Altweilnau

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Altweilnau
municipality Weilrod
Coat of arms of the former Altweilnau community
Coordinates: 50 ° 18 ′ 58 ″  N , 8 ° 25 ′ 9 ″  E
Height : 381 m above sea level NHN
Area : 4.89 km²  [LAGIS]
Residents : 872  (Jan 2017)
Population density : 178 inhabitants / km²
Incorporation : 1st December 1970
Incorporated into: Weilnau
Postal code : 61276
Area code : 06083
map
Location of Altweilnau in Weilrod
Altweilnau seen from Neuweilnau Castle
Altweilnau seen from Neuweilnau Castle

Altweilnau is a part of the community of Weilrod in the Hochtaunuskreis in southern Hesse .

geography

Altweilnau is a state-approved resort above the Weiltal . It is located in the eastern Hintertaunus , at an altitude of 370  m , in the middle of the mixed forests and fields typical of the region. Small streets lead to the neighboring towns of Neuweilnau , Rod an der Weil , Oberlauken and Merzhausen . Altweilnau can be reached from the west ( Idstein , Bad Camberg , Bundesautobahn 3 ) and from the east ( Usingen , Bad Nauheim , Bundesautobahn 5 ) via the Bundesstraße 275 . At the foot of Altweilnau, the eponymous Weil flows through the idyllic Weiltal, which is followed by the Weiltalweg , a cycling and hiking trail.

history

Altweilnau Castle, whose ruins have been preserved to this day, was first mentioned in 1208. The builders were the Counts of Diez , of whom one branch was subsequently called Counts of Weilnau . Probably the most important day in Altweilnau's history is May 18, 1336 - the town charter was granted by Emperor Ludwig IV , who however revoked them nine days later at the insistence of the Counts of Nassau .

The place was part of the early iron processing quarter on the Weil: a forest smithy is documented there for the 15th century , to which the houses Nassau-Orange , Eppstein and Kronberg owned rights.

In the course of administrative reform in Hesse , the communities Altweilnau and other communities on 1 December 1970 to a voluntary basis to the municipality joined Weilnau together before this church on August 1, 1972, several previously independent municipalities powerful state law the new municipality Weilrod together was.

The Counts of Weilnau

Between the Lahn on the one hand and the Wetterau , granary of the empire, the Hohenstaufen area of ​​influence and the seat of important count families, on the other hand, the narrow bond of the Weilnau rulership could take on separating and connecting properties. Since the count's brothers Gerhard and Heinrich von Diez were regarded as loyal vassals of the Roman-German King Philip of Swabia , they exchanged their Mainz fief , the Vogtei in Castell , for realm in the Hintertaunus on January 15, 1207 . Gerhard von Diez named himself Count von Weilnau as early as 1208. The castle probably had a separation of goods and titles. However, this can only be determined from 1249–1282 under Heinrich I von Weilnau, who resided here. Since then, the sources differentiate between an older Diezer and a younger Weilnau line of the Grafenhaus.

Protestant church

Heinrich I von Weilnau was close to King Wilhelm of Holland and served as a confidant to Archbishop Werner von Mainz , with whom he moved to Prague in 1261 for the coronation of King Ottokar . Other documents name him as a witness and arbitrator for the archbishop.

While he grew into prestige and wealth, his sons did not use the luck of the hour. Four of them obtained important ecclesiastical offices, but the family owner, Gerhard von Weilnau, owed himself and the family property shared with Diez. His son Heinrich II. Only made sales from Weilnau's property, but the Diezer Line no longer wanted to watch the family property being sold out, and so Count Gerhard IV. Von Diez contractually recorded the ownership shares in 1302. The ancestral castle and the associated spots remained in Diezisches possession. For the Weilnau, now Neu-Weilnau line, Count Gerhard had the Neu-Weilnau Castle built on the opposite Rödelnberg.

With the extinction of the older Diezer line in the male line in 1388, there were also changes for Alt-Weilnau. Since the heir Jutta, Countess von Diez, was married to Adolf von Nassau-Dillenburg, the entire county came into Nassau hands, but half of them owned a different line, as was the case in the Diezische Grafhaus.

Castle history

The first written mention of the county under the name Wilnawe is dated to 1208. Here is also from the castle Altweilnau reported that already existed at that time must how at a dendrochronological investigation of wood in the dungeon inside found out. It was inhabited until 1563.

On the small rocky outcrop, a regular triangular spur investment rises with a high round keep . The vaulted cellar with access to the outside is now filled in. In the northeast, an approximately 14-meter-wide neck ditch had been blasted out of the rock; this is probably where the main entrance was also located. The tower was open, while probably in the southeast one Palas to the curtain wall snuggling.

Remnants of the Altweilnau city ​​wall can probably be traced back to the medieval fortification resulting from the granting of city rights. According to old documents, the complex had seven towers. One of these towers is probably the square gate tower with its steep hipped roof, built in 1340 and still in good condition today.

It is divided into three floors and, among other things, had the meaning of a kind of time announcement in earlier times . The bell was rung for day, night and noon. Today it is in private use and under the roof a pair of kestrels watch over the residents of Altweilnau.

During restoration work in 1980, the original wall thickness of 2.65 m was restored. From a protocol dated August 25, 1980 it says: “The construction of the new wall consists of exposed masonry, largely using existing stone material. It is pegged to the rock both vertically and laterally using reinforcing steel with a diameter of 16 mm. In the lower area, the space is filled with concrete up to the remaining solid remains of the old wall, whereby vertical reinforcement mats are inserted. "

The keep of the Altweilnau castle ruins

Altweilnau castle ruins

Altweilnau Castle was built around 1200 by the Counts of Diez. In 1336 Altweilnau received city rights for nine days and was of central importance. Due to the Thirty Years War , the castle deteriorated. Stones from the system were built into the Altweilnau houses. A strong, round keep (diameter: 8 m, wall thickness: 26 m, height: 17.60 m) with viewing platform, parts of the circular wall and a gate tower with a hipped roof from 1340 are still well preserved today. An old stone staircase and a cast iron spiral staircase lead up to the keep's open viewing platform. This offers a panoramic view of the Weiltal, the town of Altweilnau and Nassau Castle Neuweilnau .

Mining

On December 10, 1593, Peter Sorge received the right to mine for lead here in Altweilnau . Operation began in 1679 and 15 years later the search for lead containing silver was carried out in tunnels and shafts. This lasted until 1720, when the last miner was entered in the church register. In 1818 the development of a mine field began again - the Königsholz. The tunnels went up to 400 m into the mountain and there were several shafts for removal. From 1899, the Bleichzeche I was developed with 6 tunnels and the mining of high-quality lead galena ores began. "The lead was so heavy that you could just load a lump of lead onto a horse-drawn vehicle and then transport it to the train station in Wilhelmsdorf." This was the report of a local who remembered this from that time.

In 1921 a dowser was hired to look for new veins. He found an ore vein, but it could not be discovered despite an extensive search. Therefore, mining was stopped in 1924 due to unprofitability. Mining accidents are not recorded from the entire operating time.

The main ore here was galena . Copper ores and zinc blends occurred only very sporadically.

The disused mines are now home to bats . In winter, the district's bat officer visits the tunnels and counts the animals that have become home. A fairy-tale tale tells of little mountain ghosts who used to help the workers underground with their bone-hard work.

Landstein desert

Landstein church tower ruins

The Landstein desert is located in the area of ​​today's Altweilnau district . see main article: Landstein (desert) .

History in fast motion

time event
1203/1204 The wood for the entablature in the keep interior is felled.
1208 The castle must have already existed, the place is mentioned for the first time.
1213/15 A mill is mentioned for the first time.
1234 The Erbismühle is named.
before 1319 There is a forest iron forge near Altweilnau.
1326 - approx. 1500 Noble Rose von Weilnau are named.
May 18, 1336 Castle and valley are named. The emperor gives the place city rights
May 27, 1336 The city rights are canceled.
1340 The gate is named.
around 1435 The chapel and the parish to Merzhausen are mentioned.
1434 The first forge is built.
1455 The Mappesmühle is built.
1486 Altweilnau receives its own parish with Riedelbach and Oberlauken.
15-17 Century The place receives its own city and court seal.
around 1535 Landstein, Treisberg and Finsternthal are referred to the Altweilnau church.
1609 According to a protocol, the Altweilnau castle has already fallen into disrepair.
1609-1967 School lessons take place regularly in Altweilnau.
1631 The rule of Altweilnau becomes Nassauer
from around 1650 Lead and silver are mined.
1669 Oberlauken is ecclesiastically separated.
1672 Riedelbach is separated from the church.
1833 The parish of Neuweilnau is merged with Altweilnau.
around 1850 The iron industrial production is stopped.
1856 The parish of Neuweilnau becomes independent.
1865 A new church is being built.
1862 The chapel is closed due to dilapidation.
1895 The stairs in the keep is being repaired.
1913 A new school building is being built.
1925 There is repair work in the castle area.
1970 The parishes of Altweilnau and Neuweilnau are merged.
1970 Altweilnau becomes part of the large community of Weilnau .
1972 With the dissolution of Weilnau, Altweilnau becomes part of the large community of Weilrod.
1980-1986 There is restoration work on the castle ruins.

The plans for a Weiltalsperre in the 1950s and 1960s would have meant that the place would have been located directly on this lake. The planning was stopped in 1969.

The last mayor of Altweilnau was Ernst Butz (* 1937, † January 3, 2012). The social democrat was in office from 1965 to 1970.

Culture and sights

art

The bronze sculpture "Bettelfrau" by local artist Elmar Platzen was made in 2009. It refers to a local legend from 1706 about the orphan girl Emilie, who the pastor Binz zu Usingen brought with him from a trip and placed in the family of the paper miller Konrad Heytmann near Neuweilnau. Out of a disappointed love for Johann, the son of the paper miller, she lit the paper mill and fled. 30 years later she appeared as a beggar at the door of Heytmann's paper mill, but Johann, who was now a paper miller, recognized her. Da went out into the cold night and froze to death.

Regular events

Foreign meetings

When the fifth season of the year is ushered in every February, the residents of Aleween put on their fool's hat and invite them to a stranger's meeting. This tradition has been around since the 1970s. The fire brigade and sports club organize the carnival, which has already become well known outside of Altweilnau.

Deciduous male

This old custom is still practiced on Whit Monday by the pre-confirmants in the village. The deciduous male, usually a small child, is selected from these beforehand. However, who it is is kept top secret. On Pentecost Sunday, the young people decorate a handcart with leaves and colorful ribbons. They meet early in the morning on Whit Monday. The green man gets a cuckoo pipe and is pulled through the place. All children in the village are invited to come along. There is singing and the little leaf man is asked by the residents of the houses to whistle on his pipe. On their way from house to house, the singers usually receive small donations as well as bacon and eggs. When the basket is full, the convoy moves towards the fire station. Here it comes to "baking eggs". The fire brigade has one or two thirst quenchers ready.

Pavement-proof

The "Pflasterfest", the oldest street festival in the Hochtaunus district , always takes place on the third weekend in August in the cobbled town center of Altweilnau and is known far beyond the borders of Altweilnau. In addition to the many stands, the bands and the pavement festival play a particularly important role.

Christmas Market

The Christmas market in the historic center of Altweilnau takes place every two years (in years with an even number) on the first weekend in Advent. At the small, festively illuminated Christmas market, the trumpets of the Altweilnau Trombone Choir sound at dusk. Primarily goods from own production (Altweilnauer production) are offered. From Christmas arrangements to woodwork and handicrafts to homemade jams, knitwear, Christmas cards or children's books, you will find a rich selection of unique items. The entire proceeds will go to the village and the local associations.

societies

  • Altweilnau volunteer fire department
  • Golfclub Taunus Weilrod eV
  • Artist group Colum Altweilnau
  • Culture and support group Burg Altweilnau eV
  • Trombone Choir Weilnau
  • Gymnastics and Sports Club Weilnau 1957 eV

Buildings

The historic center on the hill is dominated by the castle and the gate tower (1340) that was preserved from the city fortifications. In the old town some half-timbered houses from the 16th and 17th centuries could be preserved, for example the town hall with bell tower and cheek from 1909, the surrounding buildings and part of the outer bailey (former castle hotel).

The Protestant parish church from 1865 replaces the older Katharinen chapel (first mentioned in 1352), which had to be demolished because of its dilapidation. The hall building has a classicist interior.

Economy and Infrastructure

Friedwald

Above Altweilnau, opposite the golf course , there is one of only three Friedwäldern in Hesse (since 2006). A cemetery is the possibility of burial outside of cemeteries in a defined area of ​​forest.

The Friedwald car park is also the starting point for various marked circular hikes:

  • To the Bayrhoffer Brunnen (source version from 1840);
  • into the Meerpfuhltal, a side valley of the Weiltal, with a pond of the same name ;
  • to the "Königskanzel", a resting place (480 m), on which a plaque commemorates a summer festival in 1900, when a podium ("pulpit") was attached to four oak trees at a height of 3.50 m, on which a brass band played dance music . The "king" does not mean a specific ruler, but only a reference to the community forest designation Königsholz ;
  • to Albertsruhe , a rocky lookout point from 1937 with a steep access secured by handrails (so-called "100-step path") with a refuge. The view opens up to Altweilnau Castle and Neuweilnau Castle.

Golf course

The 18-hole course, which opened in 1987, was designed by the English golf architect Don Harradine (1911–1996). The course is a venue for PGA championships. The golf course includes practice facilities and restaurants.

Personalities

Personalities who are or were resident in this part of the community Weilrod:

Web links

Commons : Altweilnau  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Altweilnau on the website of the community of Weilrod , accessed on March 25, 2018.
  2. ↑ Amalgamation of the communities Altweilnau, Finsternthal, Mauloff, Neuweilnau and Riedelbach in the Usingen district to form the new community "Weilnau" on November 30, 1970 . In: The Hessian Minister of the Interior (Ed.): State Gazette for the State of Hesse. 1970 No. 50 , p. 2339 , item 2337 ( online at the information system of the Hessian state parliament [PDF; 4.8 MB ]).
  3. ↑ Law on the reorganization of the Obertaunus district and the district of Usingen (GVBl. II 330-18) of July 11, 1972 . In: The Hessian Minister of the Interior (ed.): Law and Ordinance Gazette for the State of Hesse . 1972 No. 17 , p. 227 , § 1 ( online at the information system of the Hessian state parliament [PDF; 1,2 MB ]).
  4. ↑ Karl-Heinz Meier barley, Karl Reinhard Hinkel: Hesse. Municipalities and counties after the regional reform. A documentation . Ed .: Hessian Minister of the Interior. Bernecker, Melsungen 1977, DNB  770396321 , OCLC 180532844 , p. 276 .
  5. ^ Helfrich Bernhard Wencks: Hessische Landesgeschichte. With a document book and geographical charts. Volume 1 (Darmstadt 1783), p. 542.