Overath
Encyclopedia
Overath is a town in the Rheinisch-Bergischer
district
, in North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
.
, in the Bergisches Land. Despite the reclassification as a 'Stadt' (town, though the German understanding leans towards city) years ago due to surpassing the relevant population threshold, the former appellation Gemeinde (parish) seems more appropriate (particularly to the inhabitants) due to the spread-out villages it consists of.
The main settlement is in the Agger
valley, with others spread on the hills surrounding it. The kleine Heckberg (small Heckberg, 348 m) near Federath is the highest point of Overath, and the whole Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis.
Neighbouring cities are Rösrath
in the West, Bergisch Gladbach
in the North-West, Lindlar
in the North-East, Engelskirchen
in the East and Much
, Neunkirchen-Seelscheid
and Lohmar
in the South.
Overath is divided into 7 parts.
When first mentioned in 1060, Overath was called "Achera" (after the Agger river). Presumably because of the first settlement at a clearing (German Rodung) the name changed to "Ouerode" (about 1280), "Ovverode" (1304), "Overadt" (1582), and finally became "Overath".
of Overath was only created on March 3, 1938. It consists of two areas:
church is devoted to Saint Walpurga
(Heilige Walburga). Until 1803 the Benedictine
s had a monastery in Cyriax, a subsidiary of Michaelsberg Abbey
at Siegburg
.
The Catholic
church in Heiligenhaus is devoted to Saint Roch (Heiliger Rochus).
Marialindens church (St. Mariä Heimsuchung) is a pilgrimage
destination for Saint Mary.
Since then it has risen further up to 27,106 in December 2005.
und B 484 federal roads (German Bundesstraßen) as well as the A 4 Autobahn pass through area of the town. The A 4 has got two exits to Overath, Overath-Untereschbach and Overath.
and Marienheide
. The train heading for Cologne departs every 30 minutes, the train heading for Marienheide departs every 60 minutes. Cologne is reachable by train in within 35 minutes.
These traffic connections, together with rural surroundings, make Overath a popular place to live for commuters
.
consists of 38 members. The current breakdown, from the general elections held September 26, 2004, is as follows:
(German Bürgermeister). His first representative is Siegfried Raimann (CDU), his second representaive is Annegret Demski-Heuer (SPD).
Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis
The Rheinisch-Bergische Kreis is a Kreis in the Cologne Bonn Region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring are the districts Oberbergischer Kreis and Rhein-Sieg, and the district-free citiesCologne, Leverkusen, Solingen and Remscheid....
district
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
, 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...
.
Geography
Overath is located about 25 km east of CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, in the Bergisches Land. Despite the reclassification as a 'Stadt' (town, though the German understanding leans towards city) years ago due to surpassing the relevant population threshold, the former appellation Gemeinde (parish) seems more appropriate (particularly to the inhabitants) due to the spread-out villages it consists of.
The main settlement is in the Agger
Agger River
The Agger is a river in Germany, a right tributary of the Sieg in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is 64 km long. Its source is in the Sauerland hills, near Meinerzhagen. It winds through the towns Engelskirchen, Overath and Lohmar. Near Siegburg the Agger flows into the Sieg....
valley, with others spread on the hills surrounding it. The kleine Heckberg (small Heckberg, 348 m) near Federath is the highest point of Overath, and the whole Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis.
Neighbouring cities are Rösrath
Rösrath
Rösrath is a city in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The earliest known documents mentioning the settlement Rösrath can be found in documents dated to 1356. There have been findings of Paleolithic and Mesolithic tools in the city area Forsbach...
in the West, Bergisch Gladbach
Bergisch Gladbach
' is a city in the Cologne/Bonn Region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and capital of the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis .-Geography:Bergisch Gladbach is located east of the river Rhine, approx...
in the North-West, Lindlar
Lindlar
Lindlar is a municipality in the Oberbergischer Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located about 30 km east of Cologne.-Geography:Lindlar is located between latitudes 50°58' and 51°5' N. and longitudes 7°15' and 7°28' E...
in the North-East, Engelskirchen
Engelskirchen
Engelskirchen is a municipality in Oberbergischer Kreis, Germany in North Rhine-Westphalia, about 40 kilometers east of Cologne. The neighbouring municipalities are Overath, Lindlar, Gummersbach, Wiehl and Much.-History:...
in the East and Much
Much, Germany
Much is a municipality in the Rhein-Sieg district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated approx. 30 km north-east of Bonn, and 20 km south-west of Gummersbach.-Twin towns:* Doullens, France, since 1976...
, Neunkirchen-Seelscheid
Neunkirchen-Seelscheid
Neunkirchen-Seelscheid is a municipality in the Rhein-Sieg district in the southern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Beside the two principal places Neunkirchen and Seelscheid there are numerous smaller localities among the municipality....
and Lohmar
Lohmar
-Geography:Lohmar is located about 20 km east of Cologne and 15 km north-east of Bonn in the Bergisches Land area. Because it is only 20 minutes by car to Cologne or Bonn, Lohmar is a popular place for commuters...
in the South.
Subdivisions
- Brombach
- Heiligenhaus
- Immekeppel
- Marialinden
- Steinenbrück
- Untereschbach
- Vilkerath
History
Coat of arms
The coat of 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...
of Overath was only created on March 3, 1938. It consists of two areas:
- The upper area shows the lion of Berg. It symbolizes the former jurisdiction by the Earldom of Berg.
- The lower area shows a golden bellBell (instrument)A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
. It is supposed to symbolize a tradition of bell making. The inclusion of the bell is, however, due to a 15th and 16th century bell making family von Overra[i]de from CologneCologneCologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, which falsely led to belief that bells were cast in Overath.
Religion
The CatholicRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
church is devoted to Saint Walpurga
Saint Walpurga
Saint Walpurga or Walburga , also spelled Valderburg or Guibor, was an English missionary to the Frankish Empire. She was canonized on 1 May ca. 870 by Pope Adrian II...
(Heilige Walburga). Until 1803 the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
s had a monastery in Cyriax, a subsidiary of Michaelsberg Abbey
Michaelsberg Abbey
Michaelsberg Abbey is a former monastery of the Benedictine Order, belonging to the Subiaco Congregation. The monastery is situated on the Michaelsberg , about 40 metres above the town of Siegburg...
at Siegburg
Siegburg
--122.148.78.228 05:06, 14 November 2011 Siegburg is a city in the district of Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany...
.
The Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
church in Heiligenhaus is devoted to Saint Roch (Heiliger Rochus).
Marialindens church (St. Mariä Heimsuchung) is a pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
destination for Saint Mary.
Population
In 1939, the population of Overath was 6,500. In 1946, it already exceeded 10,500 and continued to grow to 15,500 in 1970. The area of the community was extended in 1975, which increased the population to over 20,000.Since then it has risen further up to 27,106 in December 2005.
Roads
The B 55Bundesstraße 55
The Bundesstraße 55 is a Bundesstraße road in Germany, connecting Jülich with Rheda-Wiedenbrück via Cologne, Gummersbach, Olpe and Meschede....
und B 484 federal roads (German Bundesstraßen) as well as the A 4 Autobahn pass through area of the town. The A 4 has got two exits to Overath, Overath-Untereschbach and Overath.
Public Transport
The railway station in Overath connects the Town with CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
and Marienheide
Marienheide
-History:The first documentary mention of the place was in 1417 " in a sales document is called Heydenreich of our dear Mrs. Knecht on the Mergenheyde " -History:The first documentary mention of the place was in 1417 " in a sales document is called Heydenreich of our dear Mrs. Knecht on the...
. The train heading for Cologne departs every 30 minutes, the train heading for Marienheide departs every 60 minutes. Cologne is reachable by train in within 35 minutes.
These traffic connections, together with rural surroundings, make Overath a popular place to live for commuters
Commuting
Commuting is regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full time study. It sometimes refers to any regular or often repeated traveling between locations when not work related.- History :...
.
Medicine
There is no hospital in Overath. The hospitals in Bergisch Gladbach and Engelskirchen do the medication.City council
The city councilCity council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
consists of 38 members. The current breakdown, from the general elections held September 26, 2004, is as follows:
| Party | 2004 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|
| CDU | 19 | 22 |
| SPD | 9 | 8 |
| FDP | 6 | 5 |
| Grüne | 4 | 3 |
Mayor
Andreas Heider (CDU) was elected mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
(German Bürgermeister). His first representative is Siegfried Raimann (CDU), his second representaive is Annegret Demski-Heuer (SPD).
International relations
-
PérenchiesPérenchies-References:*...
, FranceFranceThe 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... -
Colne Valley, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, (today part of KirkleesKirkleesThe Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees is a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 401,000 and includes the settlements of Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Denby Dale, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Kirkburton, Marsden, Meltham, Mirfield and Slaithwaite...
)