Wetter (Ruhr)

Wetter (Ruhr) (literally weather) is a town in western Germany and belongs to the area of Ruhr area and the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Wetter belongs to the district of Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis. The river Ruhr flows through the urban area and separates the district of Altwetter from the districts of Esborn, Grundschöttel, Volmarstein and Wengern. The cities of Dortmund and Bochum can be reached within 20 minutes by train or car.

Geography

Neighbour municipalities

Neighbour municipalities are Gevelsberg, Hagen, Herdecke, Sprockhövel and Witten. The Cities of Dortmund, Bochum, Essen and Wuppertal are near.

City arrangement

• Alt-Wetter
• Wengern
• Esborn
  • Albringhausen
• Volmarstein
  • Grundschöttel
  • Oberwengern
  • Schmandbruch

Population

(each measured at 12/31) 1998: 29.735, 1999: 29.946, 2000: 29.851, 2001: 29.675, 2002: 29.545, 2003: 29.337, 2004: 29.221

History

The town of Wetter is first documented in the year 1214 in relation with the Castle Wetter and the knights Bruno and Friedrich. Another famous castle ruin is the Castle Volmarstein which was built in the 11th century by the archbishop of Cologne Frederick I. The castle is located on the other side of the Ruhr in the district of Volmarstein which has been part of Wetter since the municipal community-reform in 1970.

In 1819 Friedrich Harkort founded the first industrial workshop at Castle Wetter, producing steam engines and gas light equipment. Thus he did not just develop education and social policy but also laid the cornerstone of the early industrialization of the Ruhr area and Germany. The reservoir between Wetter and Herdecke, Harkortsee, and the highest mountain in the area, Harkortberg, were both named after him.

Due to the lowering bombardments in 1944/45, during the second world war, the town became the domicile of the Reichsgau south-Westfalia, originally residing in Bochum.

Town Twinnings

Wetter is twinned with South Elmsall (England), Turawa (Poland) and Stadtilm (Germany).

Culture and objects of interest

Objects of interest

• Harkortsee (Lake Harkort). Starting point for walks, bicycle- and Inlineskating tours around the two ruhr lakes Harkortsee and Hengsteysee (Lake Hengstey).
• Harkortberg. Starting point of extensive walking-tours through the Ardeygebirge with good view on the Harkort lake. Here also is located the Harkort-Tower, a far away visible registration number of Wetter.
• Henriette Davidis museum. Life and work of the most famous German cooking book authoress.
• Modell of planets in Wetter, the center is located at the local High School Wetter.

Personalities

• Henriette Davidis. Today the Henriette-Davidis-museum reminds visitors of her.
• Friedrich Harkort, German entrepreneur and politician in the early days of the industrialisation of the ruhr area.
• Hoffmann von Fallersleben, German poet, best known for writing the national anthem of Germany.
• Freiherr vom Stein was between 1784 and 1793 headmaster of the mining-office in Wetter. He restructured the accountancy and is considered as the initiator of the municipal self-administration.
• Eduard Scheve. Born in 1836 in the district of Volmarstein was the originator of the deaconry of the Fellowship of the Protestant Free Churches.

Economy

• Demag Cranes & Components GmbH
• Taprogge GmbH
• ABUS
• Burg Wächter (locks)

References

External links

• pictures, videos and audiodata
• Official website of the town (German)