Heimbach

Heimbach is a small town in the district of Düren in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is near the river Roer in the Eifel hills, about 20 kilometers south of Düren.

Heimbach has the smallest population of any town in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The town has several smaller areas called districts. These are Blens, Düttling, Hasenfeld, Hausen, Hergarten, and Vlatten. Before 1972, each of these places was its own village with its own local government. Today, the main part of Heimbach has around 1,100 people, making it a quiet place to live.

History

Heimbach has a long history. In 1207, the local noble family who lived in Hengebach Castle inherited the County of Jülich, and Heimbach became part of this county in 1237.

After a big fire in 1687, the town was rebuilt, but the castle was left in ruins. Restoration work began in 1904. Today, the restored castle is owned by the town. It is a popular tourist attraction. The castle is on a rocky outcrop and is used as a restaurant and event venue.

In the early 1800s, Heimbach was part of French-controlled areas and later became part of Prussia. The town was connected to the railway in 1903, which helped tourism grow. In 1972, Heimbach became part of the district of Düren.

There are traces of Roman presence in the area, and several historic castles and buildings can still be found around Heimbach. In July 2021, heavy rain and flooding caused damage in the town.

Geography

Heimbach is in a pretty valley next to the Roer River. Hills and small streams are all around. Near Heimbach, you can find the Rour Reservoirs, like Rursee and Heimbacher Stausee, plus other streams such as Heimbach and Fischbach. The area is also part of the Eifel National Park.

The main town of Heimbach and the nearby area of Hasenfeld are between the Heimbacher Stausee lake, the Kermeter hill, and small stream valleys. Other small villages like Hausen, Blens, Hergarten, Vlatten, and Düttling are spread out around the Roer valley and nearby streams. Since 1974, Heimbach has been known for its clean, healthy air, making it a nice place to visit.

Tourism

Heimbach is a popular place for visitors, especially day-trippers from cities like Cologne, Aachen, and Düsseldorf. It is also a nice spot for people from Eindhoven in the Netherlands. The town is famous for its beautiful landscapes in the Eifel National Park and peaceful reservoirs near the Rur Dam. You can visit the Monastery of Mariawald and Hengebach Castle.

Each year in early July, there is a special event called the "Pilgrimage Octave" celebrating the feast day of the "Visitation of Mary". Visitors can see important artworks like the pietá, showing Mary with Jesus, in the parish church of Heimbach. There are also famous music concerts called Spannungen held in a beautiful old power station every June. Hengebach Castle now has an international art academy where you can see art exhibitions and enjoy a meal in the restaurant.

One of the main attractions in Heimbach’s part of the Eifel National Park is the "Barrierefreier Naturerlebnisraum Wilder Kermeter", an area where people can enjoy nature easily. There is also an old station building from 1903 that serves as an information center. The nearby villages of Hausen and Blens offer great views of rocky areas protected for nature. You can even camp near these rocks.

Demographics

Most people in Heimbach are Roman Catholics. They visit churches in places like Heimbach, Hausen, Vlatten, and Hergarten. There are also small chapels in Blens, Hasenfeld, Düttling, and Vlatten.

Politics

The Mayor of Heimbach is Jochen Weiler, who was elected in 2020. The town’s council has 9 members from the Christian Democratic Union, 4 from the SPD, one from the Green Party, one from the FDP, 2 from the UWV ("Independent Voters' Association"), and 3 from the AfD.

Notable people

Heimbach has been home to many interesting people throughout history.

Johann Peter Schroeder was a politician who lived from 1794 to 1876. Georg Frentzen, an architect and university teacher who lived from 1854 to 1923, built the Kraftwerk Heimbach in 1904.

Franz Binz, a member of the German parliament from 1896 to 1965, also lived in Heimbach.

Other notable individuals include Luise Kött-Gärtner, a sculptural artist born in 1953, and Stephan Meyer, a director born in 1947 who sometimes lives in Heimbach. Oliver Krischer, born in 1969, serves as the Minister for Environment, Nature Protection, and Transport for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and previously lived in Heimbach-Hergarten.