Bundenbach

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Bundenbach
Coat of arms Location
Coat of arms of Bundenbach
Bundenbach (Germany)
Bundenbach
Administration
Country Flag of Germany Germany
State Rhineland-Palatinate
District Birkenfeld
Municipal assoc. Rhaunen
Mayor Klaus Hartmann
Basic statistics
Area 7.70 km² (3 sq mi)
Elevation 400 m  (1312 ft)
Population 1,003  (31/12/2006)
 - Density 130 /km² (337 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate BIR
Postal code 55626
Area code 06544
Website www.bundenbach.de

Coordinates: 49°50′34″N 7°22′43″E / 49.84278, 7.37861

Bundenbach is a municipality in the district of Birkenfeld, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.

[edit] History

It was first mentioned in a document March 14, 1283[1] as "Bontenbach". The first part of name may be derived from a march ("Bonte") or from an earl's freeland ("Beunde"), the second part "bach" (brook) stems from an old well in the center.[2]

Starting in the early medivial ages, Buntenbach was an important center of the Hunsrück shale mining until the decade of 1960, when the last mines were abandoned.[2]

[edit] Culture and Tourism

reconstructed celtic settlement
reconstructed celtic settlement

The shale mine "Herrenberg" has been modified for touristic visits and shows the work of the former miners.[2]

Devonian shale fossils in excellent preservation are displayed in a museum.[2]

In the vicinity of Bundenbach, a celtic settlement from the La Tène culture has been reconstructed.[1][2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Website of Bundenbach [1] (German), accessed 2008-01-27
  2. ^ a b c d e Anhäuser, Uwe (2001). Heimat am Idarwald - die Verbandsgemeinde Rhaunen. Idar-Oberstein: Dr. Gebhardt + Hilden GmbH, pp. 67-71 for Bundenbach, pp. 118-119 for chronology. ISBN 3-932515-30-7.