Würselen

Geography

Würselen lies north of the city of Aachen in the immediate vicinity of the tripoint of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Its neighbouring settlements are, in clockwise order, the towns of Herzogenrath, Alsdorf and Eschweiler and the city of Aachen. Würselen is part of Aachen's Nordkreis quarter and is the only part of the city borough without external boundaries.

Subdivisions

As part of the administrative reform in North Rhine-Westphalia and the related 1971 Aachen Act, the territory of the borough of Würselen was expanded in 1972 to incorporate the hitherto independent municipalities of Bardenberg and Broichweiden. Since then Würselen has consisted of the following quarters:

• Bardenberg
• Broichweiden
• Würselen

These are subdivided in turn into the following parishes:

Coat of arms

The coat of arms show the eagle of the coat of arms of Aachen in the topleft corner. The second quarter shows the coat of arms of the Rhine Province, however the bend also represents the river Wurm which flows through the town. The mining tools in the third quarter remember the mining history of the town, which dates back till the 12th century. The cross in the fourth quarter is the symbol of the prince-bishopric of Cologne, as the town belonged to the archdiocese of Cologne until the creation of the diocese of Aachen. On top of the Coat of arms, is a castle, built from yellowish bricks. The middle, Left and right each have a tower. It represents the castle „Burg Wilhelmstein“.

History

During the time of the Roman Empire, Roman soldiers were based at Würselen, on an area today known as "Mauerfeldchen" (small mural field).

The first mention of the town was as Wormsalt in 870. Between 1265-69, Duke Wilhelm IV of Jülich built the castle of Wilhelmstein. Since 1616 the town has been known as Würselen. In 1972, the neighbouring municipalities of Bardenberg and Broichweiden were incorporated into the town.

Twin towns – sister cities

Würselen is twinned with:

• GER Hildburghausen, Germany
• FRA Morlaix, France
• BFA Réo, Burkina Faso
• ITA Campagnatico, Italy
• CHN Ruichang, China

Notable people

• Jakob Dautzenberg (1897–1979), politician (KPD), resistance fighter against national socialism, Reichstag deputy
• Adolf Wamper (1901–1977), sculptor, created the Black Madonna in the War Crimes Camp 'Golden Mile'
• Jupp Derwall (1927–2007), football player and manager
• Jupp Kapellmann (born 1949), footballer
• Martin Schulz (born 1955), former leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, former President of the European Parliament, was Mayor of Würselen
• Nadine Capellmann (born 1965), dressage rider
• Der Graf (born 1970s), frontman and songwriter of the band Unheilig
• Roland Bartetzko (born 1970), soldier, charged with murder, attempted murder and terrorism
• Torsten Frings (born 1976), footballer
• Norman Langen (born 1985), percussionist
• Yannick Gerhardt (born 1994), footballer
• Achim Großmann (1947-2023), politician

Gallery

File:Blick vom Markt auf St Sebastian.jpg|View from the Market towards St Sebastian File:TeutMalakoff1880.jpg|The former mine Teut with its Malakoff tower in 1880 File:Würselen Nikolauskirche innen.jpg|Church of St Nicolas File:MZ Marienhoehe.jpg|Marienhoehe Hospital

References

References

1. [https://www.wahlergebnisse.nrw/kommunalwahlen/2020/index_bm.shtml Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020], Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 19 June 2021.
2. "Partnerstädte". Würselen.