Mörschbach
Encyclopedia
Mörschbach is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality
belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde
, a kind of collective municipality – in the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis (district
) in Rhineland-Palatinate
, Germany
. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Rheinböllen
, whose seat is in the like-named town
.
, roughly 4 km west of Rheinböllen at the foot of the Soonwald at an elevation of 440 m above sea level
. The Autobahn A 61
runs nearby. The municipal area measures 582 ha, of which 218 ha is wooded.
digs have yielded finds that suggest that there were settlers here as early as 500 BC. From the time when the Romans
held sway, which lasted more than 400 years in this area, roads can still be made out. Such a road led from Trier
by way of Wahlbach
, Mörschbach and Rheinböllen to the Rhine. Grave goods
, too (coins, glass urns from Emperor Augustus
’s time), from barrows
within Mörschbach’s limits bear witness to Roman hegemony. In 1006, Mörschbach had its first documentary mention in connection with the consecration of the Evangelical
church (although at the time, it was of course Catholic, for the Reformation
was still far in the future) by Archbishop Willigis
of Mainz
. The church’s founder and builder was the “Edle (“Noble”) Thiderich von Mergisbach”. With Archbishop Willigis’s leave, he built a church as a free landholder on his own land, and this was consecrated in 1006.
Beginning in 1794, Mörschbach lay under French
rule. In 1814 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia
at the Congress of Vienna
. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state
of Rhineland-Palatinate
.
In the course of village renewal, a number of measures were undertaken: The village thoroughfare was widened, the fountain square was redesigned, a new village square was built, the Wiegehäuschen (“Little Weighing House”) was renovated, a children’s playground was built, and a paved carpark was laid at the municipal building (built in 1960), which itself was renovated and modernized by conversions and additions; furthermore, many trees and shrubs were planted in and around the village.
While the municipal building was being renovated and modernized from 1996 to 1998, a firefighting equipment room and a village public house
were integrated into the structure. The caretaker’s
dwelling was enlarged, and the slaughterhouse facility and the youth room were renovated. The municipal building, with its tasteful makeover and modern technological equipment, has thus become the centrepoint for a great many events in the village’s cultural and social life.
and 15% are Catholic, while 20% belong to other faiths.
at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.
might be described thus: A pale lozengy argent and azure between sable a lion rampant sinister Or armed and langued gules and chevronny reversed of seven of the last and first.
’s Directory of Cultural Monuments:
founded the club SV 48 Brühltal Mörschbach e.V. after the Second World War, which marked its 50th anniversary in 1998. In the field of recreational sport, a dancing group was founded in 1980, and a ladies’ gymnastic
group in 1985. The renovation at the municipal building, too, offers opportunities for further recreational sports.
, a women’s choir, a trombone
ensemble and a local countrywomen’s group. Besides club events, there is the kermis in late May, which is the village’s main festival.
, about 5 km away, affords the many commuters a good link in the north-south direction. Besides the two fulltime agricultural
operations, there are also still a few businesses in Mörschbach that work the land as a sideline. There are no longer any shops. The old bakehouse-schoolhouse nowadays serves as the town hall and assembly hall for various small events.
The old village centre is framed by new building developments: Am Bacherweg, Am Labesweg and Hinter dem Graben. In 1986, the industrial park
“Am Metzenweg” was built on Mörschbach’s outskirts, since which time 7 businesses have located there, and there are expansion plans.
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 Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis (district
Districts of Germany
The districts of Germany are known as , except in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein where they are known simply as ....
) 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...
. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Rheinböllen
Rheinböllen (Verbandsgemeinde)
Rheinböllen is a Verbandsgemeinde in the Rhein-Hunsrück district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Its seat is in Rheinböllen...
, whose seat is in the like-named town
Rheinböllen
Rheinböllen is a town in the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the seat of the like-named Verbandsgemeinde, and also belongs to it.-Location:...
.
Location
The municipality lies in the eastern HunsrückHunsrück
The Hunsrück is a low mountain range in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is bounded by the river valleys of the Moselle , the Nahe , and the Rhine . The Hunsrück is continued by the Taunus mountains on the eastern side of the Rhine. In the north behind the Moselle it is continued by the Eifel...
, roughly 4 km west of Rheinböllen at the foot of the Soonwald at an elevation of 440 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...
. The Autobahn A 61
Bundesautobahn 61
is an autobahn in Germany that connects the border to the Netherlands near Venlo in the northwest to the interchange with A 6 near Hockenheim. In 1965, this required a re-design of the Hockenheimring....
runs nearby. The municipal area measures 582 ha, of which 218 ha is wooded.
History
ArchaeologicalArchaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
digs have yielded finds that suggest that there were settlers here as early as 500 BC. From the time when the Romans
Ancient 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....
held sway, which lasted more than 400 years in this area, roads can still be made out. Such a road led from Trier
Trier
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....
by way of Wahlbach
Wahlbach
-History:Archaeological finds from barrows bear witness to early habitation. In 1158, Wahlbach had its first documentary mention. The village was a noble family’s namesake, although it died out soon after 1258. Later, the village belonged to the Palatine “New Court” , which in 1410 was grouped into...
, Mörschbach and Rheinböllen to the Rhine. Grave goods
Grave goods
Grave goods, in archaeology and anthropology, are the items buried along with the body.They are usually personal possessions, supplies to smooth the deceased's journey into the afterlife or offerings to the gods. Grave goods are a type of votive deposit...
, too (coins, glass urns from Emperor Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
’s time), from barrows
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
within Mörschbach’s limits bear witness to Roman hegemony. In 1006, Mörschbach had its first documentary mention in connection with the consecration of the Evangelical
Evangelical 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...
church (although at the time, it was of course Catholic, for the Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
was still far in the future) by Archbishop Willigis
Willigis
Saint Willigis was Archbishop of Mainz from 975 until his death as well as a statesman of the Holy Roman Empire.-Life:...
of 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...
. The church’s founder and builder was the “Edle (“Noble”) Thiderich von Mergisbach”. With Archbishop Willigis’s leave, he built a church as a free landholder on his own land, and this was consecrated in 1006.
Beginning in 1794, Mörschbach lay under 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...
rule. In 1814 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
at the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state
States of Germany
Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
of 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 ....
.
In the course of village renewal, a number of measures were undertaken: The village thoroughfare was widened, the fountain square was redesigned, a new village square was built, the Wiegehäuschen (“Little Weighing House”) was renovated, a children’s playground was built, and a paved carpark was laid at the municipal building (built in 1960), which itself was renovated and modernized by conversions and additions; furthermore, many trees and shrubs were planted in and around the village.
While the municipal building was being renovated and modernized from 1996 to 1998, a firefighting equipment room and a village public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
were integrated into the structure. The caretaker’s
Janitor
A janitor or custodian is a professional who takes care of buildings, such as hospitals and schools. Janitors are responsible primarily for cleaning, and often some maintenance and security...
dwelling was enlarged, and the slaughterhouse facility and the youth room were renovated. The municipal building, with its tasteful makeover and modern technological equipment, has thus become the centrepoint for a great many events in the village’s cultural and social life.
Population development
What follows is a table of the municipality’s population figures for selected years since the early 19th century (each time at 31 December):
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Religion
Some two thirds of the inhabitants are 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...
and 15% are Catholic, while 20% belong to other faiths.
Municipal council
The council is made up of 8 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: A pale lozengy argent and azure between sable a lion rampant sinister Or armed and langued gules and chevronny reversed of seven of the last and first.
Buildings
The following are listed buildings or sites in Rhineland-PalatinateRhineland-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 ....
’s Directory of Cultural Monuments:
- EvangelicalEvangelical Church in GermanyThe 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...
church, Rheinböllener Straße – GothicGothic architectureGothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
tower, 1373, aisleless churchAisleless churchAn Aisleless church is a single-nave church building that consists of a single hall-like room. While similar to the hall church, the aisleless church lacks aisles or passageways either side of the nave separated from the nave by colonnades or arcades, a row of pillars or columns...
1761/1762 - Brunnenstraße/corner of Rheinböllener Straße – fountain, cast-ironCast ironCast iron is derived from pig iron, and while it usually refers to gray iron, it also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys which solidify with a eutectic. The color of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due...
basin, RheinböllenRheinböllenRheinböllen is a town in the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the seat of the like-named Verbandsgemeinde, and also belongs to it.-Location:...
Ironworks, latter half of the 19th century - Ellerner Straße – brick wellhouse, 19th century
- Rheinböllener Straße 4 – L-shaped estate, whole complex of buildings; timber-frameTimber framingTimber 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...
house, partly solid, half-hipped roof, early 19th century; commercial wing 20th century - Nonnenberg – mediaevalMiddle AgesThe 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...
motteMotte-and-baileyA motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
complex
Sport and leisure
Right near the industrial park is the sporting ground that was laid out in 1969. A clubhouse with changing rooms and showers as well as a small grandstand were built in 1976 and modernized in 1997 by conversion and renovation. Football enthusiasts from Mörschbach and WahlbachWahlbach
-History:Archaeological finds from barrows bear witness to early habitation. In 1158, Wahlbach had its first documentary mention. The village was a noble family’s namesake, although it died out soon after 1258. Later, the village belonged to the Palatine “New Court” , which in 1410 was grouped into...
founded the club SV 48 Brühltal Mörschbach e.V. after the Second World War, which marked its 50th anniversary in 1998. In the field of recreational sport, a dancing group was founded in 1980, and a ladies’ gymnastic
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
group in 1985. The renovation at the municipal building, too, offers opportunities for further recreational sports.
Clubs
Mörschbach is home to a volunteer fire brigade, the sport club SV 48 Brühltal Mörschbach e.V., the “Da Capo” men’s choirChoir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, a women’s choir, a trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
ensemble and a local countrywomen’s group. Besides club events, there is the kermis in late May, which is the village’s main festival.
Economy and infrastructure
Through the village runs Kreisstraße (District Road) 52, and the Autobahn A 61Bundesautobahn 61
is an autobahn in Germany that connects the border to the Netherlands near Venlo in the northwest to the interchange with A 6 near Hockenheim. In 1965, this required a re-design of the Hockenheimring....
, about 5 km away, affords the many commuters a good link in the north-south direction. Besides the two fulltime agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
operations, there are also still a few businesses in Mörschbach that work the land as a sideline. There are no longer any shops. The old bakehouse-schoolhouse nowadays serves as the town hall and assembly hall for various small events.
The old village centre is framed by new building developments: Am Bacherweg, Am Labesweg and Hinter dem Graben. In 1986, the industrial park
Industrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
“Am Metzenweg” was built on Mörschbach’s outskirts, since which time 7 businesses have located there, and there are expansion plans.
External links
- Municipality’s official webpage
- http://www.swr.de/landesschau-rp/hierzuland/-/id=100766/nid=100766/did=2350624/qwo9om/index.htmlBrief portrait of Mörschbach with film at SWR FernsehenSWR FernsehenSWR Fernsehen is a German regional television channel targeting the states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is produced by Südwestrundfunk and is one of eight regional "third channels" broadcast by the ARD members....
]