Merzalben

Merzalben is a municipality in the southwest, in Rhineland -Palatinate. It belongs to the municipality Rodalben. Merzalben is a nationally recognized tourist.

Geography

The place is located in the Palatinate Forest Nature Park. Neighboring municipalities are - clockwise - glues (Pfalz ) exclave of Wilgartswiesen exclave of Annweiler am Trifels Wilgartswiesen, Münchweiler Rodalb and Clausen. Nearest large city is the south west of Pirmasens. 91% of the district area is forested.

To Merzalben includes the residential places Birkwieserhof, runners and mountain Wieslauterhof.

History

Merzalben was first documented in 1237. In this document Friedrich III were. of Leiningen in the freight division between the brothers Friedrich III. and Emich of Leiningen IV awarded the Castrum Grebinstein with the villages Merichisalbin Rothalbin and Eiswilre. The village's name derives probably from a Frankish settlers Merchio and the Indo-European word for a white ( clear ) river or stream, namely albiz, from. The stream which flows through the town is, accordingly Merzalb.

A locally known synonym for the inhabitants Merz Albens is " Neecher " ( dialect for " Negro " ), as a pastor in the local church once during Mass the congregation with "You are everything Neecher " should have titled.

Religion

2012 were 63.4 percent of the population Catholic and 22.0 percent Protestant. The other belonged to a different religion or no religious affiliation were. Catholics belong to the diocese of Speyer, the Evangelical Lutheran Church for Protestant Palatinate.

Policy

Parish council

The local council in Merzalben consists of 16 council members, who were elected at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009 in a personalized proportional representation, and the honorary mayor as chairman.

Allocation of seats in the local council:

Coat of arms

The blazon of the arms is: " divided by blue and gold, above a growing gold reinforced silver griffin, a small gold shield with a red oblique wave beams holding, down on green hill a red castle ".

It was established in 1956 approved by the Ministry of Interior of Mainz, reminding to the grip of the former belonging to Baden.

Culture and sights

The 28 meter high tower was built in 1909 Luitpold on the top of 607 -meter-high white mountain as a lookout.

The Gräfenstein Castle is a ruined castle about two kilometers east of Merzalben. She gave the region its name.

See also: List of cultural monuments in Merzalben

Economy and infrastructure

Through the village leads the L 496 to the nearby driveway Thaleischweiler- frogs of the A 62 is connected to the long-distance transport.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Isidor Markus Emanuel (1905-1991), Bishop of Speyer