Bergisch Gladbach () is a

city A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...

in the

Cologne/Bonn Region The Cologne Bonn Region (German: ''Region Köln/Bonn'') is a metropolitan area in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, covering the cities of Cologne, Bonn and Leverkusen, as well as the districts of Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, Oberbergischer K ...

of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and capital of the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis (district).

Geography

Bergisch Gladbach is located east of the river Rhine, approx. 10 kilometers east of Cologne.

Neighbouring municipalities

Beginning in the north clockwise the neighbouring municipalities and neighbouring towns are:

Odenthal Odenthal is a municipality in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Geography Odenthal is situated approximately 5 km north of Bergisch Gladbach and 15 km north-east of Cologne. Neighbouring places Nearby ...

Kürten Kürten is a village and a municipality in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Geography Kürten is situated approximately 25 km east of Cologne. Neighbouring places Nearby cities include Bergisch Gladbach ...

, Overath,

Rösrath Rösrath (; ) is a town in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis (district) in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The earliest known documents mentioning the settlement ''Rösrath'' can be found in documents dated to 1356. There have been findings of Paleo ...

, Cologne and Leverkusen.

History

Early settlements existed in the 13th century, but the town was officially founded in 1856. Altes Schloss Bensberg and City Hall, June 2021

The word ''Bergisch'' in the name does not originate from its location in the county of Berg and was not added to distinguish it from Mönchengladbach as believed by many people, but from the counts who gave their name to the region. At the start of the 12th century the counts of Berg settled in the area and it later became the duchy (under Napoleon, the grand duchy) of Berg. This is where the first part of the name (''Bergisch'') comes from, the town being located in the former county of Berg. It is the administrative headquarters ('Kreisstadt') of the Rheinish-Bergisch district (or 'Kreis'). The second part of the name, ''Gladbach'' (cognate with English ''Ladbrooke'') originates from

Low Rhenish Meuse-Rhenish (German: ''Rheinmaasländisch'', Dutch: ''Maas-Rijnlands'', and French: ''francique rhéno-mosan'') is the modern term for literature written in the Middle Ages in the greater Meuse-Rhine area, in a literary language that is eff ...

(''Bergisches Platt'') and means ''canalised stream'', referring to the small river (the ''Strunde'') that was artificially canalised (''laid'') in early medieval times. In ''Bergisch Platt'', the regional dialect, ''laid'' is said ''gelaat'', a word which eventually evolved to ''glad'' (in this case the 'd' is pronounced as a 't'). The second part of the word, ''bach'' is the standard German word for a small stream, referring in this case to the ''

Strunde Strunde is a river of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It flows through Bergisch Gladbach, and joins the Flehbach or Faulbach near Cologne-Buchheim. See also *List of rivers of North Rhine-Westphalia A list of rivers of North Rhine-Westphalia, ...

''. In 1975 the town incorporated neighbouring Bensberg and when it reached a population of 100,000 in 1977 it was given city status.

Economy

Paper manufacturing, printing,

glass wool Glass wool is an insulating material made from glass fiber arranged using a binder into a texture similar to wool. The process traps many small pockets of air between the glass, and these small air pockets result in high thermal insulation prop ...

manufacturing, chocolate, and high-tech industries make up a large part of Bergisch Gladbach's economy.

Politics

Mayor

The current mayor of Bergisch Gladbach is Frank Stein of the

Social Democratic Party The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology. Active parties For ...

(SPD). The most recent mayoral election was held on 13 September 2020, and the results were as follows: ! colspan=2, Candidate ! Party ! Votes ! % , - , bgcolor=, , align=left, Frank Stein , align=left,

, 25,321 , 52.3 , - , bgcolor=, , align=left, Christian Buchen , align=left, Christian Democratic Union , 18,973 , 39.2 , - , , align=left, Iro Herrmann , align=left, Citizens' Party GL , 2,093 , 4.3 , - , bgcolor=, , align=left, Günther Schöpf , align=left,

Alternative for Germany Alternative for Germany (german: link=no, Alternative für Deutschland, AfD; ) is a right-wing populist * * * * * * * political party in Germany. AfD is known for its opposition to the European Union, as well as immigration to Germany. I ...

, 2,014 , 4.2 , - ! colspan=3, Valid votes ! 48,401 ! 99.3 , - ! colspan=3, Invalid votes ! 358 ! 0.7 , - ! colspan=3, Total ! 48,759 ! 100.0 , - ! colspan=3, Electorate/voter turnout ! 89,995 ! 54.2 , - , colspan=7, Source
City of Bergisch Gladbach

City council

The Bergisch Gladbach city council governs the city alongside the Mayor. The most recent city council election was held on 13 September 2020, and the results were as follows: ! colspan=2, Party ! Votes ! % ! +/- ! Seats ! +/- , - , bgcolor=, , align=left, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) , 17,463 , 36.2 , 5.7 , 20 , 6 , - , bgcolor=, , align=left,

Alliance 90/The Greens Alliance 90/The Greens (german: Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, ), often simply referred to as the Greens ( ), is a Green politics, green List of political parties in Germany, political party in Germany. It was formed in 1993 as the merger of The Greens ...

(Grüne) , 13,858 , 28.7 , 12.8 , 16 , 6 , - , bgcolor=, , align=left,

(SPD) , 9,209 , 19.1 , 5.0 , 10 , 5 , - , bgcolor=, , align=left,

Free Democratic Party Free Democratic Party is the name of several political parties around the world. It usually designates a party ideologically based on liberalism. Current parties with that name include: *Free Democratic Party (Germany), a liberal political party in ...

(FDP) , 2,438 , 5.1 , 0.5 , 3 , ±0 , - , bgcolor=, , align=left,

(AfD) , 2,213 , 4.6 , 0.2 , 3 , ±0 , - , , align=left, Citizens' Party GL (BGL) , 1,398 , 2.9 , 1.2 , 2 , 1 , - , , align=left, Free Voters' Association Bergisch Gladbach (FWG) , 1,645 , 3.4 , New , 2 , New , - ! colspan=2, Valid votes ! 48,224 ! 98.8 ! ! ! , - ! colspan=2, Invalid votes ! 597 ! 1.2 ! ! ! , - ! colspan=2, Total ! 48,821 ! 100.0 ! ! 56 ! 6 , - ! colspan=2, Electorate/voter turnout ! 89,995 ! 52.3 ! 0.1 ! ! , - , colspan=7, Source
City of Bergisch Gladbach

Twin towns – sister cities

Bergisch Gladbach is twinned with: *

Beit Jala Beit Jala ( ar, ) is a Palestinian Christian town in the Bethlehem Governorate of the West Bank. Beit Jala is located 10 km south of Jerusalem, on the western side of the Hebron road, opposite Bethlehem, at altitude. In 2017, Beit Jala had ...

, Palestine (2010) *

Bourgoin-Jallieu Bourgoin-Jallieu (; frp, Brégon) is a commune in the Isère department in the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in France. The city had 28,834 inhabitants in 2019 and lies 35 kilometres east-southeast of Lyon. It was formed by the merger of the ...

, France (1956) *

Ganei Tikva Ganei Tikva ( he, גַּנֵּי תִּקְוָה, lit="gardens of hope") is a town in Israel bordering Kiryat Ono to the west, Petah Tikva to the north, Gat Rimon to the east and Savyon to the south. History Ganei Tikva was formed in 1949, ...

, Israel (2012) *

Joinville-le-Pont Joinville-le-Pont () is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. History The commune was created in 1791 under the name La Branche-du-Pont-de-Saint-Maur (literally "The Branch of Saint-Maur ...

, France (1960) * Limassol, Cyprus (1991) * Luton, England (1956) * Marijampolė, Lithuania (1989) * Pszczyna, Poland (1993) * Runnymede, England (1995) * Velsen, Netherlands (1956)

Notable people

Markus von Ahlen Markus von Ahlen (born 1 January 1971) is a German football manager and a former player. He manages the Under-19 squad of Fortuna Köln. Coaching career von Ahlen started his coaching career in the youth section at Bayer Leverkusen in 2007 befo ...

(born 1971), footballer and coach *

Rüdiger Baldauf Rüdiger Baldauf (born 31 January 1961 in Bensberg, North Rhine-Westphalia) is a German jazz musician, trumpet player, composer and arranger. History * 1980: secondary-school examinations Nicolaus Cusanus Gymnasium in Bergisch Gladbach. * 1 ...

(born 1961), jazz musician *

Astrid Benöhr Astrid Benöhr (born 8 October 1957, in Bergisch Gladbach) is a German endurance athlete in Ultra-Triathlon. She holds the women's world record in the quadruple ironman. She has also won women's world championships in the double, quintuple and d ...

(born 1957), endurance athlete *

Sebastian Blomberg Sebastian Blomberg (born 24 May 1972) is a German actor. He has appeared in more than forty films since 1997. In 2008 he played Rudi Dutschke in The Baader Meinhof Complex (''German: Der Baader Meinhof Komplex)''. Dutschke was the most prominent ...

(born 1972), actor * Wolfgang Bosbach (born 1952), politician (CDU) * Karl Budde (1850–1935), Protestant theologian *

Armin Falk Armin Falk (born 18 January 1968) is a German economist. He has held a chair at the University of Bonn since 2003. Biography Education and career Falk studied economics as well as philosophy and history at the University of Cologne. In 1998 he ...

(born 1968), economist *

Markus Feldenkirchen Markus Feldenkirchen (born 1 September 1975 in Bergisch Gladbach) is a German journalist and writer. Early life and education Markus Feldenkirchen was educated at Albertus Magnus Grammar School in Bergisch Gladbach, where he took his '' Abit ...

(born 1975), journalist * Vanessa Fuchs (born 1996), Germany's Next Topmodel winner of the season 2015 * Kerstin Gier (born 1966), author *

Volker Goetze Volker Goetze is a German-born New York based composer, trumpeter and filmmaker. He toured West Africa, Europe and Asia. He is featured on numerous recordings, and recorded with international artists such as Nana Vasconcelos, Lenny Pickett and o ...

(born 1972), German born, New York based musician composer and filmmaker * Fabian Hambüchen (born 1987), artistic gymnast * Götz Heidelberg (1923–2017), physicist, constructor and entrepreneur *

Waldemar Henrici Waldemar Henrici (February 3, 1878 – February 15, 1950) was a Lieutenant General of the German Wehrmacht who commanded a division of the VII Army Corps in the 4th Army during Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of Russia during the Second ...

(1878–1950), general and Reichsarbeitsdienstführer * Mats Hummels (born 1988), footballer *

Hubert Käppel Hubert Käppel (born 3 July 1951) is a German classical guitarist. He teaches classical guitar at the Hochschule für Musik Köln in Germany. Guitars International states that "Hubert Kappel is among the most influential teachers and guitarists o ...

(born 1951), guitarist and music pedagogue *

Brigitte Kraus Brigitte Kraus (born 12 August 1956 in Bensberg) is a retired West German middle-distance runner who specialized in the 1500 and 3000 metres. She competed for the sports clubs LG Rhein-Berg and ASV Köln Athletik-Sport-Verein Köln e.V. is a mult ...

(born 1956), middle distance runner *

Georg Koch Georg Koch (born 3 February 1972) is a German former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Career Born in Bergisch Gladbach, Koch started his career playing at amateur club SpVgg Erkenschwick before becoming a professional in J ...

(born 1972), football goalkeeper *

Heidi Klum Heidi Klum (; born 1 June 1973) is a German-American model, television host, producer, and businesswoman. She appeared on the cover of the ''Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue'' in 1998 and was the first German model to become a Victoria's Secre ...

(born 1973), model and presenter * Carolin Kebekus (born 1980), comedian, singer and actress *

Theo Koll Theo Koll (born 19 March 1958) is a German journalist and television presenter. Early life and education Koll was born on 19 March 1958 in Bensberg, Bergisch Gladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. From 1977 to 1985, he studied political sc ...

(born 1958), journalist *

German Mäurer Friedrich Wilhelm German Mäurer (11 February 1811, Bensberg – 7 July 1883, Paris) was a German Communist writer and leader of the early German labor movement. He joined the League of Outlaws ("Bund der Geächteten) because of his democratic beli ...

(1811–1885), Prussian writer *

Veronika Moos-Brochhagen Veronika Moos-Brochhagen (born April 3, 1961) is a German textile artist. She was born in Bensberg, Germany and lives and works in Cologne, Germany, and Audinghen, France. Moos-Brochhagen studied art at the Academy of Art in Mainz, Germany (class ...

(born 1961), textile artist *

Benyamin Nuss Benyamin Nuss (born 20 June 1989) is a German pianist and composer.Benyamin Nuss website (accessed 2010-03-13) Life Nuss was born in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany.Benyamin Nuss website(accessed 2014-11-07) He began playing the piano at age 6 in 1 ...

(born 1989), pianist *

Bastian Oczipka Bastian Oczipka (born 12 January 1989) is a German former professional footballer who played as a left back. Career Oczipka began his career 1994 with SV Blau-Weiß Hand. After three years, he joined SSG Bergisch Gladbach in summer 1997. He playe ...

(born 1989), footballer *

Uwe Ommer Uwe Ommer (born 1943 in Bergisch Gladbach) is a German photographer. Published works * ''Photedition 2''. Verlag Photographie, Schaffhausen 1980, . * ''Exotic''. Bahia Verlag, München 1983, . * Pirelli Calendar. 1984. * ''Black ladies''. Tac ...

(born 1943), act, fashion and advertising photos * Monika Piel (born 1951), journalist and presenter * Tibor Pleiß (born 1989), basketball player *

Karin Sander Karin Sander (born 1957 in Bensberg, North Rhine-Westphalia) is a German conceptual artist. She lives and works in Berlin and Zurich. Life Karin Sander studied at the Freie Kunstschule Stuttgart and at the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden K ...

(born 1957), artist *

David Schnell Davis Schnell (born 1971, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany) is an internationally exhibited German painter. From 1995 until 2000 he studied painting at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst in Leipzig and then from 2000 to 2002 he was a student i ...

(born 1971), painter *

Tim Wiese Tim Wiese (; born 17 December 1981) is a German former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Having progressed through the youth teams at DJK Dürscheid and Bayer Leverkusen, Wiese started his professional career at Fortuna Köln, ...

(born 1981), German

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

goalkeeper and wrestler

Secondary schools in Bergisch Gladbach

* Albertus-Magnus-Gymnasium Bensberg/Bergisch Gladbach * Gymnasium Herkenrath/Bergisch Gladbach *

Nicolaus-Cusanus-Gymnasium Bergisch Gladbach The Nicolaus-Cusanus-Gymnasium (NCG) is a public high school in the German city Bergisch Gladbach. The school is named after the German church law academic, philosopher, bishop and cardinal Nicholas of Cusa Nicholas of Cusa (1401 – 11 August ...

* Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium Bensberg/Bergisch Gladbach * Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Gymnasium Bergisch Gladbach * Integrierte-Gesamtschule-Paffrath Bergisch Gladbach

References

External links

*
Fire Department Bergisch Gladbach
{{Authority control Cities in North Rhine-Westphalia Districts of the Rhine Province