Rietberg
Encyclopedia
Rietberg is a town in the district of Gütersloh
in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
. It is located approx. 10 km south of Gütersloh
and 25 km north-west of Paderborn
in the region Ostwestfalen-Lippe
. The town is located at the river Ems. There are 28,878 people living in Rietberg.
the county of Rietberg was a very small state. Nevertheless, Rietberg had its own military, its own currency and its own laws. Even foreign policy, on a small scale, was conducted independently. Until the 17th century Rietberg coined its own money. Until the 18th century the Government was located in the Palace, built in the 14th century.
At the beginning of the 19th century the Palace was torn down because it was not needed anymore. Only the St. Johns
Chapel from 1748 can still be visited today.
In the year 1807 Rietberg became a part of Prussia
, while the title Count of Rietberg lives on to present day in the House of Liechtenstein, with Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
bearing the title currently.
The village itself was not independent anymore, in the year 1843 the municipality Rietberg was established. Since 1970 Rietberg has been organised politically as it is today.
The best known building in Rietberg is the Town Hall from around 1800 in the centre of the Town. There are several other interesting historical buildings in the town like the Altes Progymnasium, the chapel of St John
or the old Court House. In the historical Town centre there are around 60 old renovated half-timbered
houses. That's why Rietberg is also known as the town of beautiful gables. It's still possible to see where the former Rampart surrounded the Town. Today there is no Rampart anymore, but a Promenade next to the river Ems and the Umflut on which it is possible to have a nice walk around the town centre. In the ward Varensell there is the Varensell Abbey
from 1902.
is the biggest event throughout the year. Every year around 50,000 people watch the Parade at Carnival Monday. After the Parade the people party in the streets and the bars for the whole night.
Other Events are the Maikirmes Fair or the Stoppelkirmes Fair. And there are some traditional Schützenfest
e, which are fair featuring shooting matches in Rietberg.
Since 2004, there has been a summer Guitar Festival every year, with Tommy Emmanuel
.
plant and a schnapps
destillery.
General facts, percentage of employees:
with: Ribérac
, France
, since 1983 Głogówek, Poland
, since 1999
The Landesgartenschau of the year 2008 took place in Rietberg. The Landesgartenschau is a show of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia
that shows gardens and parcs of an area. It takes part in different cities each three years. A lot of parc area has been created for the Landesgartenschau. Now there is an area with parcs, gardens and playgrounds in Rietberg that can only be entered after paying an entrance fee.
Gütersloh (district)
Gütersloh is a Kreis in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Osnabrück, Herford, district-free Bielefeld, Lippe, Paderborn, Soest and Warendorf.-History:...
in the state of 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...
. It is located approx. 10 km south of Gütersloh
Gütersloh
Gütersloh is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the area of Westphalia and the administrative region of Detmold. Gütersloh is the administrative centre for a district of the same name and has a population of 96,320 people.- Geography :...
and 25 km north-west of Paderborn
Paderborn
Paderborn is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the Paderborn district. The name of the city derives from the river Pader, which originates in more than 200 springs near Paderborn Cathedral, where St. Liborius is buried.-History:...
in the region Ostwestfalen-Lippe
Ostwestfalen-Lippe
Ostwestfalen-Lippe , abbreviation OWL, is a region in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, with a 2,000-years-old history and culture. Ostwestfalen-Lippe is the eastern part of the region of Westphalia, joined with the Lippe region. Translated to English, the name would be East...
. The town is located at the river Ems. There are 28,878 people living in Rietberg.
History
Rietberg was first mentioned as 'Rietbike' around the year 1100. This name refers to Ried which is an old name for reed and to 'Bach' which means creek. There was a castle that dated back to the 11th century. From 1237, it was home to the family of the Wenzel Anton Graf Kaunitz, Count of Rietberg. From this time on the part 'Berg' in the name Rietberg refers to the existence of a castle which is called 'Burg' in German. Since that time Rietberg was an independent German territory until the year 1807. In the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The 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...
the county of Rietberg was a very small state. Nevertheless, Rietberg had its own military, its own currency and its own laws. Even foreign policy, on a small scale, was conducted independently. Until the 17th century Rietberg coined its own money. Until the 18th century the Government was located in the Palace, built in the 14th century.
At the beginning of the 19th century the Palace was torn down because it was not needed anymore. Only the St. Johns
John of Nepomuk
John of Nepomuk is a national saint of the Czech Republic, who was drowned in the Vltava river at the behest of Wenceslaus, King of the Romans and King of Bohemia. Later accounts state that he was the confessor of the queen of Bohemia and refused to divulge the secrets of the confessional...
Chapel from 1748 can still be visited today.
In the year 1807 Rietberg became a part 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...
, while the title Count of Rietberg lives on to present day in the House of Liechtenstein, with Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Hans-Adam II , is the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein. He is the son of Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein and his wife Countess Georgina von Wilczek . He also bears the titles Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf, Count of Rietberg...
bearing the title currently.
The village itself was not independent anymore, in the year 1843 the municipality Rietberg was established. Since 1970 Rietberg has been organised politically as it is today.
Sights
John of Nepomuk
John of Nepomuk is a national saint of the Czech Republic, who was drowned in the Vltava river at the behest of Wenceslaus, King of the Romans and King of Bohemia. Later accounts state that he was the confessor of the queen of Bohemia and refused to divulge the secrets of the confessional...
or the old Court House. In the historical Town centre there are around 60 old renovated half-timbered
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. That's why Rietberg is also known as the town of beautiful gables. It's still possible to see where the former Rampart surrounded the Town. Today there is no Rampart anymore, but a Promenade next to the river Ems and the Umflut on which it is possible to have a nice walk around the town centre. In the ward Varensell there is the Varensell Abbey
Varensell Abbey
Varensell Abbey is a house of Benedictine nuns, located near Rietberg in the district of Gütersloh in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany....
from 1902.
Events
In Rietberg carnivalCarnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
is the biggest event throughout the year. Every year around 50,000 people watch the Parade at Carnival Monday. After the Parade the people party in the streets and the bars for the whole night.
Other Events are the Maikirmes Fair or the Stoppelkirmes Fair. And there are some traditional Schützenfest
Schützenfest
A Schützenfest is a traditional festival or fair featuring a target shooting competition in the cultures of both Germany and Switzerland....
e, which are fair featuring shooting matches in Rietberg.
Since 2004, there has been a summer Guitar Festival every year, with Tommy Emmanuel
Tommy Emmanuel
William Thomas "Tommy" Emmanuel AM is an Australian guitarist, best known for his complex fingerpicking style, energetic performances and the use of percussive effects on the guitar. In the May 2008 and 2010 issues of Guitar Player Magazine, he was named as "Best Acoustic Guitarist" in their...
.
Education
Schools in Rietberg:- 7 elementary schools
- 3 secondary schools of the type HauptschuleHauptschuleA Hauptschule is a secondary school in Germany and Austria, starting after 4 years of elementary schooling, which offers Lower Secondary Education according to the International Standard Classification of Education...
- 1 secondary school of the type RealschuleRealschuleThe Realschule is a type of secondary school in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. It has also existed in Croatia , Denmark , Sweden , Hungary and in the Russian Empire .-History:The Realschule was an outgrowth of the rationalism and empiricism of the seventeenth and...
- 1 secondary school of the type GymnasiumGymnasium (school)A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
- 8 libraries
- 1 school for mentally handicapped children
- adult evening classes VolkshochschuleFolk high schoolFolk high schools are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal...
with around 100 courses each semester
Economy
An important industry for Rietberg and the surrounding area is the furniture industry. In Rietberg itself there is a big galvanizingGalvanization
Galvanization is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, in order to prevent rusting. The term is derived from the name of Italian scientist Luigi Galvani....
plant and a schnapps
Schnapps
Schnapps is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage. The English word schnapps is derived from the German Schnaps , which can refer to any strong alcoholic drink but particularly those containing at least 32% ABV...
destillery.
General facts, percentage of employees:
- Industry: 54.5 %
- Commerce: 18.8 %
- Service: 18.3 %
- Agriculture: 1.0 %
- Other: 7.4 %
International relations
Rietberg 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: Ribérac
Ribérac
Ribérac is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France. The commune is situated by the Dronne River.-History:In 1793, the commune of Faye joined with Ribérac. In 1851, a part of the commune was dismembered for the creation of the new commune of Saint-Martin-de-Ribérac...
, 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 1983 Głogówek, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, since 1999
Landesgartenschau
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...
that shows gardens and parcs of an area. It takes part in different cities each three years. A lot of parc area has been created for the Landesgartenschau. Now there is an area with parcs, gardens and playgrounds in Rietberg that can only be entered after paying an entrance fee.
Built-up areas in the town of Rietberg
- Bokel
- Druffel
- Mastholte
- Neuenkirchen
- Rietberg
- Varensell
- Westerwiehe