Freimersheim
Encyclopedia
Freimersheim is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality
belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde
, a kind of collective municipality – in the Alzey-Worms
district in Rhineland-Palatinate
, Germany
.
. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Alzey-Land
, whose seat is in Alzey
. Freimersheim lies at the source of the Weidasserbach.
Its agricultural origins can still be seen clearly, though it now also has many people who work in surrounding cities such as Alzey
or Worms
.
Freimersheim has its own railway station with hourly trains towards Mainz
and Frankfurt am Main
as well as an Autobahn interchange
on the A 63
. There are also regular bus links to Alzey.
, and through most of its history was an abbey possession. The name comes from Frimâr, and means “Frimâr’s (and his kin’s) settlement”. Belonging to the Amt of Alzey, Freimersheim was under Electoral Palatinate’s ownership from the High Middle Ages
until the French Revolution
.
Over the years, Freimersheim has been called by a number of varying names, including Frimersheim (763), Frigmersheim (770), Freimaresheim (790), Vreimersheim (1263), Frimirsheim (1281), Freysenn (1294), Frymersheim (1303) and Freymershaim (1337). At the end of the 18th century, it was called Freimersheim hinter der Warte (“behind the Warte”, a mountain), to distinguish it from Framersheim
.
After the Second World War, many ethnic Germans driven out of Germany’s former eastern territories
, foremost among these, Silesia
ns, came to settle in this rural idyll, many of whom have stayed until today and still often work regularly as harvest helpers.
In 2003, after long debates within the administration, Freimersheim at last acquired a sewer system
, which was completed in late 2007.
at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.
might be described thus: Argent a lion rampant Or armed, langued and crowned gules, in his paws the letter F argent.
one with a Stumm organ
. Another, small, attraction is offered by a wooden house built in rustic style in imitation of the original Freimersheim timber-frame
houses. The inside, however, has thus far not been finished. There is further a well preserved water cistern from the 19th century to view, built on a hill next to the railway tracks. It has been being restored since 2006 by private citizens.
and Frankfurt
, but also affords transit to a private railway from Kirchheimbolanden
to Alzey
.
s were forbidden in Freimersheim by the local authorities. This quaintness stemmed from a bylaw that had been prompted by a water shortage in the mid 19th century, called the Verbot über den Gebrauch frei fallenden Wassers zum Zwecke der flächigen Reinigung (“Ban on the use of free-falling water for the purpose of cleaning surfaces”).
Municipalities of Germany
Municipalities are the lowest level of territorial division in Germany. This may be the fourth level of territorial division in Germany, apart from those states which include Regierungsbezirke , where municipalities then become the fifth level.-Overview:With more than 3,400,000 inhabitants, the...
belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde
Verbandsgemeinde
A Verbandsgemeinde is an administrative unit in the German Bundesländer of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony-Anhalt.-Rhineland-Palatinate:...
, a kind of collective municipality – in the Alzey-Worms
Alzey-Worms
Alzey-Worms is a district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is bounded by the district Groß-Gerau , the city of Worms and the districts of Bad Dürkheim, Donnersbergkreis, Bad Kreuznach and Mainz-Bingen.- History :...
district 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 ....
, 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...
.
Location
The municipality lies in Rhenish Hesse and is a winegrowing centre in the like-named wine regionRheinhessen (wine region)
Rheinhessen is the largest of 13 German wine regions for quality wines with under cultivation in 2008. Named for the traditional region of Rhenish Hesse, it lies on the left bank of the River Rhine between Worms and Bingen in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate...
. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Alzey-Land
Alzey-Land
Alzey-Land is a Verbandsgemeinde in the district Alzey-Worms, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is located around the town Alzey, which is the seat of Alzey-Land, but not part of the Verbandsgemeinde....
, whose seat is in Alzey
Alzey
Alzey is a Verband-free town – one belonging to no Verbandsgemeinde – in the Alzey-Worms district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the fourth-largest town in Rhenish Hesse, after Mainz, Worms, and Bingen....
. Freimersheim lies at the source of the Weidasserbach.
Its agricultural origins can still be seen clearly, though it now also has many people who work in surrounding cities such as Alzey
Alzey
Alzey is a Verband-free town – one belonging to no Verbandsgemeinde – in the Alzey-Worms district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the fourth-largest town in Rhenish Hesse, after Mainz, Worms, and Bingen....
or Worms
Worms, Germany
Worms is a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on the Rhine River. At the end of 2004, it had 85,829 inhabitants.Established by the Celts, who called it Borbetomagus, Worms today remains embattled with the cities Trier and Cologne over the title of "Oldest City in Germany." Worms is the only...
.
Freimersheim has its own railway station with hourly trains towards Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
and Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
as well as an Autobahn interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
on the A 63
Bundesautobahn 63
is an autobahn in southwestern Germany. It connects the Mainz area to Kaiserslautern and the A 6 and is therefore an important connection between the Rhine/Main and the Saar areas...
. There are also regular bus links to Alzey.
History
In 763, Freimersheim had its first documentary mention in a document from Lorsch AbbeyLorsch Abbey
The Abbey of Lorsch is a former Imperial Abbey in Lorsch, Germany, about 10 km east of Worms, one of the most renowned monasteries of the Carolingian Empire. Even in its ruined state, its remains are among the most important pre-Romanesque–Carolingian style buildings in Germany...
, and through most of its history was an abbey possession. The name comes from Frimâr, and means “Frimâr’s (and his kin’s) settlement”. Belonging to the Amt of Alzey, Freimersheim was under Electoral Palatinate’s ownership from the High Middle Ages
High Middle Ages
The High Middle Ages was the period of European history around the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries . The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and followed by the Late Middle Ages, which by convention end around 1500....
until the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.
Over the years, Freimersheim has been called by a number of varying names, including Frimersheim (763), Frigmersheim (770), Freimaresheim (790), Vreimersheim (1263), Frimirsheim (1281), Freysenn (1294), Frymersheim (1303) and Freymershaim (1337). At the end of the 18th century, it was called Freimersheim hinter der Warte (“behind the Warte”, a mountain), to distinguish it from Framersheim
Framersheim
Framersheim is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Alzey-Worms district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :The municipality lies in Rhenish Hesse...
.
After the Second World War, many ethnic Germans driven out of Germany’s former eastern territories
Flight and expulsion of Germans from Poland during and after World War II
The flight and expulsion of Germans from Poland was the largest of a series of flights and expulsions of Germans in Europe during and after World War II...
, foremost among these, Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
ns, came to settle in this rural idyll, many of whom have stayed until today and still often work regularly as harvest helpers.
In 2003, after long debates within the administration, Freimersheim at last acquired a sewer system
Sanitary sewer
A sanitary sewer is a separate underground carriage system specifically for transporting sewage from houses and commercial buildings to treatment or disposal. Sanitary sewers serving industrial areas also carry industrial wastewater...
, which was completed in late 2007.
Municipal council
The council is made up of 12 council members, who were elected by majority votePlurality voting system
The plurality voting system is a single-winner voting system often used to elect executive officers or to elect members of a legislative assembly which is based on single-member constituencies...
at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.
Coat of arms
The municipality’s armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
might be described thus: Argent a lion rampant Or armed, langued and crowned gules, in his paws the letter F argent.
Buildings
Freimersheim has two churches, a Catholic one from the 13th century, and an EvangelicalEvangelical Church in Germany
The Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of 22 Lutheran, Unified and Reformed Protestant regional church bodies in Germany. The EKD is not a church in a theological understanding because of the denominational differences. However, the member churches share full pulpit and altar...
one with a Stumm organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
. Another, small, attraction is offered by a wooden house built in rustic style in imitation of the original Freimersheim timber-frame
Timber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
houses. The inside, however, has thus far not been finished. There is further a well preserved water cistern from the 19th century to view, built on a hill next to the railway tracks. It has been being restored since 2006 by private citizens.
Sport
Besides a sporting ground, Freimersheim also has a hiking area. The football club TV Freimersheim, with some 300 members, is active in youth work.Transport
There is a railway station that not only handles trains bound for MainzMainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
and Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, but also affords transit to a private railway from Kirchheimbolanden
Kirchheimbolanden
Kirchheimbolanden, the capital of Donnersbergkreis, is a town in Rhineland-Palatinate, south-western Germany. It is situated approx. 25 km west of Worms, and 30 km north-east of Kaiserslautern. The first part of the name, Kirchheim, dates back to 774. It became a town in 1368, and the...
to Alzey
Alzey
Alzey is a Verband-free town – one belonging to no Verbandsgemeinde – in the Alzey-Worms district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the fourth-largest town in Rhenish Hesse, after Mainz, Worms, and Bingen....
.
Other
Until 1993, showerShower
A shower is an area in which one bathes underneath a spray of water.- History :...
s were forbidden in Freimersheim by the local authorities. This quaintness stemmed from a bylaw that had been prompted by a water shortage in the mid 19th century, called the Verbot über den Gebrauch frei fallenden Wassers zum Zwecke der flächigen Reinigung (“Ban on the use of free-falling water for the purpose of cleaning surfaces”).