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Stolberg (Rhld.)
Encyclopedia
Stolberg (ˈʃtɔlbɛʁk) is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany. It has a long history as an industrial town and belongs to the district Aachen
and the lower district court of Eschweiler
.
in a valley at the fringes of the Eifel
which begins in the East with the Hürtgenwald
and in the South in the municipality of Monschau
. In the North Stolberg borders Eschweiler
.
The core of Stolberg is commonly divided into Unterstolberg (Lower Stolberg) and Oberstolberg (Upper Stolberg) which includes most of the old parts of Stolberg. Other parts of Stolberg are Atsch, Büsbach, Donnerberg, Münsterbusch. In addition the villages of Breinig, Dorff, Gressenich, Mausbach, Schevenhütte, Venwegen, Vicht, Werth, and Zweifall have been
incorporated into Stolberg.
production when Protestant brass producers resettled to Stolberg from Aachen
around 1600 to escape religious persecution and economic restrictions. Accordingly the nickname
of Stolberg Die Kupferstadt (the Copper
City) does not indicate a
connection of Stolberg with copper but derives from yellow copper, another term for brass. The Kupferhöfe (Copper yards), which were originally the locations of brass production and later developed into the mansions of the brass producers, reflect the influence those brass producers had on Stolberg and its economy.
Stolberg lost its importance in the brass production when pure metallic Zinc
became available in the middle of the 19th century. Many brass producers moved into other industries, especially the glass and textile
industries, or specialized in the mass production
of haberdashery.
Stolberg belonged to the Duchy of Jülich
until 1794 when it was occupied by France and became part of the Canton of Eschweiler in the Département de la Roer
. After the Congress of Vienna
, in 1815, Stolberg became part of the
Kingdom of Prussia
.
Stolberg acquired sad fame in the 1960s as the residence of the Contergan producer Grünenthal
. Because of the heavy industry, there has been two diseases named after Stolberg: the 'Gressenich cadmium cattle dying' and the 'Stolberg lead children'.
Stolberg has a significant ultra-right
history, e.g. as the headquarters of Wiking-Jugend
from 1967 to 1991 and as a place of NPD
activities. There are still three Neonazis in the town's parliament.
At the eastern border of the territory of Stolberg is the Wehebachtalsperre (Beck Wehe reservoir) which includes a lookout point.
, handball
, gymnastics
, swimming
, tennis
club
s and a few traditional shooting clubs.
Other sports clubs include the gliding
club Luftsportverein Stolberg, situated at the Diepenlinchen Airfield and the regionally successful artistic cycling
club RSC Münsterbusch.
and Eschweiler
. Stolberg Hauptbahnhof
(central station) is on the Cologne–Aachen railway and served by a Regional-Express train every half hour. Several smaller stations in the centre of Stolberg are connected to Aachen, Alsdorf, Eschweiler, Dutch
Heerlen
and Herzogenrath by the euregiobahn, a slower regional train.
, France, since 1989 Valognes
, France, since 1990/1991 Stolberg
, Germany, since 1990
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. It has a long history as an industrial town and belongs to the district Aachen
Aachen (district)
The district of Aachen is a district in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Heinsberg, Düren, Euskirchen, and also the Netherlands province of Limburg and the Belgian province of Liège.- History :...
and the lower district court of Eschweiler
Eschweiler
Eschweiler is a municipality in the district of Aachen in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany on the river Inde, near the German-Belgian-Dutch frontier, and about 15 km east of Aachen and 50 km west of Cologne.- History :...
.
Geography
Stolberg is located approximately 5 km east of AachenAachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
in a valley at the fringes of the Eifel
Eifel
The Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
which begins in the East with the Hürtgenwald
Hürtgenwald
Hürtgenwald is a municipality in the district of Düren in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the Eifel hills, approx. 15 km south-west of Düren...
and in the South in the municipality of Monschau
Monschau
Monschau is a small resort town in the Eifel region of western Germany, located in the district Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia.-Geography:The town is located in the hills of the North Eifel, within the Hohes Venn – Eifel Nature Park in the narrow valley of the Rur river.The historic town center...
. In the North Stolberg borders Eschweiler
Eschweiler
Eschweiler is a municipality in the district of Aachen in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany on the river Inde, near the German-Belgian-Dutch frontier, and about 15 km east of Aachen and 50 km west of Cologne.- History :...
.
The core of Stolberg is commonly divided into Unterstolberg (Lower Stolberg) and Oberstolberg (Upper Stolberg) which includes most of the old parts of Stolberg. Other parts of Stolberg are Atsch, Büsbach, Donnerberg, Münsterbusch. In addition the villages of Breinig, Dorff, Gressenich, Mausbach, Schevenhütte, Venwegen, Vicht, Werth, and Zweifall have been
incorporated into Stolberg.
History
Stolberg is first mentioned in documents from the 12th century. It became an important centre of brassBrass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
production when Protestant brass producers resettled to Stolberg from Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
around 1600 to escape religious persecution and economic restrictions. Accordingly the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
of Stolberg Die Kupferstadt (the Copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
City) does not indicate a
connection of Stolberg with copper but derives from yellow copper, another term for brass. The Kupferhöfe (Copper yards), which were originally the locations of brass production and later developed into the mansions of the brass producers, reflect the influence those brass producers had on Stolberg and its economy.
Stolberg lost its importance in the brass production when pure metallic Zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
became available in the middle of the 19th century. Many brass producers moved into other industries, especially the glass and textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
industries, or specialized in the mass production
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
of haberdashery.
Stolberg belonged to the Duchy of Jülich
Duchy of Jülich
The Duchy of Jülich comprised a state within the Holy Roman Empire from the 11th to the 18th centuries. The duchy lay left of the Rhine river between the Electorate of Cologne in the east and the Duchy of Limburg in the west. It had territories on both sides of the river Rur, around its capital...
until 1794 when it was occupied by France and became part of the Canton of Eschweiler in the Département de la Roer
Roer (département)
Roer is the name of a département of the First French Empire in present day Germany and the Netherlands. It was named after the river Rur, which flows through the département. It was formed in 1795, when the Southern Netherlands and the left bank of the Rhine were occupied by the French...
. After the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
, in 1815, Stolberg became part of the
Kingdom of Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
.
Stolberg acquired sad fame in the 1960s as the residence of the Contergan producer Grünenthal
Grünenthal
Grünenthal GmbH is a German pharmaceutical company in Stolberg near Aachen, which holds the patent to Ultram , and its much stronger derivative Nucynta , both used as analgesics with Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibition...
. Because of the heavy industry, there has been two diseases named after Stolberg: the 'Gressenich cadmium cattle dying' and the 'Stolberg lead children'.
Stolberg has a significant ultra-right
Far right
Far-right, extreme right, hard right, radical right, and ultra-right are terms used to discuss the qualitative or quantitative position a group or person occupies within right-wing politics. Far-right politics may involve anti-immigration and anti-integration stances towards groups that are...
history, e.g. as the headquarters of Wiking-Jugend
Wiking-Jugend
The "Wiking-Jugend" was a German Neo-Nazi organization modelled after the Hitlerjugend.The Sozialistische Reichspartei was outlawed in 1952, together with its youth organization "Reichsjugend"...
from 1967 to 1991 and as a place of NPD
National Democratic Party of Germany
The National Democratic Party of Germany – The People's Union , is a far right German nationalist party. It was founded in 1964 a successor to the German Reich Party . Party statements self-identify as Germany's "only significant patriotic force"...
activities. There are still three Neonazis in the town's parliament.
Main sights
The town's landmark is a castle which was rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century at the location of the former medieval castle of Stolberg. Other remarkable old buildings are the Kupferhöfe (Copper yards) and the old town in general.At the eastern border of the territory of Stolberg is the Wehebachtalsperre (Beck Wehe reservoir) which includes a lookout point.
Sports teams
Stolberg has several footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
, gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
club
Club
A club is an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal. A service club, for example, exists for voluntary or charitable activities; there are clubs devoted to hobbies and sports, social activities clubs, political and religious clubs, and so forth.- History...
s and a few traditional shooting clubs.
Other sports clubs include the gliding
Gliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
club Luftsportverein Stolberg, situated at the Diepenlinchen Airfield and the regionally successful artistic cycling
Artistic cycling
Artistic cycling is a form of competitive indoor cycling in which athletes perform tricks for points on specialized, fixed-gear bikes in a format similar to ballet or gymnastics...
club RSC Münsterbusch.
Notable natives
- Viktor HoltzViktor HoltzViktor Holtz was a German educator and a pioneer of German-Japanese academic and cultural relations.Holtz as born in Stolberg, Kingdom of Prussia, and studied, from 1865 to 1867, at the Royal Catholic Teacher's Academy in Kempen...
, teacher - Karl Fred Dahmen, painterPaintingPainting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
- Heinz BennentHeinz BennentHeinz Bennent was a German actor.Bennent was born in Stolberg, Rhineland, and served in the Luftwaffe during World War II. His career began after the end of World War II in Göttingen. He moved to Switzerland in the 1970s, where he lived until his death at age 90...
, actor - LaFeeLaFeeChristina Klein , better known by her stage name LaFee, is a German singer/songwriter who has sold more than one million records worldwide. She is most famous in mainland Europe, particularly in German-speaking countries....
, singer
Transport
Although Stolberg lacks direct Autobahn access, the next autobahns are easily accessible via the neighbouring towns of AachenAachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
and Eschweiler
Eschweiler
Eschweiler is a municipality in the district of Aachen in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany on the river Inde, near the German-Belgian-Dutch frontier, and about 15 km east of Aachen and 50 km west of Cologne.- History :...
. Stolberg Hauptbahnhof
Stolberg (Rheinland) Hauptbahnhof
is situated on the line between Cologne and Aachen and is the largest station for passengers and freight in the town of Stolberg in the urban region of Aachen in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It houses the Vennbahn Museum and is built at a junction.-Routes:Stolberger Hauptbahnhof is...
(central station) is on the Cologne–Aachen railway and served by a Regional-Express train every half hour. Several smaller stations in the centre of Stolberg are connected to Aachen, Alsdorf, Eschweiler, Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Heerlen
Heerlen
Heerlen is a city and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. The municipality is the second largest in the province of Limburg. It forms part of Parkstad Limburg, , an agglomeration of about 220,000 inhabitants.After its early Roman beginnings and a rather modest medieval period, Heerlen...
and Herzogenrath by the euregiobahn, a slower regional train.
Sister cities
Faches-ThumesnilFaches-Thumesnil
Faches Thumesnil is twinned with the market town of St.Neots in Cambridgeshire, England, and with the town of Naousa, Greece.-References:*...
, France, since 1989 Valognes
Valognes
Valognes is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.It lies on the Merderet river, southeast of Cherbourg.-History:...
, France, since 1990/1991 Stolberg
Stolberg (Harz)
' is a town and a former municipality in the district of Mansfeld-Südharz, in the German State of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated in the southern part of the Harz mountains, approx. west of Sangerhausen, and northeast of Nordhausen...
, Germany, since 1990