Porta Westfalica
Encyclopedia
Porta Westfalica is a town in the district of Minden-Lübbecke
, in North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
. The name “Porta Westfalica” is Latin
and means “gate to Westphalia
”. Coming from the north, the gorge is the entry to the region of Westphalia. Despite the Latin name the term was not coined in Roman
times, but by scholars of the 19th century.
From March 18, 1944 until April 1, 1945 a concentration camp was established in the Barkhausen quarter. From February 1, 1945 until April 1, 1945 a camp was used in the Hausberge quarter. In the Lerbeck quarter also was a concentration camp in use from October 1, 1944 until April 1, 1945. In the Neesen quarter was a location for the forced labour for some of the inmates. All this camps were subcamps to the Neuengamme concentration camp.
, where the river runs through the passage between the mountain chains of the Wiehen Hills in the west and the Weser Uplands in the east. The name Porta Westfalica is the Latin expression for "Westphalian Gate", as the gorge appears like a gate to the region Westphalia, which lies to the south of it. It is overlooked by the Jakobsberg
and Wittekindsberg
hills.
Minden-Lübbecke
Minden-Lübbecke is a Kreis in the northeastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Diepholz, Nienburg, Schaumburg, Lippe, Herford, Osnabrück.-Geography:...
, in North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, 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...
. The name “Porta Westfalica” is Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and means “gate to Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
”. Coming from the north, the gorge is the entry to the region of Westphalia. Despite the Latin name the term was not coined in Roman
Roman 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....
times, but by scholars of the 19th century.
History
The town Porta Westfalica was established in 1973 by merging fifteen villages surrounding the gorge. The centre of the modern town is the former village of Hausberge, which was first mentioned in 1096.From March 18, 1944 until April 1, 1945 a concentration camp was established in the Barkhausen quarter. From February 1, 1945 until April 1, 1945 a camp was used in the Hausberge quarter. In the Lerbeck quarter also was a concentration camp in use from October 1, 1944 until April 1, 1945. In the Neesen quarter was a location for the forced labour for some of the inmates. All this camps were subcamps to the Neuengamme concentration camp.
Geography
Porta Westfalica is situated on the right bank of the Weser (except for the Barkhausen quarter), near the Porta Westfalica gorgePorta Westfalica (gorge)
thumb|Weser watershedThe Porta Westfalica is a gorge and water gap, where the Weser river runs through the passage between the mountain chains of the Wiehengebirge in the west and the Wesergebirge in the east...
, where the river runs through the passage between the mountain chains of the Wiehen Hills in the west and the Weser Uplands in the east. The name Porta Westfalica is the Latin expression for "Westphalian Gate", as the gorge appears like a gate to the region Westphalia, which lies to the south of it. It is overlooked by the Jakobsberg
Jakobsberg (Porta Westfalica)
The Jakobsberg is a hill, , that forms the westernmost peak of the Wesergebirge chain and is the eastern guardian of the Weser gorge, the Porta Westfalica or "Westphalian Gate", in North Rhine-Westphalia ....
and Wittekindsberg
Wittekindsberg
The Wittekindsberg is a hill, , which forms the easternmost peak of the Wiehen Hills and is also the western guardian of the Weser gorge, the Porta Westfalica, in North Rhine-Westphalia ....
hills.
Neighbouring places
- Bad OeynhausenBad OeynhausenBad Oeynhausen is a spa town in the Minden-Lübbecke district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.- Geography :Bad Oeynhausen is located on the banks of the Weser river, which runs along the eastern edges of the town. Bad Oeynhausen has the world's highest carbonated, thermal saltwater fountain,...
- MindenMindenMinden is a town of about 83,000 inhabitants in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The town extends along both sides of the river Weser. It is the capital of the Kreis of Minden-Lübbecke, which is part of the region of Detmold. Minden is the historic political centre of the...
- BückeburgBückeburgBückeburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, on the border with North Rhine Westphalia. It was once the capital of the tiny principality of Schaumburg-Lippe and is today located in the district of Schaumburg close to the northern slopes of the Weserbergland ridge...
- RintelnRintelnRinteln is a small town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located on the banks of the Weser river above the Porta Westfalica. Population: 28,500.It is accessed by the A2 autobahn .-History:...
- VlothoVlothoVlotho is a town in the district of Herford, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Vlotho is located along the Weser river, south of the Wiehengebirge, bordering on the Ravensberger Hügelland in the west, Lipperland in the south, and the Weserbergland in the east...
Division of the town
The town of Porta Westfalica consists of 15 districts:
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Twin Towns
-
Hansestadt DemminDemminDemmin is a town in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It was the capital of the former district Demmin.- Name :...
(Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, GermanyGermanyGermany , 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...
) -
Waterloo, IllinoisWaterloo, IllinoisWaterloo is a city in Monroe County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,614 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe County.-Geography:Waterloo is located at ....
(USA) - Berlin-Kreuzberg (BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, GermanyGermanyGermany , 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...
)
Buildings and structures
- Jakobsberg Telecommunication TowerJakobsberg Telecommunication TowerJakobsberg Telecommunication Tower is a 142 metre tall TV tower built of reinforced concrete on the 238 metre high elevated Jakobsberg near Porta Westfalica...
, a TV tower with an observation deck. - Monument of Kaiser Wilhelm I, above the gorge, near the village Barkhausen
- Wittekindsburg, remains of an Iron Age "oppidum" (3rd - 1st cent. BC) and Saxon-Frankish fort (8th/9th cent. AD), in the Wiehen Hills near Barkhausen