Hausen, Birkenfeld
Encyclopedia
Hausen is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality
belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde
, a kind of collective municipality – in the Birkenfeld
district
in Rhineland-Palatinate
, Germany
. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Rhaunen
, whose seat is in the like-named municipality
.
. Its elevation is 300 m above sea level
.
, in the east on the municipality of Woppenroth
(Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis), in the south on the municipality of Bundenbach
and in the west on the municipality of Rhaunen
.
as the hub of a great parish, to which, among others, Laufersweiler
, Woppenroth, Lindenschied
, Oberkirn and Schwerbach
belonged.
While Laufersweiler split away from the parish quite early on, Woppenroth entered into parochial ties with Dickenschied
beginning in 1976, after the 1969 administrative restructuring in Rhineland-Palatinate
. Within the same framework, Lindenschied had its own parochial ties transferred from Hausen to Dickenschied. Both municipalities thus also switched from the Trier church district to the Simmern-Trarbach church district. The Hausen Evangelical
parish now encompasses the villages of Hausen, Oberkirn (which has its own church) and Schwerbach.
The church, originally consecrated to Saint Remigius
, still has its Romanesque
quire tower with its four tapering floors. The aisleless
three-sided structure behind it was built on only in 1747 after the mediaeval
nave had fallen into disrepair.
The historical village centre can be found tightly grouped about the church, but there is a newer centre in the village over on a slope. Running from there from the place where the dale broadens out is a farm lane leading to the outlying farmsteads (Aussiedlerhöfe) and then on towards Gösenroth
, which follows an old Schmidtburg
Ritter- und Pfaffenstraße (“knight and parson road” – those two social classes were then particularly mobile), which likely was already used in Roman
times, and which later served as one of the most important transport links between the castles on the Nahe and the Moselle.
Besides agriculture
, forestry
and mills, of which the Hausener Bauernmühle on the Idarbach can still be seen, slate
mining
also held great importance right up to the mid 20th century. In the heavily wooded Kaschecktälchen (a small dale) between Hausen and Oberkirn, great waste heaps and various other relics from the Layen quarry can still be seen.
at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.
The municipality’s arms
might in English heraldic
language be described thus: Per pale Or a lion rampant sinister gules armed and langued azure and gules a house argent masoned sable with two windows and one door of the same.
The German blazon does not mention that the lion is supposed to be sinister (that is, facing heraldic left, which is the armsbearer’s left and viewer’s right).
The lion on the dexter (armsbearer’s right, viewer’s left) side is a reference to the village’s former allegiance to the Waldgrave
s and Rhinegraves. The house on the sinister (armsbearer’s left, viewer’s right) side is a canting
charge
for the municipality’s name, Hausen, derived from the word Haus (“house”). This is drawn from Hausen’s official 18th-century seal, the original stamp for which is at the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn
.
’s Directory of Cultural Monuments:
Also to be seen locally is the Altburg, an ancient Celtic settlement. This lies along the Sirona-Weg (trail), through the Hahnenbach valley.
is a railway station on the Nahe Valley Railway (Bingen
–Saarbrücken
). To the north lie Bundesstraße
50 and Frankfurt-Hahn Airport
.
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 Birkenfeld
Birkenfeld (district)
Birkenfeld is a district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Sankt Wendel , Trier-Saarburg, Bernkastel-Wittlich, Rhein-Hunsrück, Bad Kreuznach and Kusel.- History :...
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 Rhaunen
Rhaunen (Verbandsgemeinde)
Rhaunen is a Verbandsgemeinde in the district of Birkenfeld, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The seat of the Verbandsgemeinde is in Rhaunen....
, whose seat is in the like-named municipality
Rhaunen
Rhaunen is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Birkenfeld district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the seat of the like-named Verbandsgemeinde.-Location:...
.
Location
The municipality lies in the Hahnenbach valley in the central 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...
. Its elevation is 300 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...
.
Neighbouring municipalities
Hausen borders in the north on the municipality of OberkirnOberkirn
Oberkirn is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Birkenfeld district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany...
, in the east on the municipality of Woppenroth
Woppenroth
-Geology:In the Hahnenbach valley and its side valleys, Devonian slate was mined until the early 20th century. All that now bears witness to this epoch in the village’s history is some gallery entrances and tailing heaps.-History:...
(Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis), in the south on the municipality of Bundenbach
Bundenbach
Bundenbach is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Birkenfeld district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany...
and in the west on the municipality of Rhaunen
Rhaunen
Rhaunen is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Birkenfeld district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the seat of the like-named Verbandsgemeinde.-Location:...
.
History
In 1051, Hausen had its first documentary mention, although the village may be even older, for even then, it had a church. With this church, this village set on top of a cliff terrace overlooking a great bend in the Kyrbach was already earning considerable importance 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...
as the hub of a great parish, to which, among others, Laufersweiler
Laufersweiler
Laufersweiler is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany...
, Woppenroth, Lindenschied
Lindenschied
-History:In 1345, Lindenschied, which was then under the High Court of Rhaunen, had its first documentary mention. The document itself stated Lindenschied’s, and several other villages’, legal status, which at this time was disputed, perticularly as to these villages’ rights and boundaries, between...
, Oberkirn and Schwerbach
Schwerbach
Schwerbach is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Birkenfeld district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Rhaunen, whose seat is in the like-named municipality.-Location:The municipality, a...
belonged.
While Laufersweiler split away from the parish quite early on, Woppenroth entered into parochial ties with Dickenschied
Dickenschied
-History:-Prehistory and early history:The Dickenschied area was settled as early as the New Stone Age, as witnessed by finds in the neighbouring municipalities of Woppenroth and Gemünden...
beginning in 1976, after the 1969 administrative restructuring 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 ....
. Within the same framework, Lindenschied had its own parochial ties transferred from Hausen to Dickenschied. Both municipalities thus also switched from the Trier church district to the Simmern-Trarbach church district. The Hausen 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...
parish now encompasses the villages of Hausen, Oberkirn (which has its own church) and Schwerbach.
The church, originally consecrated to Saint Remigius
Saint Remigius
Saint Remigius, Remy or Remi, , was Bishop of Reims and Apostle of the Franks, . On 24 December 496 he baptised Clovis I, King of the Franks...
, still has its Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
quire tower with its four tapering floors. The aisleless
Aisleless church
An 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...
three-sided structure behind it was built on only in 1747 after the mediaeval
Middle 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...
nave had fallen into disrepair.
The historical village centre can be found tightly grouped about the church, but there is a newer centre in the village over on a slope. Running from there from the place where the dale broadens out is a farm lane leading to the outlying farmsteads (Aussiedlerhöfe) and then on towards Gösenroth
Gösenroth
Gösenroth is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Birkenfeld district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Rhaunen, whose seat is in the like-named municipality.-Location:The municipality lies...
, which follows an old Schmidtburg
Schmidtburg
Schmidtburg is a ruin of a former castle next to Schneppenbach in Germany. The castle was built up in 926, and was destroyed during the War of the Grand Alliance by French troops in 1688.-External links:**...
Ritter- und Pfaffenstraße (“knight and parson road” – those two social classes were then particularly mobile), which likely was already used in Roman
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....
times, and which later served as one of the most important transport links between the castles on the Nahe and the Moselle.
Besides agriculture
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...
, forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and mills, of which the Hausener Bauernmühle on the Idarbach can still be seen, slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
also held great importance right up to the mid 20th century. In the heavily wooded Kaschecktälchen (a small dale) between Hausen and Oberkirn, great waste heaps and various other relics from the Layen quarry can still be seen.
Municipal council
The council is made up of 6 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 German blazon reads: In gespaltenem Schild vorne in Gold ein blaubewehrter und -gezungter roter Löwe, hinten in Rot ein silbernes Haus mit 2 schwarzen Fenstern und einer Tür.The municipality’s arms
Coat 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 in English heraldic
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
language be described thus: Per pale Or a lion rampant sinister gules armed and langued azure and gules a house argent masoned sable with two windows and one door of the same.
The German blazon does not mention that the lion is supposed to be sinister (that is, facing heraldic left, which is the armsbearer’s left and viewer’s right).
The lion on the dexter (armsbearer’s right, viewer’s left) side is a reference to the village’s former allegiance to the Waldgrave
Waldgrave
The noble family of the Waldgraves or Wildgraves descended of a division of the House of the Counts of Nahegau in the year 1113....
s and Rhinegraves. The house on the sinister (armsbearer’s left, viewer’s right) side is a canting
Canting arms
Canting arms are heraldic bearings that represent the bearer's name in a visual pun or rebus. The term cant came into the English language from Anglo-Norman cant, meaning song or singing, from Latin cantāre, and English cognates include canticle, chant, accent, incantation and recant.Canting arms –...
charge
Charge (heraldry)
In heraldry, a charge is any emblem or device occupying the field of an escutcheon . This may be a geometric design or a symbolic representation of a person, animal, plant, object or other device...
for the municipality’s name, Hausen, derived from the word Haus (“house”). This is drawn from Hausen’s official 18th-century seal, the original stamp for which is at the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn
Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn
The Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn, or LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn, is a museum in Bonn, Germany, run by the Rhineland Landscape Association. It is one of the oldest museums in the country. In 2003 it completed an extensive renovation...
.
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:
- Saint John’s 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...
Parish Church (Pfarrkirche St. Johann), between Hauptstraße 33 and 35 – RomanesqueRomanesque architectureRomanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
east tower (slated 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...
floor less old), nave with three-sided structure behind, 1747, Baroque Revival portal porches, 1913; characterizes village’s and landscape’s appearance - Across from Hauptstraße 26 – bakehouse with bare oven under a roof, late 19th century
- Hauptstraße 52 – house, partly slated timber-frame, half-hipped roof, 19th century
- Im Bongert 1 – two-leafed house door, echoes of Art NouveauArt NouveauArt Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
, marked 1923
Also to be seen locally is the Altburg, an ancient Celtic settlement. This lies along the Sirona-Weg (trail), through the Hahnenbach valley.
Transport
Serving nearby KirnKirn
Kirn is a town in the district of Bad Kreuznach, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated on the river Nahe, roughly 10 km north-east of Idar-Oberstein and 30 km west of Bad Kreuznach....
is a railway station on the Nahe Valley Railway (Bingen
Bingen am Rhein
Bingen am Rhein is a town in the Mainz-Bingen district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.The settlement’s original name was Bingium, a Celtic word that may have meant “hole in the rock”, a description of the shoal behind the Mäuseturm, known as the Binger Loch. Bingen was the starting point for the...
–Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken is the capital of the state of Saarland in Germany. The city is situated at the heart of a metropolitan area that borders on the west on Dillingen and to the north-east on Neunkirchen, where most of the people of the Saarland live....
). To the north lie Bundesstraße
Bundesstraße
Bundesstraße , abbreviated B, is the denotation for German and Austrian national highways.-Germany:...
50 and Frankfurt-Hahn Airport
Frankfurt-Hahn Airport
-Cargo airlines:-Other facilities:AirIT Services AG, a subsidiary of Fraport, has its head office in Building 663 at Hahn Airport.-References:*Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 USAF Reference Series, Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force,...
.