Altleiningen

Altleiningen is an ''Ortsgemeinde'' – a municipality belonging to a '' Verbandsgemeinde'', a kind of collective municipality – in the Bad Dürkheim district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.

Geography

Location

The municipality lies at an elevation of 300 m above sea level in the northeast Palatinate Forest in the valley of the Eckbach, a 39 km-long brook that empties into the Rhine. Altleiningen belongs to the ''Verbandsgemeinde'' of Leiningerland, whose seat is in Grünstadt.

History

Name

Altleiningen, originally ''Leiningen'', had its first documentary mention in 780 when the 50 km-distant Lorsch Abbey’s catalogue of holdings listed a woodland holding ''in linunga marca'' ( Latin for “in the Leiningen area”). The naming referred to the ''Leinbaum'', a name used locally at the time mostly for the Norway Maple, but sometimes also for the large-leaved linden. Since both trees were often found growing alongside the Eckbach, the brook at this time also went by the name ''Leinbach''.

From the municipality's name also sprang the noble family Leiningen’s name. This family held the so-called ''Leiningerland'' for centuries.

Local administration

After the Second World War, the municipality belonged at first to the Frankenthal district, which in the course of administrative reform in Rhineland-Palatinate was abolished in 1969. Altleiningen then found itself in the newly created district of Bad Dürkheim. In 1972, Altleiningen also found itself in the likewise newly created ''Verbandsgemeinde'' of Hettenleidelheim.

Religion

In 2007, 45.7% of the inhabitants were Evangelical and 30.1% Catholic. The rest belonged to other faiths or adhered to none.

Politics

Municipal council

The municipal election held on 7 June 2009 yielded the following results:

Mayors

Coat of arms

The German blazon reads: ''In Rot ein schwebendes angetatztes goldenes Kreuz mit eingeschlagenen eichenblattartigen Verzierungen an den Balkenenden, bewinkelt von vier silbernen Adlern.''

The municipality's arms might in English heraldic language be described thus: Gules a cross pattée couped with an oakleaf adornment at the end of each arm Or between four eagles displayed argent.

The arms were approved by the now defunct '' Regierungsbezirk'' of Rheinhessen-Pfalz. It goes back to a seal from 1716. They match arms borne by the Counts of Leiningen-Westerburg, who had their ancestral seat at Castle Altleiningen.Karl Heinz Debus: ''Das große Wappenbuch der Pfalz''. Neustadt an der Weinstraße 1988,

Culture and sightseeing

Altleiningen Castle

Altleiningen Castle (''Burg Altleiningen'') was built on the summit of a hill, some 400 metres high, that rises above the left bank of the Eckbach. Within the castle are a youth hostel and – in the moat – a heated swimming pool. In the roofed ''Ehrenhalle'' – "Hall of Honour" – a room separated from the castle courtyard by arcades, the amateur theatre group, the Altleiningen Castle Players (''Burgspiele Altleiningen'') has been producing challenging plays – classical, modern, often also some with historical aspects – every year in the summer months since 1980.

Höningen Abbey and the Church of St. James

At Höningen, about 2 km to the south, are the Romanesque Church of St. James (''Kirche St. Jacob'') and the remnants of the canonical monastery of Höningen. The latter has a gateway arch at the north entrance, and the west gables of the convent buildings and monastery church are parallel to the modern high street. Saint James’ and the abbey were both built about 1120. Two letters patent, one each from Pope Innocent II and Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa, underscore the monastery's importance at the time of its founding.

Höningen Latin School

Recalling the Höningen Latin School (''Höninger Lateinschule'', 1573–1630), in which the ''Leininger- Gymnasium'' in Grünstadt has its roots, is a gatehouse at the way into the back alley.

20-Pipe Well

From the 20-Pipe Well

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases