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Bergisch Gladbach

FieldValue
typeCity
nameBergisch Gladbach
image_photoNeues Schloss Bensberg, June 2021.jpg
image_captionForecourt of Schloss Bensberg
image_flagFlagge Bergisch Gladbach alternativ.svg
image_coaDEU_Bergisch_Gladbach_COA.svg
coordinates
image_planBergisch Gladbach in GL.svg
stateNordrhein-Westfalen
regionKöln
districtRheinisch-Bergischer Kreis
elevation51-267
area83.09
postal_code51401-51469
area_code02202, 02204, 02207
licenceGL
Gemeindeschlüssel05 3 78 004
divisions6
websitewww.bergischgladbach.de
mayorMarcel Kreutz
leader_term2025–30
partySPD

Bergisch Gladbach () is a city in the Cologne/Bonn Region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and capital of the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis (district).

Geography

Bergisch Gladbach is east of the Rhine and about 10 km east of Cologne.

City structure

The urban area of Bergisch Gladbach is not divided into city districts (Stadtbezirke) with their own district representation. For statistical purposes, there are six statistical districts (statistische Bezirke), which are numbered consecutively and are divided into several districts (:de: Stadtteile) with their own names. These are mainly name of former smaller settlements from which today's urban area developed, or new development areas whose names have been memorized over time for better orientation. Bensberg was an independent town until 1975. Before 1975, Schildgen belonged to the municipality of Odenthal.

  • Statistical District 1: Schildgen (11), Katterbach (12), Nussbaum (13), Paffrath (14), Hand (15)
  • Statistical District 2: City Center (21), Hebborn (22), Heidkamp (23), Gronau (24)
  • Statistical District 3: Romaney (31), Herrenstrunden (32), Sand (33)
  • Statistical District 4: Herkenrath (41), Asselborn (42), Bärbroich (43)
  • Statistical District 5: Lückerath (51), Bensberg (52), Bockenberg (53), Kaule (54), Moitzfeld (55)
  • Statistical District 6: Refrath (61), Alt Refrath (62), Kippekausen (63), Frankenforst (64), Lustheide (65)

Neighbouring municipalities

Beginning in the north, the neighbouring municipalities and neighbouring towns are clockwise Odenthal, Kürten, Overath, Rösrath, Cologne and Leverkusen.

History

Early settlements existed in the 13th century, but the town was officially founded only in 1856.

The word Bergisch in the name does not originate from its location in the county of Berg, and it was not added to distinguish it from Mönchengladbach, as is believed by many people, but from the counts who gave their name to the region.

In the early 12th century, the counts of Berg settled in the area, which later became the Duchy of Berg (under Napoleon, it became a grand duchy). That is where the first part of the name (Bergisch) comes from, the town being located in the former County of Berg. The town is the administrative headquarters (Kreisstadt) of the Rheinish-Bergisch district (Kreis).

The second part of the name, Gladbach, originates from Low Rhenish (Bergisches Platt) and means canalised stream in reference to the small river (the Strunde) that was artificially canalised in early medieval times. In Bergisch Platt, the regional dialect, gelaat (laid) eventually evolved to glad (the 'd' is often pronounced as a 't'). The second part of the word, Bach, is the Standard German word for a small stream and refers to the Strunde.

In 1975, the town incorporated the neighbouring Bensberg, and when it reached a population of 100,000 in 1977 it was given city status.

NationalityPopulation (2014)
Turkey
Italy
Poland
Greece
Romania
Kosovo
Croatia
Austria
Russia
Bosnia & Herzegovina

Economy

Paper manufacturing, printing, glass wool manufacturing, chocolate and high-tech industries are a large part of Bergisch Gladbach's economy.

Transport

The city is served by Cologne Bonn Airport, which is located 15 km south of Bergisch Gladbach. Other nearest airports are Düsseldorf Airport, located 54 km north west and Frankfurt Airport, located 176 km south east of Bergisch Gladbach.

Politics

Mayor

The current mayor of Bergisch Gladbach is Marcel Kreuz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), who was elected in 2025.

Previous mayoral election was held on 13 September 2020, and the results were as follows:

! colspan=2| Candidate ! Party ! Votes ! % |- | 25,321

52.3
18,973
39.2
-

| | 2,093

4.3
2,014
4.2
-
! colspan=3
! 48,401
! 99.3
-
! colspan=3
! 358
! 0.7
-
! colspan=3
! 48,759
! 100.0
-
! colspan=3
! 89,995
! 54.2
-
}

City council

The Bergisch Gladbach city council governs the city alongside the Mayor. The most recent city council election was held on 14 September 2025, and the results were as follows:

! colspan=2| Party ! Votes ! % ! ± ! Seats ! ± |- | 18,964 | 36.5 | 0.3 | 27

7
9,927
19.1
±0
14
4
-
9,428
18.1
10.6
13
3
-
5,344
10.3
5.7
7
4
-
2,429
4.7
New
3
New
-
1,786
3.4
1.7
2
1
-
1,562
3.0
New
2
New
-

| | 1,314 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 2

±0

| | 1,241 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 2

±0
! colspan=2
! 51,995
! 99.2
!
!
!
-
! colspan=2
! 401
! 0.8
!
!
!
-
! colspan=2
! 52,396
! 100.0
!
! 72
! 16
-
! colspan=2
! 88,431
! 59,3
! 7.0
!
!
-
}

Twin towns – sister cities

Bergisch Gladbach is twinned with:

  • PSE Beit Jala, Palestine (2010)
  • FRA Bourgoin-Jallieu, France (1956)
  • UKR Bucha, Ukraine (2022)
  • ISR Ganei Tikva, Israel (2012)
  • FRA Joinville-le-Pont, France (1960)
  • CYP Limassol, Cyprus (1991)
  • ENG Luton, England (1956)
  • LTU Marijampolė, Lithuania (1989)
  • POL Pszczyna, Poland (1993)
  • ENG Runnymede, England (1995)
  • NED Velsen, Netherlands (1956)

Notable people

  • Markus von Ahlen (born 1971), footballer and coach
  • Rüdiger Baldauf (born 1961), jazz musician
  • Astrid Benöhr (born 1957), endurance athlete
  • Sebastian Blomberg (born 1972), actor
  • Wolfgang Bosbach (born 1952), politician (CDU)
  • Karl Budde (1850–1935), Protestant theologian
  • Armin Falk (born 1968), economist
  • Markus Feldenkirchen (born 1975), journalist
  • Philomena Franz (1922 - 2022), Sinti writer and activist
  • Vanessa Fuchs (born 1996), Germany's Next Topmodel winner of the season 2015
  • Kerstin Gier (born 1966), author
  • Volker Goetze (born 1972), German born, New York based musician composer and filmmaker
  • Fabian Hambüchen (born 1987), artistic gymnast
  • Götz Heidelberg (1923–2017), physicist, constructor and entrepreneur
  • Waldemar Henrici (1878–1950), general and Reichsarbeitsdienstführer
  • Mats Hummels (born 1988), footballer
  • Hubert Käppel (born 1951), guitarist and music pedagogue
  • Brigitte Kraus (born 1956), middle distance runner
  • Georg Koch (born 1972), football goalkeeper
  • Heidi Klum (born 1973), model and presenter
  • Carolin Kebekus (born 1980), comedian, singer and actress
  • Theo Koll (born 1958), journalist
  • German Mäurer (1811–1885), Prussian writer
  • Veronika Moos-Brochhagen (born 1961), textile artist
  • Benyamin Nuss (born 1989), pianist
  • Bastian Oczipka (born 1989), footballer
  • Uwe Ommer (born 1943), act, fashion and advertising photos
  • Monika Piel (born 1951), journalist and presenter
  • Tibor Pleiß (born 1989), basketball player
  • Karin Sander (born 1957), artist
  • David Schnell (born 1971), painter
  • Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger (born 1955), historian
  • Tim Wiese (born 1981), German football goalkeeper and wrestler

Secondary schools in Bergisch Gladbach

  • Albertus-Magnus-Gymnasium Bensberg/Bergisch Gladbach
  • Gymnasium Herkenrath/Bergisch Gladbach
  • Nicolaus-Cusanus-Gymnasium Bergisch Gladbach
  • Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium Bensberg/Bergisch Gladbach
  • Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Gymnasium Bergisch Gladbach
  • Integrierte-Gesamtschule-Paffrath Bergisch Gladbach

References

References

  1. (July 2017). "Staatsangehörigkeit in Bergisch Gladbach". Stadt Bergisch Gladbach.
  2. "Städtepartnerschaften- und Freundschaften". Bergisch Gladbach.
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