Bergheim (German pronunciation: [ˈbɛʁkˌhaɪ̯m] ; Ripuarian: Berchem) is a German town, 22 km west of Cologne and the capital of the Rhein-Erft-Kreis (district). The town's Niederaußem district is one of the most important suppliers for energy from lignites in Europe.
Bergheim | |
|---|---|
 Aachen Gate | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
Location of Bergheim within Rhein-Erft-Kreis district  | |
  Bergheim  Bergheim | |
| Coordinates: 50°58′N 6°39′E / 50.967°N 6.650°E | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Admin. region | Köln |
| District | Rhein-Erft-Kreis |
| Subdivisions | 15 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2017–25) | Volker Mießeler[1] (CDU) |
| Area | |
• Total | 96.33 km2 (37.19 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 72 m (236 ft) |
| Population (2023-12-31)[2] | |
• Total | 62,172 |
| • Density | 650/km2 (1,700/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC 01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC 02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 50126, 50127, 50129 |
| Dialling codes | 02271 |
| Vehicle registration | BM |
| Website | Kreisstadt Bergheim (in German) |
Geography
edit
Bergheim is about 22 km west of Cologne, approximately 72 metres above sea level. Its highest point is the Glessener Höhe (Glessen Height) at 204 metres. The Erft River flows through Bergheim. The town lies in the Zülpicher Börde, which belongs to the Kölner Bucht. Economically and geographically Bergheim is in the Rhenish lignite coalfield.
History
editThere is a burial hill in Niederaußem, dating from about 4000 BC. Romans settled in Bergheim around 50 BC. They constructed the major Roman road, the Via Belgica, that crossed the area where Bergheim is today. Later the Franks took control over the region. In the Middle Ages, Bergheim was granted city rights and later became part of the County of Jülich. In the 19th and 20th centuries Bergheim grew rapidly through the settlement of industry based on the local lignite coal. In World War II, the Wesseling synthetic oil plant was bombed during the Oil Campaign of World War II. Then in April 1944, a large underground plant for synthetic oil manufactured from lignite was set up outside Bergheim.[3]
Districts
edit- Ahe
- Auenheim
- Bergheim-Mitte
- Büsdorf
- Fliesteden
- Glesch
- Glessen
- Kenten
- Niederaußem
- Oberaußem
- Paffendorf
- Quadrath-Ichendorf
- Rheidt-Hüchelhoven
- Thorr
- Zieverich
Points of interest
editPoints of interest are the Niederaussem Power Station with the world's tallest cooling tower as well as the Kottenforst-Ville Nature Park.
Notable people
edit- Gerhard Fieseler (1896–1987), fighter pilot in the First World War and aircraft constructor (Gerhard-Fieseler-Werke)
- Günter Grass (1927–2015), writer, Nobel Prize 1999, lived in Bergheim-Oberaussem for several years after the end of the World War II
- Sarah Kreuz (born 1989), singer, second place with DSDS
- The footballer Lukas Podolski grew up in Bergheim, played in the youth team of FC Jugend 07 Bergheim from 1991 onwards. In 1995 he changed to the D-youth of the 1. FC Köln
- Michael Schumacher (born 1969), Formula 1 racing driver and seven-time world champion, attended the Geschwister-Scholl-Realschule in Bergheim
- Lukas Sinkiewicz (born 1985), footballer
- Victoria Ulbrich (born 1992), singer and former band member of Queensberry
Twin towns – sister cities
edit
References
edit- ^ Bürgermeisterwahl Kreisstadt Bergheim 25.06.2017, accessed 29 June 2021.
- ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2023 – Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. Mai 2011" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
- ^ "Meeting No. 45/6" (PDF). Enemy Oil Intelligence Committee. February 6, 1945. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 21, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
- ^ "STEK BM 2035: Dokumentation Ergebnisse Stadtdialog 1. Phase "Wo steht Bergheim heute?"" (in German). Bergheim. 2018-01-31. p. 18.
http://www.wiktorp.cku.szkola.pl/Bergheim/Bergheim.htm[permanent dead link]