Mechernich

Mechernich
Mechernich
Location of the town of Mechernich within Euskirchen district
Coordinates	50°36′N 6°39′E / 50.6°N 6.65°E / 50.6; 6.65Coordinates: 50°36′N 6°39′E / 50.6°N 6.65°E / 50.6; 6.65
Administration
Country	Germany
State	North Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. region	Cologne
District	Euskirchen
Mayor	Hans-Peter Schick (CDU)
Basic statistics
Area	136.3 km2 (52.6 sq mi)
Elevation	365 m  (1198 ft)
Population	27,154 (31 December 2010)[1]
- Density	199 /km2 (516 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate	EU
Postal code	53894
Area codes	02443, 02256, 02484
Website	www.mechernich.de

Mechernich is a town in the district of Euskirchen in the south of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the "Naturpark Nordeifel" in the Eifel hills, approx. 15 km south-west of Euskirchen and 55 km from Cologne. Mechernich is a former mining town and had, in 2009, its 700-years celebration of foundation.

Districts

Mechernich has the following districts:

Antweiler, Berg, Bergbuir, Bergheim, Bescheid, Bleibuir, Breitenbenden, Denrath, Dreimühlen, Eicks, Eiserfey, Firmenich, Floisdorf, Gehn, Glehn, Harzheim, Heufahrtshütte, Holzheim, Hostel, Kalenberg, Kallmuth, Katzvey, Kommern, Kommern-Süd, Lessenich, Lorbach, Lückerath, Mechernich, Obergartzem, Rissdorf, Roggendorf, Satzvey, Schaven, Schützendorf, Strempt, Urfey, Voißel, Vollem, Vussem, Wachendorf, Weiler am Berge, Weißenbrunnen, Weyer and Wielspütz.

Reconstructed Roman Eifel aqueduct near Mechernich-Vussem

Lead and zinc mines

Lead and zinc mines have existed in the central part of the Mechernich region since ancient times during the Roman occupation. Since the 13th century the most prevalent product brought to the surface has been lead. The main ore minerals galena, sphalerite and cerussite are disseminated in nodular impregnations (Knotten) and veinlets in the region in and surrounding Mechernich. Mining activities at the Mechernich lead line in 1882 saw almost 4,500 people engaged in pit work. And as late as 1952 the lead mine and its mills were still worked from numerous mines and open cuts south and southwest of Mechernich and were responsible for 20% of lead production in West Germany. But mining proved more and more expensive and mining ceased in 1957

Mining tour

A tour takes place in the Eifel region, in the galleries of the mining museum in Mechernich.

Twin town

Since the 30th July 1967 is the Twintown of Mechernich Nyons, France.

References

1. ^ "Amtliche Bevölkerungszahlen" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. 31 December 2010. http://www.it.nrw.de/statistik/a/daten/amtlichebevoelkerungszahlen/index.html.