Bestwig is a municipality in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Geography

Bestwig is situated on the river

Ruhr The Ruhr ( ; german: Ruhrgebiet , also ''Ruhrpott'' ), also referred to as the Ruhr area, sometimes Ruhr district, Ruhr region, or Ruhr valley, is a polycentric urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population density of 2,800/km ...

, approx. 10 km east of Meschede. It lies on the German Autobahn A 46. Bestwig has a railway station, connecting the town through local trains to

Dortmund Hauptbahnhof Dortmund Hauptbahnhof is the main railway station in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The station's origins lie in a joint station of the Köln-Mindener Eisenbahn and Bergisch-Märkische Eisenbahn which was built north of the city centr ...

Winterberg Winterberg ( Westphalian: ''Winnenmerg'') is a town in the Hochsauerland district of North Rhine-Westphalia, central Germany and a major winter sport resort of the Wintersport Arena Sauerland. Geography Winterberg is located in the middle of ...

and Hagen Hauptbahnhof.

Neighbouring municipalities

* Olsberg *

Schmallenberg Schmallenberg ( Westphalian: ''Smalmereg'') is a town and a climatic health resort in the High Sauerland District, Germany. By area, it is the third biggest of all cities and towns of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the second biggest o ...

* Meschede * Rüthen * Warstein

Subdivisions

Since 2009, the municipality is officially divided into 6 so-called ''Ortschaften'', each containing of one to five villages (Ortsteile'').

Economy

Bestwig, surrounded by many acres of pine tree forests, is a centre of

Christmas tree production Christmas tree production occurs worldwide on Christmas tree farms, in artificial tree factories and from native strands of pine and fir trees. Christmas trees, pine and fir trees purposely grown for use as a Christmas tree, are grown on plantatio ...

. Tourism, however, is the most important source of income. The

Sauerland The Sauerland () is a rural, hilly area spreading across most of the south-eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, in parts heavily forested and, apart from the major valleys, sparsely inhabited. The Sauerland is the largest tourist region in ...

forests are popular among hikers and, in winter, skiing is possible.

Twin towns

Bestwig has no official partnership with another town, but has close to ties to Niederorschel ( Thuringia, Germany) and

Niederwiesa Niederwiesa is a municipality in the district of Mittelsachsen, in Saxony, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, ...

( Saxony, Germany).

Coat of arms

The coat of arms shows a silver

Saint Andrew's Cross Saint Andrew's Cross or Andrew Cross may refer to: * The x-shaped cross on which Saint Andrew is said to have been martyred by crucifixion * Saltire, a heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross, including a gallery of flags ** Flag of Sc ...

on blue ground. The ''Saint Andrew's Cross'' is a reference to the patron of the parish church in Velmede,

Saint Andrew Andrew the Apostle ( grc-koi, Ἀνδρέᾱς, Andréās ; la, Andrēās ; , syc, ܐܰܢܕ݁ܪܶܐܘܳܣ, ʾAnd’reʾwās), also called Saint Andrew, was an apostle of Jesus according to the New Testament. He is the brother of Simon Peter ...

. The colors silver and blue show the allegiance to the former county of Arnsberg.

Notable natives

* Franz Hoffmeister (1898-1943), Roman Catholic priest *

Theo Bücker Johannes Theodor "Theo" Bücker (born 10 July 1948) is a German football manager and a former player, who is the current coach of the under-15 team of Lebanese club Athletico SC (Lebanon), Athletico SC. Coaching career Return to Lebanon On ...

(born 1948), coach of Lebanon's national football team * Wilhelmine Lübke (1885–1981), First Lady *

Ferdinand von Lüninck Ferdinand Joseph Meinolph Anton Maria Freiherr von Lüninck (3 August 1888 – 14 November 1944) was a German landowner and officer. Born at the family estate Haus Ostwig, in Ostwig, Province of Westphalia, Ferdinand Freiherr von Lüninck was ...

(born 1888), German nobleman (a Freiherr i.e. a

Baron Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...

) Roman Catholic, who participated in plans to overthrow Hitler on 20 July 1944. Arrested after plot failed and sentenced to death. Hanged on 14 November 1944. *

Hedwig von Beverfoerde Baroness Hedwig von Elverfeldt gennant Beverfoerde zu Werries (german: Hedwig Freifrau von Elverfeldt genannt Beverförde zu Werries, née von Lüninck; born 1963) is a German conservative politician and Catholic activist. A former member of the ...

(born 1963), German noblewoman, right-wing political activist and

Traditional Catholic A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays o ...

Notable places in Bestwig

Wasserfall_Plästerlegge_im_Hochsauerlandkreis_im_Naturschutzgebiet_Plästerlegge_bei_Wasserfall_(zu_Bestwig).JPG, Waterfall ''Plästerlegge'' near ''Wasserfall'' * ''Wasserfall'' is named after its famous waterfall, a popular sight during walking tours. It is one of the largest cascades in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Bergkloster Monastery, the motherhouse of the European Province of the Sisters of St Maria Magdalena Postel

References

External links

Official site
{{Authority control Hochsauerlandkreis