Kisselbach

Kisselbach is an ''Ortsgemeinde'' – a municipality belonging to a ''Verbandsgemeinde'', a kind of collective municipality – in the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis (district) in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It belongs to the ''Verbandsgemeinde'' Simmern-Rheinböllen, whose seat is in Simmern.

Geography

Location

The municipality lies in the eastern Hunsrück at the foot of the Soonwald, a heavily wooded section of the Hunsrück, and some 15 km from the Rhine. The Simmerbach flows through the village. Kisselbach is the northernmost municipality in the ''Verbandsgemeinde'' of Rheinböllen.

History

In 1240, Kisselbach had its first documentary mention and from times of yore it was split by the Simmerbach into two like-named villages, one of which belonged to the Archbishopric of Trier. Beginning in 1794, both villages lay under French rule. In 1814, they were assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. The separate administration, however, continued, and only in 1939 were the two municipalities united into a single one. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Population development

The table lists population figures for Kisselbach from selected years since the Congress of Vienna (at 31 December each time):

Politics

Municipal council

The council is made up of 12 council members, who were elected by majority vote might in English heraldic language be described thus: Per bend sinister wavy sable a lion rampant sinister Or armed and langued gules and argent a cross of the third, on a chief of the second an eagle displayed of the first armed of the third.

The black eagle in the chief recalls the Imperial immediacy formerly held by “Königs-Kisselbach” (“King’s Kisselbach”). The wavy line of partition symbolizes the Simmerbach, which divided what was once two villages, both named Kisselbach: ''Diesseits'' (roughly “On This Side” or “Over Here”), as the Electoral-Palatinate side was called, is represented by the Palatine Lion on the dexter (armsbearer's right, viewer's left) side, while ''Jenseits'' (roughly “On That Side” or “Over There”), as the Electoral-Trier side was called, is represented by the Trier cross on the sinister (armsbearer's left, viewer's right) side.

Culture and sightseeing

Buildings

The following are listed buildings or sites in Rhineland-Palatinate’s Directory of Cultural Monuments:Directory of Cultural Monuments in Rhein-Hunsrück district
/ref>
* Saint Apollonia’s Catholic Church (''St.-Apollonia-Kirche''), Liebshausener Straße – originally three-naved, now one-naved Gothic Revival column basilica, after 1912; whole complex of buildings with graveyard

Other buildings

Another building worth seeing in Kisselbach is the ''Waldkapelle'' (“Forest Chapel”) consecrated to Mary, to which a procession of lights is made on the 13th day of every month from May to October by the local Catholic congregation.

Clubs

In Kisselbach there are a sport club with a tennis department, a volunteer fire brigade, a theatrical club and the Catholic Church's singing club. As well, Kisselbach has at its disposal its own open channel.

Economy and infrastructure

Transport

Kisselbach lies near the Autobahn A 61, ''Laudert/Kisselbach'' interchange.

References

External links

Municipality’s official webpage

{{Authority control

Municipalities in Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis