Bergisch Gladbach

Bergisch Gladbach is a large district town in the Bergische Land east of Cologne in North Rhine -Westphalia ( Germany ). It is the capital, largest city in the Rheinisch -Bergisch circle and forms a secondary center with currently about 109,000 inhabitants. This makes it one of the smallest major cities in the country. The present city was established on 1 January 1975 as part of local government reform in North Rhine -Westphalia, as the (old ) city of Bergisch Gladbach, was united with the city of Bensberg and the village Schildgen, which then belonged to the municipality of Odenthal to the new city of Bergisch Gladbach ( see § 2 Cologne Act). This merger was the precondition that the population of the city in 1977 could exceed the limit of 100,000.

• 5.1 City Council
• 5.2 Mayor from 1808 to today
• 5.3 City Directors 1946-1999

• 8.1 See also

Geography

Geographical Location

Bergisch Gladbach is located about 10 kilometers east of the Rhine on the strong rising western edge of the Bergische heights ( Bergisch land ) against the Lower Rhine Embayment. In the West, the city adjacent to Cologne. The highest point of the urban area is the Three Jumping ( 50 ° 58 'N, 7 ° 13' O50.9741666666677.2119444444444267 ) with 267.3 m above sea level. NN, the lowest is located west of Refrath at WWTP Bening field to 51.2 m above sea level. NN. The largest expansion of the urban area is in north-south direction and 12 km in west-east direction 14 kilometers.

Neighboring communities

The following cities and towns bordering the city of Bergisch Gladbach, they are listed clockwise starting in the north:

Odenthal, Kurten, Overath and Rösrath (all Rheinisch- Bergisch District ) as well as Cologne and Leverkusen (both county-level cities )

Boroughs

The urban area Bergisch Gladbach is not divided into districts with their own district council. A distinction is made only six statistical districts that are consecutively numbered and divided into several living spaces with its own name for statistical purposes. The living spaces are sometimes referred to as a city. There are mainly names of former smaller settlements, from which developed the current urban area or to new development areas, whose name is embossed for better orientation over time. Bensberg with the associated living quarters was an independent city until 1975. Schildgen belonged before 1975 to the municipality of Odenthal.

• Statistical District 1: Hand Katterbach, walnut, Paffrath, Schildgen
• Statistical District 2: Gronau, Hebborn, Heidkamp, city center
• Statistical District 3: Herrenstrunden, Romaney, sand
• Statistical District 4: Asselborn Bärbroich, Herkenrath
• Statistical District 5: Bensberg, Buck Mountain, fabric roll, Lückerath Moitzfeld
• Statistical District 6: Old - Refrath, Frankenforst, Kippekausen, Lustheide, Refrath

History

The ancient city of Bergisch Gladbach was first mentioned in 1271 as Gladebag. The place later evolved into the core of a consisting of a variety of living quarters area. He belonged to the county or to the Duchy of Berg and was administered by a bailiff from Porz. Then 1808 1806 the area came first under French rule, to the Grand Duchy of Berg and 1815 finally to Prussia. There it belonged first to the province of Jülich -Cleves -Berg and from 1822 to the Rhine province. Within the Prussian settlements were initially to the district of Mülheim am Rhein. 1848 emerged the addition Bergisch first time in a postmark on, although he was known since the beginning of the 19th century now and then. 1856 Bergisch Gladbach received its town charter. The young city had about 5,000 inhabitants. From 1863 the city bore, in particular the distinction of Munich- Gladbach, (initially in Munich and later Gladbach in Mönchengladbach renamed) officially the additional name Bergisch.

After Mülheim am Rhein was incorporated in 1914 in the city of Cologne, was created in 1932 from the rest of Mülheim circle and the circle Wipperfuerth the Rheinisch- Bergisch district. Bergisch Gladbach became county seat. During World War II Bergisch Gladbach and the surrounding areas were largely spared from destruction. As part of local government reform in Bergisch Gladbach and Bensberg were combined with the involvement of the district Schildgen on 1 January 1975 the new city of Bergisch Gladbach. The city was county town of slightly enlarged Rheinisch- Bergische circle. A few years later (1977 ) the population crossed the border and hundreds of thousands of Bergisch Gladbach was big city.

With the merger of the two cities Bergisch Gladbach and Bensberg Bergisch Gladbach to a new city in 1975, you had to organize new structures. It was decided to introduce residential places, some of which no longer consistent with the earlier and by the inhabitants "felt " districts. For example, had both cities 'centers' that you no longer wanted to be identified as such. The new living space Bensberg kept the old name with his whole heart. For the " middle " of the old city of Bergisch Gladbach you chose the name Gladbach. This led to misunderstandings but occasionally what was meant exactly that. Therefore, the city council of Bergisch Gladbach decided on 12 January 1999 that the name Bergisch Gladbach should now apply to the entire metropolitan area. For the previous living place Gladbach, the Council decided to adopt the name of the city center. It is by no means a " center " just about the Konrad -Adenauer-Platz around. It is much larger and has partially added yet acquired territories of other former districts. For example, the former district Gronau went before to the " Driescher cross." The reorganization Gronau ended at the railway embankment. What lay in between, the city center was slammed - even the Gronau inn. The Gartensiedlung Gronauerwald belonged recently to Heidkamp. The list goes on and on.

The City Archives Bergisch Gladbach ensures the historical tradition of the cities Bergisch Gladbach (old and new city) and Bensberg and their dwelling places and predecessor municipalities and makes them available to the public. Located in the city center City Archives publishes its own series of books local history.

Religions

The territory of the present-day city Bergisch Gladbach belonged from the beginning to the Archbishopric of Cologne and to the Archdeacon of the provost of St. Cunibert, deanery Deutz. As the oldest parish church in the city area is considered the Church of St. Clement in Paffrath. From the Clemens- parish later broke from Gladbach and sand, of Gladbach Paffrath and more parishes were abgepfarrt in the 19th and 20th century, as in 1912 and 1926 Hebborn Gronau. Since 1827 all belonged to the Catholic parishes of the deanery area to Mülheim am Rhein. Bensberg 1896 seat of a deanery own. Today, the parishes of the city to the deanery include Bergisch Gladbach.

Today's Catholic churches in the city are St. Lawrence (city center), St. Mary ( Gronau ), Epiphany ( Hebborn ), St. Konrad (hand), St. Joseph ( Heidkamp ), St. Clement ( Paffrath ), St. Severin (sand ), Sacred Heart ( Schildgen ), St. John the Baptist ( Herrenstrunden ), St. Nicholas ( Bensberg ), St. Mary the Queen ( Frankenforst ), St. Anthony Abbot ( Herkenrath ), St. Joseph ( Moitzfeld ), St. Elisabeth ( Refrath ) and St. John the Baptist ( Refrath ).

In Bergisch Gladbach 1582 came the first time to also reformed papermakers. They belonged from 1589 to Bergisch synod. 1610-1621 there was a Reformed pastor for Bergisch Gladbach and Bensberg. The church members, the church was left Bensberger. But the church handed the Bergische bailiff in 1618 again the Catholics, after the Duke of Berg was 1614 again converted to Catholicism. In the following period, the area was again almost entirely Catholic, but the Protestants were tolerated any longer. Until 1638, they formed in Bensberg still a "secret " community and were then cared for by Mülheim am Rhein.

1775 founded the paper producer Heinrich Schnabel in Bergisch Gladbach own reformed church that a church built in 1776, today's Church of Grace. The village belonged to the Düsseldorf class. At that time, a Lutheran congregation was formed. Both united in 1817 to the Protestant community Gladbach, after his time in the entire Kingdom of Prussia, to the territory now belonged to the Union had been consummated between Reformed and Lutheran congregations of the Evangelical Church in Prussia. The church members Bergisch Gladbach town belonged then to Mülheim Synod or Mülheim class and later came to the church district of Cologne in the Rhine Province church, from which emerged the present Evangelical Church in the Rhineland. Also in Bensberg settled in the 19th century down again Protestants. They stopped in Bensberg Castle from their services. The priest came from Bergisch Gladbach. However, 1937/38, was able to build its own church, the small community. Since the division of the church district of Cologne in 1964, the parishes of the city Bergisch Gladbach to the church district include Cologne rechtsrheinisch within the Evangelical City Church Association Cologne of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland.

Today's evangelical churches in the city are Grace Church, Holy Spirit Church, Church of the peace of God, Church to wells of salvation and St. Andrew's Church (all in Bergisch Gladbach ) and the Evangelical Church Bensberg.

Besides the two large churches, there are two Evangelical Free Church congregations ( Baptist, Brethren movement ), the Seventh- day Adventist Church, the New Apostolic Church and Free Evangelical Church. For the 150th anniversary of the city in 2006 a documentary on the development of communities of faith in Bergisch Gladbach was published from 1945 until today.

45.9 % of the population belong to the Roman Catholic Church, 21.2% are Protestants and about 33 % are adherents of other religions ( Muslims, Alevis, Baha'i, Jews, and others) or not belong to a religious community.

Population Development

1895 Bergisch Gladbach had 10,000 inhabitants, and 1933 this number doubled to 20,000. Until 1960 there was a further doubling to 40,000 inhabitants. On January 1, 1975, joined Bergisch Gladbach ( 51,771 inhabitants in 1974 ), most of the city Bensberg ( 47,209 inhabitants in 1974 ) and the district of the municipality of Odenthal Schildgen the new city Bergisch Gladbach together. 1977 exceeded the population of the city of Bergisch Gladbach the limit of 100,000, which was a major city.

The following overview shows the numbers of inhabitants by the respective territorial status. By 1810, there are usually estimates, then to census results (¹) or official updates by the respective statistical offices. The data refer to 1871, "Spatial Present population," from 1925 to the resident population and since 1987 the "population at the main place of residence ". The population was calculated using non-uniform collection procedures Before 1871.

Policy

Most settlements in present-day city of Bergisch Gladbach remained relatively insignificant until the 19th century. The whole area was administered by the bailiff or high bailiff in Porz. Since the 17th century this had an office administrator. Under him were the one of the top magistrate in Bensberg, who was responsible for the administration and for police duties and on the other hand the waiter in Bensberg for Dominalgüter and taxes. Both had their organs, treasure Heber, head, messenger and Aldermen in Bergisch Gladbach. 1808, the municipal constitution was introduced in Bergisch Gladbach. After that stood at the head of the municipality the mayor, the adjutant stood as a councilor to the side. From the Mairie was 1813, the mayor's office with a mayor and a municipal council, which was maintained even after the city survey in 1856. However, the number of city councilors later increased from 18 to 24, also in Bensberg in the 19th century there was a mayor and a municipal council.

During the time of the Nazis, the mayors of both communities of the NSDAP were used. After the Second World War, the military government of the British zone of occupation put each one a new mayor and 1946 they introduced the Communal Constitution on the British model. Then there was a popularly elected City Council, whose members were city councilor. The Council elected first mayor from among its members as Chairman and representatives of the city, who was an honorary capacity, and in 1946 a full-time city manager as head of the city administration. Since the unification of the two cities in 1975 there were only a common mayor and a city manager. In 1999, the double peak in the city administration has been abandoned. Since there is only the full-time mayor. This is the Chairman of the Council, head of the city administration and representative of the city. He has since been elected directly by the people.

On September 21, 2003 prevented a referendum, that the sewage plant Bergisch Gladbach including the entire canal network was part of a cross- border leasing contract.

City Council

• CDU: 25
• SPD: 16
• Green: 8
• FDP: 6
• KIDitiative: 2
• Left: 2
• FWG: 2
• BfBB Template: Election chart / Maintenance / code: 1

The City Council is the local representation of the people of the city of Bergisch Gladbach. The awarding of the 62 seats decided by the citizens every five years by universal, direct, free, equal and secret elections.

The fraction BfBB (Citizens for Bergisch Gladbach and Bensberg eV ) is dissolved. Two former BfBB Council members have resigned from the BfBB and have their own faction FWG formed. A BfBB Member ( Chairman of the BfBB ) joined the faction DIE LINKE. The Group has changed its name in summer 2010 in the Left. / BfBB.

Mayor from 1808 to today

City Directors 1946-1999

Coat of Arms, Flag and Banner

The city of Bergisch Gladbach has been awarded with certificate of the provincial government in Cologne from 6 April 1977 the right to bear a coat of arms, a seal and a flag and a banner.

Coat of Arms of 1905 - 1977

Coat of arms of the former city of Bensberg

Flag

Banner

Alternative flag

Alternative banner

Blazon: ". In green over a silver ( white ) Exchange battlements bar a growing red gezungter and red reinforced golden (yellow ) lion, including a herschauender golden (yellow ) deer head " The Bergische lion is the heraldic animal of the county or of the Duchy of Berg, the in the region very early on had possessions. He was also seen in Bergisch Gladbach old coat of arms. The stag's head is taken from the old Bensberger coat of arms and is intended to indicate the forest, which played an important role throughout history in Bensberg. The change battlements beams, taken from the historical coat of arms of the Counts of Berg, is intended to indicate the Bergische Land and combine the symbols of both cities. He was also depicted in ancient Bergisch Gladbach crest.

Description of the flag according to the Main Articles of Association: " The flag has a horizontal division in the colors green, white and green. The outer two green stripes take one sixth each, the middle white stripe occupies four -sixth of the width of the flag. " Indeed, various versions of the flag or banner will be shown.

Twinning

Culture and sights

A nationally known landmark and one of the landmarks of the city is in the population initially controversial town hall in the district of Bensberg ( in the vernacular: " Monkey Rock " ), designed by architect Gottfried Böhm, integrated, instead of these to restore the building in the old castle. By the same architect also comes the citizens Bergischer Lion, the Catholic Sacred Heart Church in Schildgen district, and the Children's Village in Bethany Refrath district. The oldest building in the city and in the Rheinisch - Bergisch district is the baptistery in Refrath. It was built from the 10th to the 12th century and stands on the foundations of a wooden church from the 9th century. Also, the present small cemetery with its old grave stones is worth seeing. At other churches are to be mentioned: St. Lawrence Catholic parish church of the main city in the Romanesque Revival style, which evolved in stages and was not completed until the early 20th century; in the interior, especially the holy figures from the year 1411 and the treasury of the church are worth seeing, and also the Evangelical Church of Grace, which was built in 1776 as a Protestant church. In Bensberg the parish church of St. Nicholas is the main Catholic church. The Protestant church was built only in 1937 /38.

Other places of interest are (now luxury hotels and - restaurants both), the castle Zweiffel Schloss Bensberg, the hunting lodge built in 1703-1711 by the Venetian architect Matteo d' Alberti of the Elector Jan Wellem, which was also described by JW Goethe, castle Lerbach (since 2004 privately owned and not open to the public ) and the Maltese Commandery ( now a hotel and restaurant) in Herrenstrunden. At the centrally located in Bergisch Gladbach Konrad -Adenauer-Platz is the 1905/1906 Built in the historicist style City Hall by architect Ludwig Bopp. There are also the Villa Zanders and the community center Bergischer lion. The former residence of the paper manufacturer Zanders family now houses the Municipal Gallery Villa Zanders. The opposite citizens Bergischer Löwe, this also designed by the architect Gottfried Böhm, offers numerous theaters and concert touring schedule. The cultural life and the culture house Zanders to the seat of the Altenberg - Domvereins and the paper -historical collection Zanders, the Paper Museum Old Dombach, a regional museum of the LVR Industrial Museum, the Bergische Museum of Mining, Manufacturing and Trade, the school museum Bergisch include Gladbach Collection Cüppers and Kindergarten Museum North Rhine -Westphalia. In addition, the center has the Kindergarten Museum and in the district Herkenrath the farmhouse museum. The art of puppetry has a home in the doll's pavilion Bensberg.

In the living place buck mountain lies at the height of the 1924 built by the architect Bernard Rotterdam as a seminary Cardinal Schulte- house, the Thomas - Morus -Akademie Bensberg houses sponsored by the Diocesan Council in Cologne today.

Bergisch Gladbach is the only city with two four toques chefs by Gault Millau (19 and 19.5 points). Both were awarded with Michelin stars:

• Joachim Wissler (Restaurant Vendôme at the Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg ) with three stars
• Nils Henkel (Gourmet Restaurant Schloss Lerbach ) with two stars.

The Urban Community Culture gives once a year named after Louis Bopp Culture Award THE BOPP to successful members and / or cross-divisional projects of artistic collaboration. 2010 the award went to the free musical theater Viva l' Opera ..