiler. In the 14th century, the Jews of the town traded in salt and wine. During that period, the Jewish community of the town suffered from the Black Death Jewish persecutions. In 1900, 65 Jews lived in the town (1% of the total population), and 319 in 1933.

thumb|Ahrweiler Synagogue

Although much of the town resisted early National Socialism, and the town leaders had refused Adolf Hitler a chance to address the community in 1932, they were not able to escape the reach of the Nazis entirely. Ahrweiler had a small Jewish community before the Nazis came to power, but they were all taken away and relocated, some to concentration camps, after 1933. In 2013 evidence that it is meteoritic in origin was presented.

thumb|Downtown Ahrweiler during Christmas

thumb|Ahrweiler Ahrberge

Ahrweiler is also characterised by orchards and vineyards. The lower Ahr River is one of the northernmost wine regions of Germany, known for its red wines from Pinot noir (Spätburgunder) and Portugieser.

Ahrweiler is especially well known for its vineyards and wineries. Wine growing and trading has been going on in Ahrweiler for over 1,000 years. The town is the chief cultivator for the red wine known as "Ahrburgunder". Bachem, which lies one kilometre south of Ahrweiler, is also well known for its "Frühburgunder", a local name for Pinot Noir Précoce. Traditionally, in this small town more of this wine is produced than in any other place in the Ahr valley.

On the first Sunday in September there is a traditional and annual wine festival in Ahrweiler, for which a "Wine Queen," or "Burgundia", is elected. Within the district are also the wine festival on the first Sunday in July at Bachem and another one in nearby Walporzheim on the first Sunday in August. By the way, Walporzheim also has the oldest wine house in the Ahr, named St. Peters, which dates from 1246.

The Nürburgring, a famous Formula One circuit, is located in the district.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was adopted in 1927. It displays:

  • Top left: the cross of Cologne
  • Top right: the heraldic eagle of the earldom of Ahr
  • Bottom left: the lion of Berg
  • Bottom right: the former coat of arms of the Prussian Rhine province

Towns and municipalities

{|

! align=left width=33%|Towns

! align=left width=33%|Verbandsgemeinden

! align=left width=33%|

|- valign=top

||

  1. Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler
  2. Remagen
  3. Sinzig

<br>

Free municipality

  1. Grafschaft

||

  • 1. Adenau
  1. Adenau<sup>1, 2</sup>
  2. Antweiler
  3. Aremberg
  4. Barweiler
  5. Bauler
  6. Dankerath
  7. Dorsel
  8. Dümpelfeld
  9. Eichenbach
  10. Fuchshofen
  11. Harscheid
  12. Herschbroich
  13. Hoffeld
  14. Honerath
  15. Hümmel
  16. Insul
  17. Kaltenborn
  18. Kottenborn
  19. Leimbach
  20. Meuspath
  21. Müllenbach
  22. Müsch
  23. Nürburg
  24. Ohlenhard
  25. Pomster
  26. Quiddelbach
  27. Reifferscheid
  28. Rodder
  29. Schuld
  30. Senscheid
  31. Sierscheid
  32. Trierscheid
  33. Wershofen
  34. Wiesemscheid
  35. Wimbach
  36. Winnerath
  37. Wirft

| valign="top" |

  • 2. Altenahr
  1. Ahrbrück
  2. Altenahr<sup>1</sup>
  3. Berg
  4. Dernau
  5. Heckenbach
  6. Hönningen
  7. Kalenborn
  8. Kesseling
  9. Kirchsahr
  10. Lind
  11. Mayschoß
  12. Rech
  • 3. Bad Breisig
  1. Bad Breisig<sup>1, 2</sup>
  2. Brohl-Lützing
  3. Gönnersdorf
  4. Waldorf
  • 4. Brohltal
  1. Brenk
  2. Burgbrohl
  3. Dedenbach
  4. Galenberg
  5. Glees
  6. Hohenleimbach
  7. Kempenich
  8. Königsfeld
  9. Niederdürenbach
  10. Niederzissen<sup>1</sup>
  11. Oberdürenbach
  12. Oberzissen
  13. Schalkenbach
  14. Spessart
  15. Wassenach
  16. Wehr
  17. Weibern

|-

|colspan=3 align=center|<sup>1</sup>seat of the Verbandsgemeinde; <sup>2</sup>town

|}

References

  • Wines of the Ahr
  • The Ahr River Valley - Photos