Johannesberg, Bavaria
Encyclopedia
Johannesberg is a community in the Aschaffenburg district
in the Regierungsbezirk
of Lower Franconia
(Unterfranken) in Bavaria
, Germany
.
. The Church of Saint John’s Beheading (Kirche St. Johannes Enthauptung) stands on the peak of the Johannesberg – the community’s namesake – 367 m above sea level
.
Furthermore, three hamlet
s are to be found in Johannesberg: Rauenthaler Hof, Sternberg and Hagelhof.
style, must have been built on the Johannesberg, and with an east-west orientation. As a high church it was built outside the community of Oberafferbach. In 1351, Rauenthal had its first documentary mention. The Aschaffenburg Monastery was enfeoffed with the Geipelshof (estate) near Johannesberg in 1440.
The old parish house, Hauptstraße 8, had its first documentary mention in 1550. With Count Philipp von Rieneck’s death in 1559, the noble family had died out and the Bishops of Mainz took over power in the Spessart
(range) for good. The Electorate of Mainz
declared in 1682 that all children between the ages of 6 and 12 were obligated to attend school.
In the course of the War of the Austrian Succession
, British
troops destroyed the church in Johannesberg, which in early 1768 was built anew, and this time bigger. It would have been completed about 1774. In 1945, American
troops occupied Oberafferbach and Johannesberg, as well as Mainaschaff, Laufach and Goldbach.
In the first, voluntary phase of municipal reform, the formerly self-administering communities of Breunsberg, Johannesberg, Oberafferbach and Rückersbach merged into a new entity with the name Johannesberg. In 1976, the communities of Johannesberg and Glattbach together formed the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft (Administrative Community) of Rauenthal. In accordance with the Lower Franconian government’s decision, the outlying centre of Rauenthal – formerly an exclave – was split from the community of Johannesberg and merged into the community of Glattbach instead. After the voluntary phase of municipal reform ended, the community of Steinbach was forcibly incorporated into Johannesberg in 1978.
Between Johannesberg and Val Orne-Ajon in the French
department of Calvados
, an official partnership was established in 1990 with quite a number of centres, namely Avenay
, Amayé-sur-Orne
, Maizet, Montigny, Préaux-Bocage
, Maisoncelles-sur-Ajon
, Sainte-Honorine-du-Fay
and Vacognes-Neuilly
. On 18 May 1996, the French community of Trois-Monts
joined the group as the ninth community.
The Verwaltungsgemeinschaft Rauenthal was dissolved by law in 1994. The community of Johannesberg once again has its own community administration.
In 2000, Johannesberg’s 800-year jubilee celebration took place.
(as at municipal election held on 2 March 2008; changes from 2002 election in parentheses; *JA was participating in a municipal election for the first time in 2008)
might be described thus: Argent a bend sinister wavy azure surmounted by a sword in bend of the second, in base a mount of three gules surmounted by a wheel spoked of six of the first.
The sword stands for the local parish church’s patron, who is John the Baptist
– the church itself is called Johannes Enthauptung, or “John’s Beheading”, the sword being the instrument of this deed. The reference to John also recalls the community’s name: Johannes is a German
form of the name John. For centuries the community was part of the Electorate of Mainz
, symbolized in the arms by the Wheel of Mainz
. The three-knolled hill, called a Dreiberg in German heraldry
, refers to the community’s geographical location in the Vorspessart, and also to the three constituent communities of Johannesberg, Breunsberg and Sternberg, which all end in —berg (German for “mountain”), whereas the wavy bend sinister (slanted stripe), which is meant to resemble a brook, refers to the three constituent communities of Oberafferbach, Steinbach and Rückersbach, which all end in —bach (German for “brook”).
The arms have been borne since 22 March 1976 after a decision by the community and approval from the government of Lower Franconia.
, Calvados
, France
since 1990 Amayé-sur-Orne
, Calvados, France since 1990 Maizet, Calvados, France since 1990 Montigny, Calvados, France since 1990 Préaux-Bocage
, Calvados, France since 1990 Maisoncelles-sur-Ajon
, Calvados, France since 1990 Sainte-Honorine-du-Fay
, Calvados, France since 1990 Vacognes-Neuilly
, Calvados, France since 1990 Trois-Monts
, Calvados, France since 1996
All nine French communities mentioned above are part of a single partnership organized under the umbrella organization I.C.L. Val Orne-Ajon.
The Mühlbergfest is a yearly musical event which draws roughly 2,000 visitors from all over Germany who come to enjoy such bands as the Bananafishbones, ABCD, the Rodgau Monotones, Pur
, Cashma Hoody, Boppin‘B or The Bones. A special attraction is the brunch on Sunday with the Johannesberger Musikverein (music club).
According to official statistics, there were 141 workers on the social welfare contribution rolls working in producing businesses in 1998. In trade and transport
this was 135. In other areas, 1,308 workers on the social welfare contribution rolls work from home. Nobody is employed in processing businesses. No businesses are in construction, and furthermore, in 1999, there were 18 agricultural operations with a working area of 392 ha, of which 194 ha was cropland and 191 ha was meadowland.
(1905–1991), German politician (CSU
). From 1962 to 1978 he was Premier
(Ministerpräsident) of Bavaria
.
Aschaffenburg (district)
Aschaffenburg is a district in Bavaria, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Darmstadt-Dieburg, Offenbach, Main-Kinzig , the districts Main-Spessart and Miltenberg, and the town of Aschaffenburg....
in the Regierungsbezirk
Regierungsbezirk
In Germany, a Government District, in German: Regierungsbezirk – is a subdivision of certain federal states .They are above the Kreise, Landkreise, and kreisfreie Städte...
of Lower Franconia
Lower Franconia
Lower Franconia is one of the three administrative regions of Franconia in Bavaria , Germany ....
(Unterfranken) in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, 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
Johannesberg lies in the Bavarian Lower Main (Bayerischer Untermain), 10 km from AschaffenburgAschaffenburg
Aschaffenburg is a city in northwest Bavaria, Germany. The town of Aschaffenburg is not considered part of the district of Aschaffenburg, but is the administrative seat.Aschaffenburg is known as the Tor zum Spessart or "gate to the Spessart"...
. The Church of Saint John’s Beheading (Kirche St. Johannes Enthauptung) stands on the peak of the Johannesberg – the community’s namesake – 367 m above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
.
Constituent communities
Johannesberg’s Ortsteile are Breunsberg, Johannesberg, Oberafferbach, Rückersbach and Steinbach.Furthermore, three hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
s are to be found in Johannesberg: Rauenthaler Hof, Sternberg and Hagelhof.
History
It was between 1200 and 1300 that the first church, in the RomanesqueRomanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
style, must have been built on the Johannesberg, and with an east-west orientation. As a high church it was built outside the community of Oberafferbach. In 1351, Rauenthal had its first documentary mention. The Aschaffenburg Monastery was enfeoffed with the Geipelshof (estate) near Johannesberg in 1440.
The old parish house, Hauptstraße 8, had its first documentary mention in 1550. With Count Philipp von Rieneck’s death in 1559, the noble family had died out and the Bishops of Mainz took over power in the Spessart
Spessart
The Spessart is a low mountain range in northwestern Bavaria and southern Hesse, Germany. It is bordered on three sides by the Main River. The two most important towns located at the foot of the Spessart are Aschaffenburg and Würzburg....
(range) for good. The Electorate of Mainz
Archbishopric of Mainz
The Archbishopric of Mainz or Electorate of Mainz was an influential ecclesiastic and secular prince-bishopric in the Holy Roman Empire between 780–82 and 1802. In the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, the Archbishop of Mainz was the primas Germaniae, the substitute of the Pope north of the Alps...
declared in 1682 that all children between the ages of 6 and 12 were obligated to attend school.
In the course of the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
, British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
troops destroyed the church in Johannesberg, which in early 1768 was built anew, and this time bigger. It would have been completed about 1774. In 1945, American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
troops occupied Oberafferbach and Johannesberg, as well as Mainaschaff, Laufach and Goldbach.
In the first, voluntary phase of municipal reform, the formerly self-administering communities of Breunsberg, Johannesberg, Oberafferbach and Rückersbach merged into a new entity with the name Johannesberg. In 1976, the communities of Johannesberg and Glattbach together formed the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft (Administrative Community) of Rauenthal. In accordance with the Lower Franconian government’s decision, the outlying centre of Rauenthal – formerly an exclave – was split from the community of Johannesberg and merged into the community of Glattbach instead. After the voluntary phase of municipal reform ended, the community of Steinbach was forcibly incorporated into Johannesberg in 1978.
Between Johannesberg and Val Orne-Ajon in the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
department of Calvados
Calvados
The French department of Calvados is part of the region of Basse-Normandie in Normandy. It takes its name from a cluster of rocks off the English Channel coast...
, an official partnership was established in 1990 with quite a number of centres, namely Avenay
Avenay
Avenay is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:...
, Amayé-sur-Orne
Amayé-sur-Orne
Amayé-sur-Orne is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-Twin towns:Amayé-sur-Orne is twinned with Johannesberg in Germany since 1990.-References:*...
, Maizet, Montigny, Préaux-Bocage
Préaux-Bocage
-References:*...
, Maisoncelles-sur-Ajon
Maisoncelles-sur-Ajon
-References:*...
, Sainte-Honorine-du-Fay
Sainte-Honorine-du-Fay
Sainte-Honorine-du-Fay is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
and Vacognes-Neuilly
Vacognes-Neuilly
-References:*...
. On 18 May 1996, the French community of Trois-Monts
Trois-Monts
-References:*...
joined the group as the ninth community.
The Verwaltungsgemeinschaft Rauenthal was dissolved by law in 1994. The community of Johannesberg once again has its own community administration.
In 2000, Johannesberg’s 800-year jubilee celebration took place.
Population development
Within the municipal area lived 2,730 inhabitants in 1970, 3,391 in 1987 and 3,833 in 2000.Community council
The council is made up of 16 council members, not counting the mayor.| CSU Christian Social Union of Bavaria The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany... |
SPD Social Democratic Party of Germany The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany... |
FWG | Johannesberg aktiv e. V. (JA) | Total | |
| 2008 | 6 (-3) | 2 (-1) | 3 (-1) | 5* (+5) | 16 seats |
(as at municipal election held on 2 March 2008; changes from 2002 election in parentheses; *JA was participating in a municipal election for the first time in 2008)
Mayors
- 1812 Peter Flittner
- 1848–1838 Fecher
- 1843 Junker
- 1859 Eisert
- 1876–1881 Stadtmüller
- 1882–1887 Denk
- 1888–1919 Conrad Fecher
- 1919–1929 Martin Stadtmüller
- 1930–1945 Anton Kraus
- 1945–1949 Ferdinand Stadtmüller
- 1948–1956 August Eisert
- 1956–1962 Anton Kraus
- 1962–1972 Alois Hain
- 1984–2008 Michael Rosner
- since 15 June 2008 Peter Zenglein
Coat of arms
The community’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 bend sinister wavy azure surmounted by a sword in bend of the second, in base a mount of three gules surmounted by a wheel spoked of six of the first.
The sword stands for the local parish church’s patron, who is John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
– the church itself is called Johannes Enthauptung, or “John’s Beheading”, the sword being the instrument of this deed. The reference to John also recalls the community’s name: Johannes is a German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
form of the name John. For centuries the community was part of the Electorate of Mainz
Archbishopric of Mainz
The Archbishopric of Mainz or Electorate of Mainz was an influential ecclesiastic and secular prince-bishopric in the Holy Roman Empire between 780–82 and 1802. In the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, the Archbishop of Mainz was the primas Germaniae, the substitute of the Pope north of the Alps...
, symbolized in the arms by the Wheel of Mainz
Wheel of Mainz
thumb|150px|version until 1992thumb|150px|version from 1992 - 2008thumb|150px|version from 2008The Wheel of Mainz or Mainzer Rad, in German, was the coat of arms of the Archbishopric of Mainz and thus also of the Electorate of Mainz , in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It consists of a silver wheel...
. The three-knolled hill, called a Dreiberg in German heraldry
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
, refers to the community’s geographical location in the Vorspessart, and also to the three constituent communities of Johannesberg, Breunsberg and Sternberg, which all end in —berg (German for “mountain”), whereas the wavy bend sinister (slanted stripe), which is meant to resemble a brook, refers to the three constituent communities of Oberafferbach, Steinbach and Rückersbach, which all end in —bach (German for “brook”).
The arms have been borne since 22 March 1976 after a decision by the community and approval from the government of Lower Franconia.
Town partnerships
AvenayAvenay
Avenay is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:...
, Calvados
Calvados
The French department of Calvados is part of the region of Basse-Normandie in Normandy. It takes its name from a cluster of rocks off the English Channel coast...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
since 1990 Amayé-sur-Orne
Amayé-sur-Orne
Amayé-sur-Orne is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-Twin towns:Amayé-sur-Orne is twinned with Johannesberg in Germany since 1990.-References:*...
, Calvados, France since 1990 Maizet, Calvados, France since 1990 Montigny, Calvados, France since 1990 Préaux-Bocage
Préaux-Bocage
-References:*...
, Calvados, France since 1990 Maisoncelles-sur-Ajon
Maisoncelles-sur-Ajon
-References:*...
, Calvados, France since 1990 Sainte-Honorine-du-Fay
Sainte-Honorine-du-Fay
Sainte-Honorine-du-Fay is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Calvados, France since 1990 Vacognes-Neuilly
Vacognes-Neuilly
-References:*...
, Calvados, France since 1990 Trois-Monts
Trois-Monts
-References:*...
, Calvados, France since 1996
All nine French communities mentioned above are part of a single partnership organized under the umbrella organization I.C.L. Val Orne-Ajon.
Culture and sightseeing
Since 1769, the Catholic Parish Church of Saint John’s Beheading (Pfarrkirche Sankt Johannes' Enthauptung) has been standing on the mountain slope. The church's extremely rare titular feast fits its exclusive location, which affords good views of the church for many kilometres in all directions. Every year, the Catholic parish celebrates its patronage on 29 August, the day when the Church commemorates the Passion of John the Baptist.The Mühlbergfest is a yearly musical event which draws roughly 2,000 visitors from all over Germany who come to enjoy such bands as the Bananafishbones, ABCD, the Rodgau Monotones, Pur
Pur (band)
-History:The group was initially founded in 1975 under the name Crusade by Roland Bless and Ingo Reidl. Their first releases came out under the name Opus, but after an Austrian band with the same name had a huge hit single in Germany in 1985, they switched to the name Pur. Pur's first hit single in...
, Cashma Hoody, Boppin‘B or The Bones. A special attraction is the brunch on Sunday with the Johannesberger Musikverein (music club).
Economy and infrastructure
The municipal tax revenue in 1999 amounted to €1,892,000 (converted), of which business tax revenue (net) accounted for €160,000.According to official statistics, there were 141 workers on the social welfare contribution rolls working in producing businesses in 1998. In trade and transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
this was 135. In other areas, 1,308 workers on the social welfare contribution rolls work from home. Nobody is employed in processing businesses. No businesses are in construction, and furthermore, in 1999, there were 18 agricultural operations with a working area of 392 ha, of which 194 ha was cropland and 191 ha was meadowland.
Famous people
Alfons GoppelAlfons Goppel
Alfons Goppel was a German politician of the CSU party and Prime Minister of Bavaria .-Life:...
(1905–1991), German politician (CSU
Christian Social Union of Bavaria
The Christian Social Union in Bavaria is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It operates only in the state of Bavaria, while its sister party, the Christian Democratic Union , operates in the other 15 states of Germany...
). From 1962 to 1978 he was Premier
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
(Ministerpräsident) of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
.
Further reading
- Affolderbach-Johannesberg “800 Jahre Geschichte einer Gemeinde” 1991
- Johannesberg homeland and history papers “1987-2006”