Waxweiler
Encyclopedia
Waxweiler is a municipality in the county of Bitburg-Prüm
, in Rhineland-Palatinate
, western Germany
.
Geographical Location:
The town is located in the Eifel, south of Prüm and is accessible through the Autobahn #60. The parish of about 1100 inhabitants lies 345 meters (1,132 feet) above sea level.
History
Roman artifacts dating to 150 AD on the hill "Am Hüttenberg" attest to the early origins of Waxweiler. In the Middle Ages Waxweiler was part of Austrasia in the Frankish Empire. Around 700 AD St. Willibrord (657 - 739 AD) a Benedictine Monk from Northumbria (Great Britain) brought Christianity to Waxweiler (see also Echternach Dancing Procession
) and at that time the Church was founded in the town. The first official documents mention Waxweiler in 943 AD. From 962 AD Waxweiler belonged to the Holy Roman Empire until 1804 AD and the time of Napoleon. Prior to the opening of the Trier-Gerolstein railroad in 1871, four-span stage coaches traversed the routes Trier-Köln and Trier-Aachen. These passed through Waxweiler daily, one going and once coming. Shortly after the start of World War I, two German soldiers on guard duty were killed by friendly fire in Waxweiler. Until the end of WWI in 1919, a stage coach operated from Waxweiler to nearby villages. World War II started in 1939 and on January 8, 1945 a massive bomb attack occurred on Waxweiler. In 1945 and 1946, to make emergency repairs for extensive destruction by bombing and artillery, every able-bodied male inhabitant, age 16 to 60, was obligated to perform repairs or equivalent work without pay. Shortly before Christmas in 2004, a massive fire destroyed the bell tower of the church and caused exstensive damage. The church and tower were rebuilt within two years.
Bitburg-Prüm
The Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm is a district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is bounded by Luxembourg, Belgium and the districts of Euskirchen, Vulkaneifel, Bernkastel-Wittlich and Trier-Saarburg.- History :...
, 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 ....
, western 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...
.
Geographical Location:
The town is located in the Eifel, south of Prüm and is accessible through the Autobahn #60. The parish of about 1100 inhabitants lies 345 meters (1,132 feet) above sea level.
History
Roman artifacts dating to 150 AD on the hill "Am Hüttenberg" attest to the early origins of Waxweiler. In the Middle Ages Waxweiler was part of Austrasia in the Frankish Empire. Around 700 AD St. Willibrord (657 - 739 AD) a Benedictine Monk from Northumbria (Great Britain) brought Christianity to Waxweiler (see also Echternach Dancing Procession
Dancing procession of Echternach
The dancing procession of Echternach is an annual Roman Catholic dancing procession held at Echternach, in eastern Luxembourg. Echternach's is the last traditional dancing procession in Europe....
) and at that time the Church was founded in the town. The first official documents mention Waxweiler in 943 AD. From 962 AD Waxweiler belonged to the Holy Roman Empire until 1804 AD and the time of Napoleon. Prior to the opening of the Trier-Gerolstein railroad in 1871, four-span stage coaches traversed the routes Trier-Köln and Trier-Aachen. These passed through Waxweiler daily, one going and once coming. Shortly after the start of World War I, two German soldiers on guard duty were killed by friendly fire in Waxweiler. Until the end of WWI in 1919, a stage coach operated from Waxweiler to nearby villages. World War II started in 1939 and on January 8, 1945 a massive bomb attack occurred on Waxweiler. In 1945 and 1946, to make emergency repairs for extensive destruction by bombing and artillery, every able-bodied male inhabitant, age 16 to 60, was obligated to perform repairs or equivalent work without pay. Shortly before Christmas in 2004, a massive fire destroyed the bell tower of the church and caused exstensive damage. The church and tower were rebuilt within two years.