Breinigerberg

Infobox German Location
name=Breinigerberg
Art = Village
Town = Stolberg
Wappen =
lat_deg = 50 |lat_min = 44
lon_deg = 6 |lon_min = 14
Lageplan =
Bundesland = Nordrhein-Westfalen
Regierungsbezirk = Köln
Kreis = Aachen
Höhe =
Einwohner = 971
Stand = 2005-12-31
PLZ = 52223
Vorwahl = 02402
Kfz = AC
Website =

Breinigerberg is one of 17 districts and villages belonging to the city of Stolberg (Rhineland), which is one of the major cities in the district of Aachen. According to a census dated December 31st, 2005 the village had 971 inhabitants.

The country road L12 passing through Breinigerberg centrally connects the village in western direction to Breinig and in eastern direction to the crossing "Nachtigaellchen" which is west of Mausbach.

In the east of Breinigerberg you can find the forest of Stolberg (part of the natural preserve "Naturpark Nordeifel") and the natural reserve "Schlangenberg" which is famous for its calamine flora. The hill "Schlangenberg" is 276 m above sea level and originates in the former ore mine of Breinigerberg. Names like "Bleiweg", which means “Way of lead”, even today, give hints to the history of the village. The calamine from the ore mine Breinigerberg was used exclusively in Stolberg for the production of brass.

The history of Breinigerberg can be traced back to the Romans. 25 coins dated between 100 BC and the year 92/93 AD as well as remains of a Roman craftsmen settlement had been found in the village. The buildings proved ancient roman work between the years 100 and 400 AD in this Breinigerberg region.

In a building of the former junior high school which was closed in 1988 an information center on the Schlangenberg natural reserve was founded by the "Eifel- und Heimatverein Breinig". It is open to the public and presents detailed information on the special flora and fauna of the Schlangenberg region. Historical tools used in the ore mines of Breinigerberg were exhibited as well.In the north and south of Breinigerberg there are further natural reserves like the natural reserve "Brockenberg" or "Baerenstein". Most of them had been former chalk pits.

Breinigerberg has two sports grounds used by the local football team "FC. Breinigerberg". The former junior high school is also used as a youth center (youth center "Remember").

One of the major events at Breinigerberg is the funfair one week after christian pentecost.

Literature

* Information sheet "Naturschutzgebiet Schlangenberg" of the "Informationszentrum Breinigerberg" by Eifel- und Heimatverein Breinig (in German)
* Zeitung d. Aachener Geschichtsvereins 45 Bd. (1923) p.283/284 (in German)

External links

* [http://www.breinig.de Official website of Breinig and Breinigerberg (in German)]