Braunweiler

Braunweiler
Braunweiler
Coordinates
Administration
Country Germany
State Rhineland-Palatinate
District Bad Kreuznach
Municipal assoc. Rüdesheim
Mayor Hans-Josef Weber
Basic statistics
Area 4.68 km2 (1.81 sq mi)
Elevation 257 m  (843 ft)
Population 618 (31 December 2010)[1]
 - Density 132 /km2 (342 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate KH
Postal code 55595
Area code 06706
Website www.braunweiler.de

Braunweiler is a municipality in the district of Bad Kreuznach in Rhineland-Palatinate, in western Germany.

Contents

History

The first settlement was probably founded in the 9th century. It is supposed that the inhabitants cleared the village as a settlement island into the forest. The reason for this decision was not only the usage of agriculture and the therewith caused clearing of further areas. Above all the utilization of the available forest and the typical Soonwaldwiesen (grasslands of the Soonwald-forest) was an important reason for the people at that time, to found this new village. Since the year 1100 the counts of Sponheim claimed for the sovereignty about Braunweiler and delivered repeatedly real estates and incomes from Braunweiler to the house cloister in Sponheim. Since its foundation, the place was called Wilre. After the establishment of the cloister St. Katharinen in 1217 by Godefried, Propst of Kreuznach (today: Bad Kreuznach), Udo, ore priest to Mannendal (Mandel), Friedrich, Landdechant (dean) of Hilbersheim, and its citizen (the members of the country chapter), Braunweiler was distinguished with the addition by Sante Katherinen.

In 1271, Braunweiler was mentioned officially for the first time by Johannes Tritemus in the chronicle of the cloister Sponheim. At that time the abbot of the cloister, Petrus of Sponheim, bought goods for 200 marks to construct a new barnyard. According to Tritemus the barnyard was doomed to failure and the villagers of Braunweiler received its land against interest.

During the following centuries, there was an opaque possession story. The inhabitants had to deliver shares of the harvest to many different liege lords and lessees. Until the 15th century, the village remained free villages of the regional court Kreuznach. In times of crisis, the inhabitants were therefore allowed to flee to the city Kreuznach, that was better protected caused by its defensive fortification. Therefore they also had to contribute to the defence of the city and had to provide a juryman. The boundary of Braunweiler represented a part of the early medieval Reichsgut Kreuznach. Braunweiler belonged politically from 1350 to 1798 to the Oberamt (Government Agency), and later to the Oberamt (First Government Agency) Kreuznach.

With the exception of some census of population there are no further criteria concerning Braunweilers population. In 1580, the village counted 153 inhabitants distributed to 34 houses.

Religions

Originally, Braunweiler is a village with Catholic inhabitants. The church St. Josef (Sanct Joseph) has been the parish church of the parish Braunweiler - Sankt Katharinen. After the integration to the parish St. Laurentius Wallhausen, some years ago, is Braunweiler today part of the parish Spabrücken. Braunweiler belongs to the Protestant church Mandel.

Public institutions

Recreational facilities

Famous people

References