Eckelsheim
Encyclopedia
Eckelsheim is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality
belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde
, a kind of collective municipality – in the Alzey-Worms
district in Rhineland-Palatinate
, Germany
.
, whose seat is in the like-named municipality
. It lies within the recreational area known as Rheinhessische Schweiz (“Rhenish-Hessian Switzerland”). The village has some 550 inhabitants and an area of 4.92 km², making it the Verbandsgemeinde’s smallest municipality.
standpoint, the village has long been said to be of particular interest. Rather sensational was the 35-million-year-old sea cliff unearthed in an Eckelsheim gravel pit a few years ago.
The municipal election held on 7 June 2009 yielded the following results::
might be described thus: Per bend azure a wheel spoked of six argent and Or a bend gules surmounted by three eagles displayed of the second.
The wheel likely stands for the Lords of Bolanden, who held Eckelsheim until 1360, and the lower half is Lorraine
’s coat of arms, a reference to when sovereignty over the village passed to François III Étienne
, Duke of Lorraine (who later became Holy Roman Emperor). The arms were conferred in 1960.
In 1955, another coat of arms was proposed, based on the only known village seal from 300 years earlier. This would have been “Lozengy Or and gules” (that is, a diamond pattern in gold and red).
church. Since 1982, many cultural events have been being held in the summer months. In 2002, the historic Bellermarkt (market) was held once again around the Beller Kirche ruin; it had last been held in 1902.
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 Alzey-Worms
Alzey-Worms
Alzey-Worms is a district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is bounded by the district Groß-Gerau , the city of Worms and the districts of Bad Dürkheim, Donnersbergkreis, Bad Kreuznach and Mainz-Bingen.- History :...
district 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...
.
Location
The village lies in Rhenish Hesse, and it belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of WöllsteinWöllstein (Verbandsgemeinde)
Wöllstein is a Verbandsgemeinde in the district Alzey-Worms, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The seat of the Verbandsgemeinde is in Wöllstein....
, whose seat is in the like-named municipality
Wöllstein
Wöllstein is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Alzey-Worms district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :...
. It lies within the recreational area known as Rheinhessische Schweiz (“Rhenish-Hessian Switzerland”). The village has some 550 inhabitants and an area of 4.92 km², making it the Verbandsgemeinde’s smallest municipality.
Environment and geology
For many years, this “Wine and Herb Village” has been known for its intensive work on and for the natural environment. Many herb events take place from spring to autumn. From a geologicalGeology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
standpoint, the village has long been said to be of particular interest. Rather sensational was the 35-million-year-old sea cliff unearthed in an Eckelsheim gravel pit a few years ago.
Awards
In 2005, Eckelsheim achieved first place in the countrywide contest Unser Dorf hat Zukunft (“Our Village Has a Future”), and since then has called itself Golddorf. This was made possible by a yearlong effort by many people not only to uphold the village’s charm and character, but also to actively shape and further develop it.Municipal council
The council is made up of 12 council members, who were elected at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairwoman.The municipal election held on 7 June 2009 yielded the following results::
| SPD Social Democratic Party of Germany The Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany... |
CDU | FWG Free Voters Free Voters is a German concept in which an association of persons participates in an election without having the status of a registered political party. Usually it is a locally organized group of voters in the form of a registered association . In most cases, Free Voters are active only at the... |
Total | |
| 2009 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 12 seats |
| 2004 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 12 seats |
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: Per bend azure a wheel spoked of six argent and Or a bend gules surmounted by three eagles displayed of the second.
The wheel likely stands for the Lords of Bolanden, who held Eckelsheim until 1360, and the lower half is Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
’s coat of arms, a reference to when sovereignty over the village passed to François III Étienne
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis I was Holy Roman Emperor and Grand Duke of Tuscany, though his wife effectively executed the real power of those positions. With his wife, Maria Theresa, he was the founder of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty...
, Duke of Lorraine (who later became Holy Roman Emperor). The arms were conferred in 1960.
In 1955, another coat of arms was proposed, based on the only known village seal from 300 years earlier. This would have been “Lozengy Or and gules” (that is, a diamond pattern in gold and red).
Beller Kirche
Standing as a symbol of Eckelsheim is the ruin of the Beller Kirche, a Late GothicGothic architecture
Gothic 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....
church. Since 1982, many cultural events have been being held in the summer months. In 2002, the historic Bellermarkt (market) was held once again around the Beller Kirche ruin; it had last been held in 1902.