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Mulheim, the charming town at the river Ruhr is worth a visit for historical research, cultural diversity, sports grounds and events, and for business : "Mulheim an der Ruhr " means "Mills' Home at the Ruhr", and so the name of our hometown already gives a clue to the city's origin and to its later economic development. It was the river Ruhr which originally induced a number of millers to settle here and it was from the mills that they set up along the river that the early village got its name. To this day the city and the river have remained inseparably linked. In the course of time Mulheim has developed into what it is today : A thriving economic centre and, at the same time, an attractive place to live, where a great variety of recreation possibilities plays a major role.
WEBCAM 2 from tower of city hall , direction south-west
WEBCAM 2 : Yesterday in time-lapse motion ( film as mpeg.file, 529 KB ) webcam presented by and copyright at www.muelheim-ruhr.de
RECREATION, CULTURE, SPORTS Favoured by its geographical location, Mulheim boasts of many beautiful recreation areas. The lovely riverside meadows, paths and promenades following the course of the Ruhr which flows right through the city centre, as well as the foothills of the Rhine Slate mountains extending right up to and into the southern part of Mulheim, for example, are favourite destinations for outings and excursions.
The city's ample opportunities for leisure time activities are rounded off by the Raffelberg race-track , a golf course and other numerous sports grounds and playgrounds, and the well-known excursion boats of the "White Fleet" offering tours through the picturesque Ruhr Valley. Also it is possible to explore the nice river Ruhr by adventurous Viking-Boat . The annual Dragon Boat Race on the Ruhr is another attractive feature during several days in the summer. The Saturday ( 17.07.2004 ) Dragon Boat Race 2004 ( film as mpeg.file / 1,84 MB ), until the webcam was stopped by thunderstorm.
Museums showing changing exhibits, the theatre "Theater an der Ruhr", which has gained international repute, and the Theatertage, a theatre festival staged in the municipal hall which is acclaimed throughout Germany, provide a varied cultural programme. The inhabitants of the individual city districts also organize and take part in cultural and social activities and events for which the municipality has furnished the necessary communication centres.
Further highlights are the Camera Obscura and the Aquarius-Wassermuseum (water museum).
Mulheim's eventful past is illustrated by fascinating historical buildings such as Schloss Broich, the successor of a former Carolingian Castle built in 883, the Saarn Monastery dating from 1214, and the old city centre with its many half-timbered houses in the style typical of the Bergish Country.
The following annual events at Castle Broich are a must-see : Knights Tournament Burgfolk ( folk festval ) Castle Rock (rock, gothic festival )
THE OLD MULHEIM Exactly 61 steps above the pulsating city rests Mulheim's historic heart. The old part of town on the Kirchenhuegel (Church Hill), dominated by Petrikirche (St. Peter's Church), is the kernel of Mulheim. There is clear evidence that a line of noblemen lived here nine hundred years ago. Its court was first documented in 1093. The Muhren- or Maurenhof ("Moors Court") and the Altenhof ("Old Court") are the first traces of a settlement dating from this period. An early court chapel built around 1200 developed into St. Peter's Church which became a stronghold of the Protestant faith at the end of the 16th Century. The first known noble lineage of Mulheim died out in the 12th century and was followed by owners from the house of the Count of Isenberg-Limburg. The link between them and Broich Castle on the other side of the Ruhr became increasingly stronger, until the responsibility for the parish of Mulheim was finally transferred to the lords of the castle. However, the people of Mulheim paid little attention to those in power. The settlement, now growing slowly but surely, developed into a centre for the surrounding Honnschaften (farmsteads), whose leadership (Honnen [farmers] and mayors) was chosen by the inhabitants. An early form of democratic self-rule, lasting until the Prussian era. From 1605 to 1609 a war raged around the Kirchenhuegel in which the Spaniards fought against the Dutch for the "true faith". Despite all the bloodshed, Mulheim remained Protestant. Less than a century later one of the most famous figures of Reformed Protestantism settled here :
Gerhard Tersteegen (1697 to 1764), Pietist, mystic and lyricist. He lived and died in the house in Teinerstrasse which was the Muhrenhof at the beginning of Mulheim's documented history and which now serves as a local history museum with particular emphasis on Tersteegen's work. In 1786, when St. Peter's Church had already grown to an impressive size, the first Catholic house of God was consecrated on the Kirchenhuegel once more, the origin of St. Mary's Church (built in 1929). The rapid economic development in the 19th century soon broke through the tight boundaries of the Kirchenhuegel. Mulheim extended far beyond it, was declared a town by Napoleon in 1808 and a city in 1908. The bombings of 22nd June 1943 hit the very heart of the city: St. Peter's Church and almost all the surrounding buildings sank into the rubble. During restoration work in 1955, medieval gravestones were found in the church including some made for the old lords of Broich. Since 1978 work has been going on to restore the entire centre of the old town.
Active nostalgia, the search of an historically rich city for itself: Since the end of the 70s work has been going on to carefully preserve and restore buildings, especially the half-timbered houses. Some of them date from the 18th century. The stone streets, lighting and greenery help to bring the long-neglected part of Old Mulheim back to life. Small shops and cosy restaurants and pubs increase the quiet village atmosphere in the shadow of St. Peter's Church. Even today, the two churches and the two hospitals are still the focal point of this "village in the city" . All the important institutions of both denominations are housed on the Kirchenhuegel. Visitors should approach the Kirchenhuegel on foot, as our forefathers did. Whoever comes into the old part of the town via Bach- and Bogenstrasse (Bach = stream but the Rumbach can no longer be seen. Instead you see the mighty arch in front of the "Mausefalle" [Mousetrap] restaurant), arrives directly in front of the entrance to Tersteegen's house. The local history museum is here (open Tuesdays -Saturdays from 3 pm to 6 pm; open Sundays from 10 am to 12.30 am; closed on Mondays). It is the home of documents and evidence from the history of the old part of the town as well as memories of GerhardTersteegen.
INDUSTRY, RESEARCH INSTITUTES and BUSINESS At an early date, the city fathers realized that it would become necessary to switch from the traditional mining industry to industries of more recent origin and that the tertiary sector would gain in importance. They not only foresaw the coming changes but promoted them through a number of measures connected with the inevitable structural metamorphosis. Internationally renowned enterprises like Aldi, KWU, Mannesmann, Stinnes, Tengelmann, and famous European Research Centres like Max-Planck-Institutes for Carbon Research and Bioorganic Chemistry and Rubber Product Manufacturer and a water research institute, founded by pioneers have been quick to recognize and profit from the advantages Mulheim offers as a location for industry, particularly as regards its transport facilities and connections : The Rhine-Ruhr Harbour, for example, the local airport with a blimp yard, and easy access to the Autobahn Network. Thus Mulheim has also become a major centre of trade and commerce and a popular location for service sector enterprises on the fringe of the Ruhr region. Mulheim is also well-known for a radiology institute and a centre for innovation and technology.
Mulheim is worth a visit for historical research, cultural diversity, sports grounds and events, and for business purposes !
WEBCAM 1 from tower of city hall, direction north-west WEBCAM 1 : Yesterday in time-lapse motion ( film a mpeg.file, 726 KB ) webcam presented by and copyright at www.muelheim-ruhr.de
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