Oppenheim
Encyclopedia : O : OP : OPP : Oppenheim
- For other uses, see (disambiguation)}}}.
History
Oppenheim became prominent during the Hohenstaufen period because of its regional castle and its governers.It only became an Imperial Free City in the 13th century; in the 14th century the town was pledged to the Mainz palatinate (Kurmainz). From 1398 Oppenheim belonged to the palatinate of Kurpfalz. This lasted until 1797. After belonging to France, in 1816 Oppenheim became part of the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt. The town remain part of Hesse until 1945.
In March 1945 American troops succeeded in crossing the Rhein near Oppenheim.
Sister cities
Culture and Attractions
Some popular landmarks are the Gothic Katharinenkirche (St. Katherine's Church) with its stained-glass windows, including the famous "Oppenheim Rose"; the Landskron ruins with their lovely view of the Rhine rift and a summer festival; the old town and its clocktower; the German Viticultural Museum (Weinbaumuseum), and the marketplace.The unusual Oppenheim medieval underground labyrinth is one of the largest systems in the world. It is only accessible by guided tour; informational literature is located on the market square.
People
- Matthäus Merian (engraver)
- Anton Praetorius priest in Oppenheim (1589-1592), fought against witch trials and torture
- Friedrich Koch (pharmacist, inventor of factory-produced quinine)
- Paul Wallot, German architect and the designer of the Reichstag in Berlin
- Johanna Senfter, composer
- Christian and Jewish pedigree Oppenheim, and Oppenheimer
External links
- Much of this article was translated from the [German language article] of the same name, Feb. 2006 version
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