Eppstein

Eppstein is a town in the Main-Taunus-Kreis, in Hesse, Germany.

Contents

Geography

Geographical situation

Eppstein lies west of Frankfurt am Main, around 12 km north east of the state capital Wiesbaden, and is at the edge of the Taunus mountains.

Neighbouring municipalities and areas

To the north, Eppstein borders the city of Idstein (Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis) and the municipality of Glashütten (Hochtaunuskreis). To the east is the city of Kelkheim, to the south the city of Hofheim, and to the west the city of Wiesbaden and the municipality of Niedernhausen.

City arrangement

Eppstein and the Wernerplatz, in the centre of the old town.

Eppstein consists of five areas: Bremthal, Ehlhalten, Eppstein, Niederjosbach and Vockenhausen.

Bremthal

Bremthal has a rapid-transit railway stop on line S2. With approximately 5000 inhabitants, Bremthal is the most populous quarter of Eppstein, and is the economic and cultural centre. Bremthal has several associations e.g. a blowing chapel, Germania singing association, Liederkranz singing association, association of small animal breeders and a volunteer fire brigade. Around Bremthal are walkways and a nature exhibition.

Niederjosbach

Niederjosbach has a rapid-transit railway stop on line S2 as well as a bus connection to the Wiesbadener transportation network.

Motorway connections are about 3 minutes away. In Niederjosbach is a large campsite, the very well-maintained terrace-like "Taunuscamp", which is on the Sonnenhang. It is open all year round. The GCC - Gusbacher Carnevalsclub - organizes several meetings annually, and on "carnival Tuesday", a noteworthy parade by the village's local associations; two sport clubs, two singing clubs, a fruit and horticulture club, church choir, fire-brigade, "Gusbacher chaoten" (carnival parade organisers), federation of housewives, German Red Cross local association and neighbourhood municipalities. There is an industrial area and several craft enterprises, as well as an urban kindergarten with three groups. The Catholic community centre "Am Honigbaum" ("at the honey tree") is used for church and also for private and other social meetings. The place has been part of Eppstein since 1972. The Niederjosbach coat of arms has a white tree, with roots, on a black background.

Vockenhausen

Vockenhausen is the seat of the mayor. It has around 4500 people. The administration is distributed between the two city halls in Vockenhausen and Eppstein. On Vockenhäuser gemarkung are the Freiherr-vom-Stein-Schule (comprehensive school) and the Burg-Schule (primary school).

Ehlhalten

Ehlhalten is the part with the fewest number of inhabitants (about 1350) but the largest area due to its rather big forests. According to legend, Ehlhalten once provided a cutter that tailors used at the water of the brook in Ehlhalten. As the water rose and fell, affecting the measurement of the inch, people cried: "Elle halten!" ("hold the inch!"), leading to the name Ehlhalten.

Ehlhalten was also the name of a settlement in the municipal forest near a source. It was burned down however by soldiers and destroyed completely. In 2004 Ehlhalten competed in the final of the series "Dolles Dorf" on hr television, winning a 3rd prize in this show about different villages in Hesse.

Economy

Transport

Eppstein has a tram system joining Frankfurt (S2, direction Frankfurt or Dietzenbach) and the town is around 3km from the A3 Autobahn. Bundesstraße 455 passes through the town.

Local industry

The Stanniolfabrik Eppstein is in the central part Eppstein, beneath the castle, and manufactures tin foil. Lametta is not manufactured here, but metal foils for different, highly-specialised applications. [Staniolfabrik Eppstein electrical Wilke GmbH]

RUCO printing inks (A. M. Ramp & Co GmbH) also has a facility here.

Education

for the educational system in Germany, see Education in Germany

Eppstein has two primary schools and one comprehensive school. In addition, the Hessen-Thüringen bank academy is located here. The Eppstein-Rossert music school and the Eppstein music society offer instruction in various musical instruments.

Primary schools

In Eppstein Vockenhausen, on the training and sports centre at the Bienroth, is the "Burg-Schule" (castle school). It is somewhat larger with approx. 300 pupils than the "Commenius-Schule". This primary school is for pupils from Eppstein's parts Bremthal and Niederjosbach.

Freiherr-vom-Stein-Gesamtschule

Eppstein's comprehensive school, the Freiherr-vom-Stein-Gesamtschule, is located at the sports and school centre "Am Bienroth". Five-hundred and sixty students in the fifth to tenth years attend the school, which is divided into three sections: Hauptschule (year 5 to 9), Realschule and Gymnasium (both year 5 to 10). A special feature of the school is the annual exchange of students with Eppstein's partner city of Kenilworth, England , as well as a school in Tours, France. Every two years the school also hosts an exchange with the Bornova Anadolu Lisesi in Izmir, Turkey.

The school is known for a tragic attack: on June 3 1983, a man shot three children, one teacher and a police officer dead. The attacker then committed suicide. 14 were injured.

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Partner towns

There are partnerships with four different cities: Aizkraukle in Lettland, Kenilworth in England, Langeais in France as well as Schwarza in Thuringia, Germany.

Buildings

The ruins of the Eppstein castle give character to the old city centre of Eppstein.

From the Kaisertempel, built in 1894, there is a wonderful view of Eppstein as far as Bremthal. At the foot of the castle, in the middle of the historical old city, is the Talkirche (Valley Church), which today accommodates Eppstein's evangelical parish.

The hundred year old railway station is in art nouveau style, and is currently unoccupied. In the course of the planned comprehensive train station renovation, this building will also be restored, and used again by the city or the train line.

Meetings

The annual bicycle race Rund um den Henninger-Turm (around the Henninger tower) runs through Eppstein, on the first of May each year.

Since 2003 the Taunus Trails mountain bike marathon, open to everyone, takes place each summer.

Regular events at the castle include the Burgfestspiele (castle festival) in summer. In the inner court of the castle, drama groups present classic works as well as new productions. Another notable highlight is the Saxdays.

Famous people from Eppstein

Dr. Hermann Schmitt-Vockenhausen, born 31 January 1923 (in modern-day Vockenhausen), died 2 August 1979 in Koblenz, politician (SPD), MdB, Vice-President of the Bundestag (Bundestagsvizepräsident).
Theodor Fliedner

Books

Eppstein im Taunus, Dr. Bertold Picard, Verlag Waldemar Kramer Frankfurt am Main, 1968

External links

[Official site]

This article was translated from the [German version] in January and February 2006.

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