OPPENHEIM

'Oppenheim' is a small town (about 7000 inhabitants) on the Upper Rhine (Rheinhessen), between Mainz and Worms. It is in the county of Mainz-Bingen in Rheinland-Pfalz and belongs to the Nierstein-Oppenheim ''Verbandsgemeinde'' (an administrative unit).

Contents

History

Sister cities

Culture and Attractions

People from Oppenheim

External links

History

Oppenheim became prominent during the Hohenstaufen period because of its regional castle and its governors.
It only became an Imperial Free City in the 13th century; in the 14th century the town was pledged to the Mainz palatinate (''Kurmainz''). From 1398 Oppenheim belonged to the palatinate of Kurpfalz. This lasted until 1797. After belonging to France, in 1816 Oppenheim became part of the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt. The town remain part of Hesse until 1945.
In March 1945 American troops succeeded in crossing the Rhein near Oppenheim.

Sister cities

★ Givry, France

★ Adnet, Austria

★ Werder, Germany

★ Calpe, Spain

★ Sant Ambrogio, Italy

Culture and Attractions

Some popular landmarks are the Gothic ''Katharinenkirche'' (St. Katherine's Church) with its stained-glass windows, including the famous "Oppenheim Rose"; the Landskron ruins with their lovely view of the Rhine rift and a summer festival; the old town and its clocktower; the German Viticultural Museum (''Weinbaumuseum''), and the marketplace.
The unusual Oppenheim medieval underground labyrinth is one of the largest systems in the world. It is only accessible by guided tour; informational literature is located on the market square.

★ Photographs of Oppenheim at mainz-bingen-foto.de

People from Oppenheim

★ Matthäus Merian (engraver)

★ Anton Praetorius priest in Oppenheim (1589-1592), fought against witch trials and torture

★ Friedrich Koch (pharmacist, inventor of factory-produced quinine)

★ Paul Wallot, German architect and the designer of the Reichstag in Berlin

★ Johanna Senfter, composer

External links

★ Town homepage

★ Vineyards in Oppenheim

★ German Viticultural Museum

★ Jewish Encyclopedia
:''Much of this article was translated from the of the same name, Feb. 2006 version''