Zeltingen-Rachtig
Encyclopedia
Zeltingen-Rachtig is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality
belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde
, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bernkastel-Wittlich
district
in Rhineland-Palatinate
, Germany
.
s in the great bend in the Moselle
between Bernkastel-Kues
and Traben-Trarbach
not far from the university town of Trier
. Both Ortsteile – Zeltingen and Rachtig – are found on the river’s right bank where the valley broadens out into very flat country bordering on the Hunsrück
. Zeltingen-Rachtig belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Bernkastel-Kues, whose seat is in the like-named town
.
, Ürzig
and Graach an der Mosel
. The nearest middle centres
are Bernkastel-Kues
, some 5 km away, and Wittlich
, some 10 km away. Trier
lies some 35 km away.
and continental climate
; compared to other regions in Germany, a very warm and sunny climate prevails here. In nearby Brauneberg
on 11 August 1998, a record temperature of 41.2 °C in the shade, the highest ever air temperature recorded in the Federal Republic, was confirmed.
The barrier formed by the Eifel
shields the double municipality from west winds, putting it in a rain shadow
and sometimes subjecting it to a föhn effect. At the same time, the warming of the air is favoured by the only slight exchange of air with the surrounding area. Tied in with this is the high humidity due to ongoing evaporation of water from the Moselle
, which, especially in summer, makes at times for heavy and muggy weather, and which also brings many storms along with it.
date from the time of the Linear Pottery culture
, about 3000 BC. As early as 500 BC, the Treveri
, a people of mixed Celtic and Germanic
stock, from whom the Latin
name for the city of Trier
, Augusta Treverorum
, is also derived, settled in the region around Zeltingen-Rachtig. Celtanc and Raptacum are the oldest names for today’s Zeltingen-Rachtig that have been handed down; they document its Celtic beginnings. Until the 19th century, the double municipality was an enclave of the Archbishopric of Cologne. Cunibert of Cologne, who was once the Archbishop, was descended from the Moselle-Franconian nobility. The local lore has it that he was born at a castle near Zeltingen.
at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.
The municipal election held on 7 June 2009 yielded the following results:
might be described thus: Per pale gules two keys per saltire, the wards to chief and the one in bend surmounting the other Or, and argent a cross sable.
The municipality’s oldest known seal, from the late 14th century, already bears these charge
s, and both refer to the former landholder, the Electorate of Cologne, whose arms are seen on the sinister (armsbearer’s left, viewer’s right) side. The keys on the dexter (armsbearer’s right, viewer’s left) side refer to Saint Peter, who was Cologne’s patron saint.
After having been in use for centuries, the arms were officially granted in 1936.
, Yonne
, France
since 1966
. One well known vineyard is the Zeltinger Sonnenuhr (“Sundial”) at the Bernkasteler Ring winemakers’ association’s wine auction in September 2006, a 2002 Trockenbeerenauslese
from this vineyard fetched a record price for one bottle of €2,100. Other vineyards are Zeltinger Himmelreich (“Heaven Empire”), Zeltinger Schloßberg (“Castle Mountain”) and Zeltinger Deutschherrenberg (“German Lords’ Mountain”). Several wineries, which grow mainly Riesling
, still exist today. Furthermore, there is a cultural path in the form of the Mosel.Erlebnis.Route, which stretches on for 7 km and gives information about the municipality’s history, winegrowing and culture. It leads through both centres and through several vineyards. Inge Schwaab, the 1963/1964 German Wine Queen, comes from Zeltingen-Rachtig.
Volunteer fire brigades, parish communities and several clubs characterize village cultural life in Zeltingen-Rachtig. In the Zeltingen Rowing Association (Rudergesellschaft Zeltingen), which counts two world champions in lightweight fours without coxswain
and an Olympian among its members, there is a very successful and active rowing
club.
Säubrennersage (a legend that tells of a sow that inadvertently allowed a siege force to enter Wittlich, sack it and burn it down after she ate the turnip that the gatekeeper had used instead of the bolt, which he could not find; all swine in the town were accordingly punished with burning – meaning, in effect, a huge pork barbecue). Both events are among the Trier Region’s biggest folk festivals.
play an important rôle. A local supply of food is guaranteed: a bakery, a grocer’s shop, medical practices, several inns, a post office and a bank branch can all be found in the municipality. Zeltingen-Rachtig also has at its disposal two kindergarten
s, a special school, a campground, a miniature golf course, parklands along the Moselle and a sporting ground. The municipality has several hotels, restaurants and many commercial and private lodging providers with roughly 1,000 guest beds.
with a lock
. In planning for Bundesstraße
50, right near Zeltingen-Rachtig, is the Hochmoselbrücke
as part of the Hochmoselübergang – a highway link between Belgian and Dutch harbors and the Frankfurt area. Public transport is integrated into the Verkehrsverbund Region Trier (VRT), whose fares therefore apply.
and director Franz Porten, whose daughters Rosa and Henny Porten were early filmstars.
In Zeltingen, the brothers Jost and Matthias Schömann-Finck grew up. In August 2009, the then 26- and 30-year-olds, together with the Jochen twins and Martin Kühner from Saarbrücken, became rowing world champions in lightweight fours.
Stephan Ehses (b. 9 December 1855 in Zeltingen as a winemaker’s son; d. 19 January 1926 in Rome
) was a Catholic church historian.
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 Bernkastel-Wittlich
Bernkastel-Wittlich
Bernkastel-Wittlich is a district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Vulkaneifel, Cochem-Zell, Rhein-Hunsrück, Birkenfeld, Trier-Saarburg and Bitburg-Prüm.- 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...
.
Location
The municipality lies surrounded by vineyardVineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
s in the great bend in the Moselle
Moselle
Moselle is a department in the east of France named after the river Moselle.- History :Moselle is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
between Bernkastel-Kues
Bernkastel-Kues
Bernkastel-Kues is a well-known winegrowing centre on the Middle Moselle in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany...
and Traben-Trarbach
Traben-Trarbach
Traben-Trarbach on the Middle Moselle is a town in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the seat of the like-named Verbandsgemeinde and a state-recognized climatic spa .- Location :...
not far from the university town of Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
. Both Ortsteile – Zeltingen and Rachtig – are found on the river’s right bank where the valley broadens out into very flat country bordering on the Hunsrück
Hunsrück
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...
. Zeltingen-Rachtig belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Bernkastel-Kues, whose seat is in the like-named town
Bernkastel-Kues
Bernkastel-Kues is a well-known winegrowing centre on the Middle Moselle in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany...
.
Nearby municipalities
Neighbouring municipalities are, among others, ErdenErden
Erden is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :...
, Ürzig
Ürzig
Ürzig is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :...
and Graach an der Mosel
Graach an der Mosel
Graach an der Mosel is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :...
. The nearest middle centres
Central Place Theory
Central place theory is a geographical theory that seeks to explain the number, size and location of human settlements in an urban system. The theory was created by the German geographer Walter Christaller, who asserted that settlements simply functioned as 'central places' providing services to...
are Bernkastel-Kues
Bernkastel-Kues
Bernkastel-Kues is a well-known winegrowing centre on the Middle Moselle in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany...
, some 5 km away, and Wittlich
Wittlich
The town of Wittlich is the seat of the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and thereby the middle centre for a feeder area of 56 municipalities in the Eifel and Moselle area with its population of roughly 64,000...
, some 10 km away. Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
lies some 35 km away.
Climate
Zeltingen-Rachtig lies in a transitional zone between temperate oceanic climateOceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
and continental climate
Continental climate
Continental climate is a climate characterized by important annual variation in temperature due to the lack of significant bodies of water nearby...
; compared to other regions in Germany, a very warm and sunny climate prevails here. In nearby Brauneberg
Brauneberg
Brauneberg is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is known above all for its wine and its meteorological distinctions.- Location :The municipality lies on the...
on 11 August 1998, a record temperature of 41.2 °C in the shade, the highest ever air temperature recorded in the Federal Republic, was confirmed.
The barrier formed by 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....
shields the double municipality from west winds, putting it in a rain shadow
Rain shadow
A rain shadow is a dry area on the lee side of a mountainous area. The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems, casting a "shadow" of dryness behind them. As shown by the diagram to the right, the warm moist air is "pulled" by the prevailing winds over a mountain...
and sometimes subjecting it to a föhn effect. At the same time, the warming of the air is favoured by the only slight exchange of air with the surrounding area. Tied in with this is the high humidity due to ongoing evaporation of water from the Moselle
Moselle
Moselle is a department in the east of France named after the river Moselle.- History :Moselle is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, which, especially in summer, makes at times for heavy and muggy weather, and which also brings many storms along with it.
History
Remnants of human settlements near Bernkastel-KuesBernkastel-Kues
Bernkastel-Kues is a well-known winegrowing centre on the Middle Moselle in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany...
date from the time of the Linear Pottery culture
Linear Pottery culture
The Linear Pottery culture is a major archaeological horizon of the European Neolithic, flourishing ca. 5500–4500 BC.It is abbreviated as LBK , is also known as the Linear Band Ware, Linear Ware, Linear Ceramics or Incised Ware culture, and falls within the Danubian I culture of V...
, about 3000 BC. As early as 500 BC, the Treveri
Treveri
The Treveri or Treviri were a tribe of Gauls who inhabited the lower valley of the Moselle from around 150 BCE, at the latest, until their eventual absorption into the Franks...
, a people of mixed Celtic and Germanic
Germanic peoples
The Germanic peoples are an Indo-European ethno-linguistic group of Northern European origin, identified by their use of the Indo-European Germanic languages which diversified out of Proto-Germanic during the Pre-Roman Iron Age.Originating about 1800 BCE from the Corded Ware Culture on the North...
stock, from whom the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
name for the city of Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
, Augusta Treverorum
History of Trier
Trier in Rhineland-Palatinate, whose history dates to the Roman Empire, is often claimed to be the oldest city in Germany. Traditionally it was known in English by its French name of Treves.- Prehistory :...
, is also derived, settled in the region around Zeltingen-Rachtig. Celtanc and Raptacum are the oldest names for today’s Zeltingen-Rachtig that have been handed down; they document its Celtic beginnings. Until the 19th century, the double municipality was an enclave of the Archbishopric of Cologne. Cunibert of Cologne, who was once the Archbishop, was descended from the Moselle-Franconian nobility. The local lore has it that he was born at a castle near Zeltingen.
Municipal council
The council is made up of 16 council members, who were elected by proportional representationProportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.
The municipal election held on 7 June 2009 yielded the following results:
| CDU | FWG | BGL | Total | |
| 2009 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 16 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 pale gules two keys per saltire, the wards to chief and the one in bend surmounting the other Or, and argent a cross sable.
The municipality’s oldest known seal, from the late 14th century, already bears these 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...
s, and both refer to the former landholder, the Electorate of Cologne, whose arms are seen on the sinister (armsbearer’s left, viewer’s right) side. The keys on the dexter (armsbearer’s right, viewer’s left) side refer to Saint Peter, who was Cologne’s patron saint.
After having been in use for centuries, the arms were officially granted in 1936.
Town partnerships
Zeltingen-Rachtig fosters partnerships with the following places: Saint-FlorentinSaint-Florentin, Yonne
Saint-Florentin is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.-Twin towns:Saint-Florentin is twinned with Zeltingen-Rachtig, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.-References:*...
, Yonne
Yonne
Yonne is a French department named after the Yonne River. It is one of the four constituent departments of Burgundy in eastern France and its prefecture is Auxerre. Its official number is 89....
, France
France
The 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...
since 1966
Village culture
With 133 ha of vineyards, the double municipality is among the biggest winegrowing centres on the Middle MoselleMoselle
Moselle is a department in the east of France named after the river Moselle.- History :Moselle is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
. One well known vineyard is the Zeltinger Sonnenuhr (“Sundial”) at the Bernkasteler Ring winemakers’ association’s wine auction in September 2006, a 2002 Trockenbeerenauslese
Trockenbeerenauslese
Trockenbeerenauslese is a German language wine term for an intensely sweet dessert wine-style wine....
from this vineyard fetched a record price for one bottle of €2,100. Other vineyards are Zeltinger Himmelreich (“Heaven Empire”), Zeltinger Schloßberg (“Castle Mountain”) and Zeltinger Deutschherrenberg (“German Lords’ Mountain”). Several wineries, which grow mainly Riesling
Riesling
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
, still exist today. Furthermore, there is a cultural path in the form of the Mosel.Erlebnis.Route, which stretches on for 7 km and gives information about the municipality’s history, winegrowing and culture. It leads through both centres and through several vineyards. Inge Schwaab, the 1963/1964 German Wine Queen, comes from Zeltingen-Rachtig.
Volunteer fire brigades, parish communities and several clubs characterize village cultural life in Zeltingen-Rachtig. In the Zeltingen Rowing Association (Rudergesellschaft Zeltingen), which counts two world champions in lightweight fours without coxswain
Coxswain
The coxswain is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives us a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cox, a coxboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain, which can be rendered as boy, in authority. ...
and an Olympian among its members, there is a very successful and active rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
club.
Regular events
Local history and wine festivals are regularly held. Highlights are the Street Wine Festival (Weinstraßenfest) and the Wine Fair (Weinkirmes) in Rachtig, as well as the Days of the Open Wine Cellars (Tage der offenen Weinkeller), the Wine and Street Festival (Wein- und Straßenfest) and the Wine Fair, each held in Zeltingen. Further concerts, practice of customs, dancing evenings and other public festivals are regularly staged. The operetta Zeltinger Himmelreich is produced every other year by more than 100 amateur performers on Zeltingen’s old marketplace; active in this are mainly members of the local clubs. In nearby Bernkastel-Kues, the Großes Weinfest der Mittelmosel (“Great Wine Festival of the Middle Moselle”) is held each year in late summer, and the Zeltingen-Rachtig winemakers have their own booth there. Also, in Wittlich, there is the Säubrennerkirmes (“Sow Burner Fair”); it is one of Rhineland-Palatinate’s biggest folk festivals and was begun in 1951, based on the mediaevalMiddle 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...
Säubrennersage (a legend that tells of a sow that inadvertently allowed a siege force to enter Wittlich, sack it and burn it down after she ate the turnip that the gatekeeper had used instead of the bolt, which he could not find; all swine in the town were accordingly punished with burning – meaning, in effect, a huge pork barbecue). Both events are among the Trier Region’s biggest folk festivals.
Economy and infrastructure
Winegrowing and tourismTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
play an important rôle. A local supply of food is guaranteed: a bakery, a grocer’s shop, medical practices, several inns, a post office and a bank branch can all be found in the municipality. Zeltingen-Rachtig also has at its disposal two kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
s, a special school, a campground, a miniature golf course, parklands along the Moselle and a sporting ground. The municipality has several hotels, restaurants and many commercial and private lodging providers with roughly 1,000 guest beds.
Transport
Near Zeltingen-Rachtig is a weir on the MoselleMoselle
Moselle is a department in the east of France named after the river Moselle.- History :Moselle is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
with a lock
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
. In planning for Bundesstraße
Bundesstraße
Bundesstraße , abbreviated B, is the denotation for German and Austrian national highways.-Germany:...
50, right near Zeltingen-Rachtig, is the Hochmoselbrücke
Hochmoselbrücke
The Hochmosel Bridge is a planned highway bridge that traverses the Moselle valley near Ürzig and Zeltingen-Rachtig in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany...
as part of the Hochmoselübergang – a highway link between Belgian and Dutch harbors and the Frankfurt area. Public transport is integrated into the Verkehrsverbund Region Trier (VRT), whose fares therefore apply.
Famous people
From Zeltingen came the baritoneBaritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
and director Franz Porten, whose daughters Rosa and Henny Porten were early filmstars.
In Zeltingen, the brothers Jost and Matthias Schömann-Finck grew up. In August 2009, the then 26- and 30-year-olds, together with the Jochen twins and Martin Kühner from Saarbrücken, became rowing world champions in lightweight fours.
Stephan Ehses (b. 9 December 1855 in Zeltingen as a winemaker’s son; d. 19 January 1926 in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
) was a Catholic church historian.