Bergheim, North Rhine-Westphalia
Encyclopedia
Bergheim is a German city 20 km west of Cologne
and the capital of the Rhein-Erft-Kreis
. The city's Niederaußem district is one of the most important suppliers for energy from lignite
s in Europe
.
River flows. The city lies in the Zülpicher Börde, which belongs to the Kölner Bucht. Economic-geographically Bergheim lies in the Rhenish brown coal district.
settled in Bergheim. They constructed the large Roman freeway Via Belgica that crossed the area where Bergheim is today. Later the Francs took control over the region. In the Middle Ages
Bergheim was granted city rights and became later part of the county Jülich. In the 19th and 20th century Bergheim grew rapidly through the settlement of industry based on the local brown coal. In World War II
the Wesseling
synthetic oil plant was bombarded during the Oil Campaign of World War II
. Then in April 1944 a large underground plant for synthetic oil manufactured from brown coal was started outside Bergheim.
with the world's tallest cooling tower
as well as the Naturpark Kottenforst-Ville
.
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
and the capital of the Rhein-Erft-Kreis
Rhein-Erft-Kreis
The Rhein-Erft-Kreis is a district in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Neuss, district-free Cologne, Rhein-Sieg, Euskirchen, Düren.-History:...
. The city's Niederaußem district is one of the most important suppliers for energy from lignite
Lignite
Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, or Rosebud coal by Northern Pacific Railroad,is a soft brown fuel with characteristics that put it somewhere between coal and peat...
s in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Geography
Bergheim is about 20 km air line to the west of Cologne in approximately 72 meters height over sea level. The highest elevation is the Glessener Höhe (Glessen Hight) with 204 meters. Near Bergheim the ErftErft
The Erft is a river in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It flows through the foothills of the Eifel, and joins the Lower Rhine . Its origin is near Nettersheim, and its mouth in Neuss-Grimlinghausen south of the Josef-Cardinal-Frings-bridge. The river is 103 km long, which is significantly...
River flows. The city lies in the Zülpicher Börde, which belongs to the Kölner Bucht. Economic-geographically Bergheim lies in the Rhenish brown coal district.
History
Created in about 4000 BC there is a grave hill field in Niederaußem. Around 50 BC the RomansAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
settled in Bergheim. They constructed the large Roman freeway Via Belgica that crossed the area where Bergheim is today. Later the Francs took control over the region. In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
Bergheim was granted city rights and became later part of the county Jülich. In the 19th and 20th century Bergheim grew rapidly through the settlement of industry based on the local brown coal. In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the Wesseling
Wesseling
Wesseling is an industrial German city on the Rhine bordering Cologne city on the south. Wesseling originates from the Latin „Wasliacum“ which means "Villlage of Waslica" The story that Wesselig originates from "changing of the rope"...
synthetic oil plant was bombarded during the Oil Campaign of World War II
Oil Campaign chronology of World War II
The Oil Campaign chronology of World War II lists bombing missions and related events regarding the petroleum/oil/lubrication facilities that supplied Nazi Germany.-Legend:...
. Then in April 1944 a large underground plant for synthetic oil manufactured from brown coal was started outside Bergheim.
Urban parts
- Ahe
- Auenheim
- Bergheim-Mitte
- Büsdorf
- Fliesteden
- Glesch
- Glessen
- Kenten
- Niederaußem
- Oberaußem
- Paffendorf
- Quadrath-Ichendorf
- Rheidt-Hüchelhoven
- Thorr
- Zieverich
Points of interest
Points of interest are the Niederaussem Power StationNiederaussem Power Station
Niederaussem Power Station is a lignite-fired power station in the Bergheim Niederaussem/Rhein Erft circle, owned by RWE. It consists of nine units, which were built between 1963 and 2003. It has a total output capacity of 3,864 MW and a net capacity of 3,627 MW...
with the world's tallest cooling tower
Cooling tower
Cooling towers are heat removal devices used to transfer process waste heat to the atmosphere. Cooling towers may either use the evaporation of water to remove process heat and cool the working fluid to near the wet-bulb air temperature or in the case of closed circuit dry cooling towers rely...
as well as the Naturpark Kottenforst-Ville
Naturpark Kottenforst-Ville
Rheinland Nature Park is a nature park in North Rhine-Westphalia, situated between Bergheim, Kerpen, Erftstadt, Euskirchen, Königswinter, Bornheim, Bonn, Brühl, Hürth, Frechen and Pulheim...
.