Dockendorf
Encyclopedia
Dockendorf is a municipality in the district of Bitburg-Prüm
, in Rhineland-Palatinate
, western Germany
.
region, approximately 10 km southwest of Bitburg
. It is situated in the west edge of the Nims
valley and a brook that leads to the Nims flows through the town. The highest point inisde the municipality is the "Großenbüsch" at 379 meters above sea level, and the lowest point is the Dockendorf Mill at 225 meters above sea level. 60% of the 5.82 km² municipality is used for agriculture, and 30% is covered by forest.
had already settled parts of the area, as evidenced by remnants of a tower castle near the Dockendorf mill. The first documented reference to Dockendorf occurred in 1270. For many years, the municipality belonged to the Luxembourgish Propstei
of Bitburg and since 1816 to the Prussian Bitburg-Prüm
district. During the French period, Dockendorf was the mairie
, which later became the office of the mayor (Bürgermeisterei). This expanded to include the municipality of Wolsfeld
, and in 1970, these plus four other municipalities were combined as the result of communal reform to join the Bitburg-Prüm Verbandsgemeinde
.
of Dockendorf consists of six councilors elected by the local plurality election in Rhineland-Palatinate
on June 7, 2009.
from the 18th and 19th centuries. The most important structures in Dockendorf include the Forest Chapel (Waldkapelle), the parish church
, and the old rectory, which exhibits four different architectural styles. The rectory has been restored both inside and out and is an important regional cultural monument. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, a total of five calvaries
were built in the district. The nearby "Scharren bei Dockendorf" nature reserve
hosts a selection of rare plant species.
, Bitburg
, or Luxembourg
.
The Bundesstraße
257 lies one kilometer east of Dockendorf and connects the town with the Bundesautobahn 60 in Bitburg, 10 km away.
Bitburg-Prüm
The Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm is a district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is bounded by Luxembourg, Belgium and the districts of Euskirchen, Vulkaneifel, Bernkastel-Wittlich and Trier-Saarburg.- History :...
, in Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
, western Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Geography
The town lies in the South EifelSouth Eifel
The South Eifel refers to that part of the Eifel mountain region around the Bitburg-Prüm district in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate....
region, approximately 10 km southwest of Bitburg
Bitburg
Bitburg It is situated approx. 25 km north-west of Trier, and 50 km north-east of Luxembourg . One American airbase, Spangdahlem Air Base, is located nearby.-History:...
. It is situated in the west edge of the Nims
Nims
The Nims is a river in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, left tributary of the Prüm. Its total length is 59 km. The Nims originates in the Eifel hills, east of the town Prüm. It flows south through Schönecken, Seffern, and through the western quarters of Bitburg. The Nims joins the Prüm in Irrel....
valley and a brook that leads to the Nims flows through the town. The highest point inisde the municipality is the "Großenbüsch" at 379 meters above sea level, and the lowest point is the Dockendorf Mill at 225 meters above sea level. 60% of the 5.82 km² municipality is used for agriculture, and 30% is covered by forest.
History
The town in its current form most likely arose from the time of the capture of the land by the Frankish Empire. However, the RomansRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
had already settled parts of the area, as evidenced by remnants of a tower castle near the Dockendorf mill. The first documented reference to Dockendorf occurred in 1270. For many years, the municipality belonged to the Luxembourgish Propstei
Provost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
of Bitburg and since 1816 to the Prussian Bitburg-Prüm
Bitburg-Prüm
The Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm is a district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is bounded by Luxembourg, Belgium and the districts of Euskirchen, Vulkaneifel, Bernkastel-Wittlich and Trier-Saarburg.- History :...
district. During the French period, Dockendorf was the mairie
Seat of local government
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
, which later became the office of the mayor (Bürgermeisterei). This expanded to include the municipality of Wolsfeld
Wolsfeld
Wolsfeld is a municipality in the district of Bitburg-Prüm, in Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany....
, and in 1970, these plus four other municipalities were combined as the result of communal reform to join the Bitburg-Prüm Verbandsgemeinde
Verbandsgemeinde
A Verbandsgemeinde is an administrative unit in the German Bundesländer of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony-Anhalt.-Rhineland-Palatinate:...
.
Municipal Council
The municipal councilMunicipal council
A municipal council is the local government of a municipality. Specifically the term can refer to the institutions of various countries that can be translated by this term...
of Dockendorf consists of six councilors elected by the local plurality election in Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
on June 7, 2009.
Attractions
Throughout the municipality lie many landmark farmhousesFarmhouse
Farmhouse is a general term for the main house of a farm. It is a type of building or house which serves a residential purpose in a rural or agricultural setting. Most often, the surrounding environment will be a farm. Many farm houses are shaped like a T...
from the 18th and 19th centuries. The most important structures in Dockendorf include the Forest Chapel (Waldkapelle), the parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
, and the old rectory, which exhibits four different architectural styles. The rectory has been restored both inside and out and is an important regional cultural monument. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, a total of five calvaries
Calvary (sculpture)
A calvary is a type of monumental public crucifix, sometimes encased in an open shrine, most commonly found across northern France from Brittany east and through Belgium and equally familiar as wayside structures provided with minimal sheltering roofs in Italy and Spain...
were built in the district. The nearby "Scharren bei Dockendorf" nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
hosts a selection of rare plant species.
Economy
Dockendorf is an extremely agriculture-dependent municipality, supporting both full-time and part-time farming operations. In the last few years, the amount of agriculturally-suitable land has grown in comparison to neighboring municipalities. In addition, both a construction company and a distillery have begun operations in Dockendorf. Nonetheless, most working residents living in Dockendorf commute to TrierTrier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
, Bitburg
Bitburg
Bitburg It is situated approx. 25 km north-west of Trier, and 50 km north-east of Luxembourg . One American airbase, Spangdahlem Air Base, is located nearby.-History:...
, or Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
.
The Bundesstraße
Bundesstraße
Bundesstraße , abbreviated B, is the denotation for German and Austrian national highways.-Germany:...
257 lies one kilometer east of Dockendorf and connects the town with the Bundesautobahn 60 in Bitburg, 10 km away.