Oberursel
Encyclopedia
Oberursel is a town in Germany
. It is located to the north west of Frankfurt, and is the second largest town in the county of Hochtaunuskreis
and the 14th largest town in Hessen.
Altitude
, to the east with Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, to the south-east with Frankfurt, to the southwest with Steinbach
and to the west with Kronberg.
), Oberursel is divided into the districts Oberstedten
(population 6,118), Stierstadt (5,541) and Weißkirchen (Oberursel) (5,151). Bommersheim was annexed before the municipal reform of 1972 and therefore is not an independent district.
The town was first mentioned as "Ursella" in 791 in a deed recording a donation to the monastery Lorsch
. In the year 880 the first church in the area, called "monasterium ad ursellam", was mentioned. In 1317 the first trading activities were documented.
In 1444 Oberursel was officially sanctioned as a town. Two years later, the town wall was finished. Since the town was growing so fast in the 15th century the town walls had to be expanded in 1481 towards the east. In the early 16th century a school for Latin language was established next to the church.
1535 Oberursel become property of Earl Ludwig von Stolberg-Königstein and becomes a Protestant town.
1557 Nicolaus Henricus built the first printing plant in Oberursel.
1605 due to the counter-reformation
Oberursel becomes Catholic
again.
The most important industry in the late Middle Ages and in the early modern times was the clothier
business.
During the Thirty Years' War
the town was destroyed three times, in 1622 and 1645, and the number of inhabitants decreased from 1600 to 600. During the 1645 razing, most buildings were destroyed by fire; the three surviving buildings were the old town hall, the bakery, and one apartment house near the marketplace. This is the reason why nearly all houses in the old town of Oberursel are from the 17th century.
As the town was rebuilt and grew, many mills and forges were founded along the "Urselbachtal".
By 1858, industrialisation
had begun in Oberursel, with several cotton-spinning mills being built.
In 1860 Oberursel was linked to the railway between Bad Homburg
and Frankfurt.
In 1899 a subway was opened running in the in direction of Hohemark (currently Line U3).
During the Second World War, many captured American and British airmen passed through Oberursel as they were interrogated and processed into the German POW camp system at the "Durchgangslager der Luftwaffe" or "Transit Camp of the Luftwaffe" located in the town. The camp name was commonly shortened to "Dulag Luft"
, or simply "Dulag". Almost all allied airmen who were shot down and captured spent some time at that camp before being moved to their permanent assigned "Stalag
".
After the occupation of Oberursel by the USA in April 1945, the "Dulag" area was taken over by the US Army.
The existing buildings were transformed into Camp King
, which began as an intelligence post, then later a transportation post until its deactivation in 1993. Today the former Camp King is a residential area, still populated by several former US soldiers.
was annexed; in 1972 Oberstedten
, Stierstadt and Weißkirchen
followed.
There is currently a ruling coalition including the CDU and FDP, the other parliamentary parties are in the opposition.
with: Épinay-sur-Seine
, France
(since 1964) Ursem
, Netherlands
(since 1971) Rushmoor
, United Kingdom
(since 1989) (Rushmoor is a Borough including the towns of Farnborough
and Aldershot) Lomonosov
, Russia
(since 2004)
Another popular event occurring in Oberursel the Brunnenfest, an annual village fair held in the early summer, which attracts visitors from surrounding areas and around the world.
motorway near the "Bad Homburger Kreuz", which is the interchange between the A661 and the A5 (Hannover -Frankfurt
- Basel
). The Frankfurt Airport
is about 20 minutes away.
There are 6 regional bus lines in the town. During the weekend there is a night bus to Frankfurt
. There is a rail service via a suburban transit railway (S5) and a combined tram-subway (U3). Both lines go to Frankfurt and go underground in the centre part of the town.
Condor Airlines
operates an office in Oberursel.
Prior to its dissolution, Aero Lloyd
was headquartered in Oberursel. When Aero Flight
existed, it had its head office in Oberursel.
Oberursel is the educational center of county "Hochtaunuskreis". Beside six primary schools, one in each of the town districts, there is a grammar school, a secondary school, a secondary modern school (junior high) and a comprehensive school.
There are also two private schools, "Helen-Keller-Schule" and "Hans-Thoma-Schule", a commercial high school named "Feldbergschule" , and the http://www.fis.edu Frankfurt International School
.
The following vocational institutions, training centers, and specialty schools are also located in Oberursel:
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 is located to the north west of Frankfurt, and is the second largest town in the county of Hochtaunuskreis
Hochtaunuskreis
The Hochtaunuskreis is a Kreis in the middle of Hesse, Germany and is part of the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region. Neighbouring districts are Lahn-Dill, Wetteraukreis, district-free Frankfurt, Main-Taunus, Rheingau-Taunus, Limburg-Weilburg.The Hochtaunuskreis and the Landkreis Starnberg...
and the 14th largest town in Hessen.
Extent of municipal area
The maximum distance from the northern town border to the southern border is 7.2 km; the maximum distance from east to west is 13.0 km.Altitude
- Krebsmühle (Weißkirchen): 138 m above sea level
- Town Hall: 198 m above sea level
- Hohemark: 300 m above sea level
- Highest spot in the TaunusTaunusThe Taunus is a low mountain range in Hesse, Germany that composes part of the Rhenish Slate Mountains. It is bounded by the river valleys of Rhine, Main and Lahn. On the opposite side of the Rhine, the mountains are continued by the Hunsrück...
: 820 m above sea level
Neighbouring communities
To the north Oberursel borders with SchmittenSchmitten, Germany
Schmitten is a climatic spa and municipality in the Hochtaunuskreis in Hesse, Germany.-Geography:Schmitten is the highest community in the Taunus some 24 km north of Frankfurt am Main within whose limits is the Großer Feldberg ....
, to the east with Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, to the south-east with Frankfurt, to the southwest with Steinbach
Steinbach (Taunus)
Steinbach is a town in the Hochtaunuskreis that borders in the east on Frankfurt am Main. Other neighbouring towns are Oberursel, Kronberg im Taunus and Eschborn. It is in the German state of Hesse.-Location:...
and to the west with Kronberg.
Town districts
Besides the town centre (including BommersheimBommersheim
Bommersheim is one of five town districts of Oberursel, located southeast of the core city and immediately northwest of Frankfurt am Main in Germany.-History:...
), Oberursel is divided into the districts Oberstedten
Oberstedten
Oberstedten is one of four town districts of Oberursel in the north of the town centre, at the border of Bad Homburg.-History:Oberstedten was first mentioned 817 AD under the Name "Stetine". Later it was divided in Ober-, Mittel- and Niederstedten. In the very neighbourhood the knight's castle...
(population 6,118), Stierstadt (5,541) and Weißkirchen (Oberursel) (5,151). Bommersheim was annexed before the municipal reform of 1972 and therefore is not an independent district.
History
Lorsch
Lorsch is a town in the Bergstraße district in Hesse, Germany, 60 km south of Frankfurt. Lorsch is well known for the Lorsch Abbey, which has been named a World Heritage Site.-Location:...
. In the year 880 the first church in the area, called "monasterium ad ursellam", was mentioned. In 1317 the first trading activities were documented.
In 1444 Oberursel was officially sanctioned as a town. Two years later, the town wall was finished. Since the town was growing so fast in the 15th century the town walls had to be expanded in 1481 towards the east. In the early 16th century a school for Latin language was established next to the church.
1535 Oberursel become property of Earl Ludwig von Stolberg-Königstein and becomes a Protestant town.
1557 Nicolaus Henricus built the first printing plant in Oberursel.
1605 due to the counter-reformation
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
Oberursel becomes Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
again.
The most important industry in the late Middle Ages and in the early modern times was the clothier
Cloth merchant
Cloth merchant is, strictly speaking, like a draper, the term for any vendor of cloth. However, it is generally used for one who owned and/or ran a cloth manufacturing and/or wholesale import and/or export business in the Middle Ages or 16th and 17th centuries...
business.
During the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
the town was destroyed three times, in 1622 and 1645, and the number of inhabitants decreased from 1600 to 600. During the 1645 razing, most buildings were destroyed by fire; the three surviving buildings were the old town hall, the bakery, and one apartment house near the marketplace. This is the reason why nearly all houses in the old town of Oberursel are from the 17th century.
As the town was rebuilt and grew, many mills and forges were founded along the "Urselbachtal".
By 1858, industrialisation
Industrialisation
Industrialization is the process of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an industrial one...
had begun in Oberursel, with several cotton-spinning mills being built.
In 1860 Oberursel was linked to the railway between Bad Homburg
Bad Homburg
Bad Homburg vor der Höhe is the district town of the Hochtaunuskreis, Hesse, Germany, on the southern slope of the Taunus, bordering among others Frankfurt am Main and Oberursel...
and Frankfurt.
In 1899 a subway was opened running in the in direction of Hohemark (currently Line U3).
During the Second World War, many captured American and British airmen passed through Oberursel as they were interrogated and processed into the German POW camp system at the "Durchgangslager der Luftwaffe" or "Transit Camp of the Luftwaffe" located in the town. The camp name was commonly shortened to "Dulag Luft"
Dulag luft
thumb|right|Sgt. Edward Hill of [[Manchester, England]], freed from five years of captivity at Dulag Luft, by the American Seventh Armored Division, First Army, circa 29 March 1945...
, or simply "Dulag". Almost all allied airmen who were shot down and captured spent some time at that camp before being moved to their permanent assigned "Stalag
Stalag
In Germany, stalag was a term used for prisoner-of-war camps. Stalag is a contraction of "Stammlager", itself short for Kriegsgefangenen-Mannschafts-Stammlager.- Legal definitions :...
".
After the occupation of Oberursel by the USA in April 1945, the "Dulag" area was taken over by the US Army.
The existing buildings were transformed into Camp King
Camp King
Camp King is a site on the outskirts of Oberursel, Taunus , with a long history. It began as a school for agriculture under the auspices of the University of Frankfurt. During World War II, the lower fields became an interrogation center for the German Air Force. After World War II, the United...
, which began as an intelligence post, then later a transportation post until its deactivation in 1993. Today the former Camp King is a residential area, still populated by several former US soldiers.
Growth
1929 BommersheimBommersheim
Bommersheim is one of five town districts of Oberursel, located southeast of the core city and immediately northwest of Frankfurt am Main in Germany.-History:...
was annexed; in 1972 Oberstedten
Oberstedten
Oberstedten is one of four town districts of Oberursel in the north of the town centre, at the border of Bad Homburg.-History:Oberstedten was first mentioned 817 AD under the Name "Stetine". Later it was divided in Ober-, Mittel- and Niederstedten. In the very neighbourhood the knight's castle...
, Stierstadt and Weißkirchen
Weiskirchen
Weiskirchen is a municipality in the district Merzig-Wadern, in Saarland, Germany. It is situated in the Hunsrück, approx. 20 km northeast of Merzig, and 25 km southeast of Trier....
followed.
Number of Inhabitants
- 1542: 1,100
- 1618: 1,600
- 1648: 600
- 1799: 7,999
- 1972 (before annexations): 25,000
- 1972 (after annexations): 37,000
- 2001: 42,736
- 2005: 42,839
- 2006: 43,165
Politics
| CDU Christian Democratic Union (Germany) The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum... |
: 19 seats |
| SPD Social Democratic Party of Germany The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany... |
: 13 seats |
| Greens Alliance '90/The Greens Alliance '90/The Greens is a green political party in Germany, formed from the merger of the German Green Party and Alliance 90 in 1993. Its leaders are Claudia Roth and Cem Özdemir... |
: 5 seats |
| FDP | : 4 seats |
| OBG | : 4 seats |
There is currently a ruling coalition including the CDU and FDP, the other parliamentary parties are in the opposition.
Mayors
- 1946 - 1960: Heinrich Kappus (CDUChristian Democratic Union (Germany)The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
) - 1960 - 1972: Heinrich Beil (CDU)
- 1972 - 1978: Karlheinz Pfaff (SPDSocial Democratic Party of GermanyThe Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
) - 1978 - 1990: Rudolf Harders (CDU)
- 1990 - 1996: Thomas Schadow (CDU)
- 1996 - 2003: Gerd Krämer (CDU)
- since 2003: Hans-Georg Brum (SPD)
International relations
Oberursel (Taunus) is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Épinay-sur-Seine
Épinay-sur-Seine
-Transport:Épinay-sur-Seine is served by Épinay-sur-Seine station on Paris RER line C.It is also served by Épinay – Villetaneuse station on the Transilien Paris – Nord suburban rail line....
, 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 1964) Ursem
Ursem
Ursem is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Koggenland, and lies about east of Alkmaar and north of Amsterdam and west from Hoorn....
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(since 1971) Rushmoor
Rushmoor
Rushmoor is a local government district and borough in Hampshire, England. It covers the towns of Aldershot and Farnborough.It was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the borough of Aldershot and the Farnborough urban district....
, United Kingdom
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...
(since 1989) (Rushmoor is a Borough including the towns of Farnborough
Farnborough, Hampshire
-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
and Aldershot) Lomonosov
Lomonosov, Russia
Lomonosov is a municipal town in Petrodvortsovy District of the federal city of St. Petersburg, Russia, situated on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, west of St. Petersburg proper. Population:...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(since 2004)
Museums and Regular events
The "Vortaunusmuseum" is located in the central marketplace. Its exhibits illustrate the town's history and the history of soap box derbys. Soap box derbys were invented in Oberursel, and the world championship is held in Oberursel every year.Another popular event occurring in Oberursel the Brunnenfest, an annual village fair held in the early summer, which attracts visitors from surrounding areas and around the world.
Transportation Connections
Oberursel is located on the A661Bundesautobahn 661
- also called Osttangente Frankfurt or Taunusschnellweg - is a 40 km long Autobahn in Germany. It starts in Oberursel and goes along Bad Homburg, Frankfurt am Main, Offenbach am Main and Neu-Isenburg until it is ending in Egelsbach.The today's A 661 were opened with section Bad Homburg ...
motorway near the "Bad Homburger Kreuz", which is the interchange between the A661 and the A5 (Hannover -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...
- Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
). The Frankfurt Airport
Frankfurt International Airport
Frankfurt am Main Airport , or simply Frankfurt Airport, known in German as Flughafen Frankfurt am Main or Rhein-Main-Flughafen, is a major international airport located in Frankfurt, Germany, southwest of the city centre....
is about 20 minutes away.
There are 6 regional bus lines in the town. During the weekend there is a night bus to 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...
. There is a rail service via a suburban transit railway (S5) and a combined tram-subway (U3). Both lines go to Frankfurt and go underground in the centre part of the town.
Economy
There are many well known companies located in Oberursel, predominantly in the IT and tourism industries.- Thomas Cook AGThomas Cook AGThis article contains historical information about Thomas Cook AG until its merger with My Travel - for the new company see - Thomas Cook Group...
- Utimaco Safeware AG
- Dimension Data Germany AG & Co
- Alte Leipziger (insurance)
- Rolls-Royce Deutschland GmbH
- AVISAvis-Businesses:*Avis Budget Group, founded in 2006 as the successor company to Cendant Corporation**Avis Rent a Car System, a car rental company**Avis Worldwide Foreign Education Services, a worldwide foreign education company formed and owned by Sandeep S Pillai....
- AFNAmerican Forces NetworkThe American Forces Network is the brand name used by the United States Armed Forces American Forces Radio and Television Service for its entertainment and command internal information networks worldwide...
( Transmitter WeisskirchenTransmitter WeisskirchenThe transmitter Weißkirchen is a medium wave broadcasting facility located near Weißkirchen, Oberursel, Germany. It is the most powerful European AM transmitter of the American Forces Network and transmits on 873 kHz with a power of 150 kilowatts...
) - IBM Data Center, Bommersheim
- Dantotsu intelligent solutions GbR
Condor Airlines
Condor Airlines
Condor Flugdienst GmbH, usually shortened to Condor, is an airline based in Germany, operating scheduled leisure flights to the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa, North America and the Caribbean as part of Thomas Cook Group...
operates an office in Oberursel.
Prior to its dissolution, Aero Lloyd
Aero Lloyd
Aero Lloyd Flugreisen GmbH & Co was a charter airline based in Oberursel, Germany.- History :Aero Lloyd was originally founded on December 5, 1980. It was originally headquartered in Frankfurt. The airline start operation with 3 McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 ex Garuda Indonesia.The airline ceased...
was headquartered in Oberursel. When Aero Flight
Aero Flight
Aero Flight GmbH & Co. Luftverkehrs-KG was an airline based in Oberursel , Germany. It operated and scheduled an international charter passenger service.-Code data:*IATA Code: GV*ICAO Code: ARF*Callsign: Aero Fox-History:...
existed, it had its head office in Oberursel.
Education
There are also two private schools, "Helen-Keller-Schule" and "Hans-Thoma-Schule", a commercial high school named "Feldbergschule" , and the http://www.fis.edu Frankfurt International School
Frankfurt International School
The Frankfurt International School is an English-language day school located in Oberursel, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Founded in 1961, it is the largest and second oldest international school in Germany and provides instruction to approx...
.
The following vocational institutions, training centers, and specialty schools are also located in Oberursel:
- http://www.waldorfschule-oberursel.de/ Freie Waldorfschule Vordertaunus
- Albrecht-Strohschein-Schule (Heilpädagogische Waldorfschule)
- http://www.kettlaro.de/ Ketteler-la-Roche-Schule (Fachschule für Sozialpädagogik)
- http://www.lthh-oberursel.de/ Lutherische Theologische Hochschule (Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche)
- BASA Jugendwerkstatt Hochtaunus
- Reformhaus-Fachakademie
- Bildungszentrum (seither: Verwaltungsschule) der Bundesanstalt für Arbeit
- http://www.vhs-hochtaunus.de/ Volkshochschule Oberursel
- http://www.musikschule-oberursel.de/ Musikschule Oberursel (Taunus)
- Bundesjugendbildungszentrum des DGB
- Institut für Bienenkunde