Neffelbach

The Neffelbach at Hochkirchen

The Neffelbach is a 40.3 km long, orographic left tributary of the Erft in Zuelpicher Borde, North Rhine -Westphalia ( Germany ).

Source

The creek rises in the district of Düren, NRW, near Nideggen Wollersheim only about 100 m from the watershed Meuse / Rhine River.

Name

The forth scan of the name " Neffel " from the Rhine " Nevvel " (fog ), as the bank of the stream often in the morning would be amongst the fog is today considered outlandish. Rather, one can still root for the vorgermanische river napa, nafa, nep, similar to the old name of the Erft, arnafa be used, possibly in the diminutive ending with -el or la, so Neffel = small river in contrast to Arnapa = Erft = larger river.

Run

In urban Zuelpich then it flows through the district of Euskirchen, comes at Sievernich (municipality Vettweiß ) back into the district of Düren and flows through Disternich, Müddersheim, Gladbach and Lüxheim. In Eggersheim it flows into the community Noervenich, which he left at Niederbolheim towards Blatzheim to continue to flow into the area of ​​the city of Kerpen, Rhein -Erft. After 40.3 km joins the old bed of Neffelbaches near the Highway 162 at the bridge over Erftstraße in this river. It performs only at high tide water. Otherwise, the water is passed through the artificial Umfluter to Kerpen around. He is on his journey from the source to the mouth of 338 m above sea level. NN fallen to 76 m.

Talgestalt

Striking is the asymmetry of the creek valley. The western shore is flat, while the eastern shore rises steeply. This is based on the inclination of the north-east sloping and outlined by broken lines arable plates of sunken in the Lower Rhine Basin Erft plaice. The creek was pushed so to the east and has so undercut and steepened its eastern shore. Therefore, it is usually covered with forest or scrub. The valley floor is a wet Sohlental, which is used with meadows. Subsequent to the east soils are only slightly covered with fertile loess. Therefore, often covered with forest or heath. Therefore, the Nörvenich lies on this side of the valley. The western slopes are covered with loess and near the creek with alluvial loess covered and therefore very fertile and with beet or wheat fields.

Settlements

The settlements are close to the ground on the west side of the creek. Immediately at the creek or branching mill trenches were 36 mills, of which no longer is in operation. Tanneries, many of which were previously available in the villages, are now no longer to be found. The moated castles are now mostly used as farms or residences. New extensions are today with a clear view on steep slopes or on the height above the creek.

→ See also List of mills on Neffelbach

Colonization of Neffelbachtales

In the corridors of Gladbach, Müddersheim and Mersheim a strong sprinkling with Roman ruins is available. There were Terra Nigra, Samian ware, wall plaster, broken glass and many others found. There are charted no fewer than 50 Roman ruins sites in this area. For the younger and middle Stone Age stone axes, stone axes, hand axes and more were found. For the intervening periods, Bronze Age and Iron Age, there is no evidence of a bronze ax are out so far been found, which could prove a continuity of settlement.

Conservation

In Düren circle the entire Neffelbachaue is environmentally protected. The Kerpener fracture at the mouth of the creek is one of the Kerpener nature reserves. These and areas around Zuelpich belong to the Rhineland Nature Park.

The creek in the communities Vettweiß and Noervenich was until 1993 the Neffelbachverband (Headquarters: Town Hall Noervenich ) entertained. In the cities and Nideggen Kerpen entertainment was the Erftverband. Since 1993, the Erftverband maintains the entire stream.

Valleys on the route Neffelbach

On 22 April 2007, the bike path was Valleys route on Neffelbach with a day of action opened by representatives of adjacent counties and municipalities. The route leads from the park gate of the national park Eifel in Heimbach to the station in Kerpen- Sindorf and measures about 60 km. Through the course of the valley, the slopes are moderate. The route is well connected to public transport. It also connects the longer bike path stretches along the Rur and the Erft ( Erft bike path and bike path RurUfer ). The bike is marketed by the tourist Rhineland Nature Park.

Viniculture

The vineyards at Neffelbach has been completely abandoned. In previous centuries, was grown on the slopes of Neffelbaches between Wollersheim and Hochkirchen wine.

From the wine time only a few relics are preserved. Only a few field names have yet point to the cultivation of vines, such as in the vineyards or Wingertspfädchen. Terracing as the Rhine, Ahr and Mosel you can still see on the eastern bluff of the creek at Lüxheim, Egger home and the parish church in high churches.

For the area between Wollersheim at the headwaters of Neffelbaches up to Gladbach there is written evidence from the 18th and 19th centuries. Partly documents speak of field-names that come from the viticulture, namely 1755 in Lüxheim and Noervenich, 1551 Oberbolheim and Niederbolheim.

1885 is reported about viticulture on Neffelbach Only very good years bring the grapes, which are supposed to be burgundy origin to maturity.

The largest acreage were on the upper reaches of the creek at Wollersheim, Embken, Juntersdorf and Zuelpich. The wine was sold to records of the country Rentmeisters in the Middle Ages as a good mid-range wine 7-8 guilders per tun.

Already winegrowing in Wollersheim was detected for the year 1338. Recent evidence date from the year 1807. 1816 the vineyards were cleared in Müddersheim. 1836 were invested in Zuelpich yet vineyards with 3082 sticks. In the 20th century, no cultivation of wine is no longer detectable, just below the high kirchener parish church is still grown wine as a hobby.