City facts Dahlem – Eifel region

Dahlem – city facts

Things worth knowing about Dahlem – only content from the city facts database.

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Founding and age

Written records of the place Dahlem begin with a first documentary mention dated 20 January 867. In the local history published by the municipality, Dahlem is named therein as a place in the Eifelgau. The present larger municipality was formed in the course of the municipal territorial reform with effect from 1 July 1969; in that process the Amt Schmidtheim in its composition of 1945 was dissolved. The district of Schmidtheim appears in the same Prümer tradition of 867 as “Smideheim”, Baasem as “Basenheim”; Kronenburg has been attested in documents since 1277. Berk is first mentioned in the municipality’s local history around 1200 as “Berchheim”. The lords of Schmidtheim have been attested in documents since 1198.

A founding charter in the narrower sense is not recorded for Dahlem on the municipal website. What is documented is the first documentary mention of 867 as well as the formation of the present municipality of Dahlem on the basis of the Act on the reorganisation of municipalities of the district of Schleiden of 24 June 1969 with effect from 1 July 1969. The main statute confirms the formation as of 1 July 1969, the administrative seat in Schmidtheim and the area of the cadastral districts Baasem, Berk, Dahlem, Kronenburg and Schmidtheim. The Schmidtheim local history describes Dahlem, Baasem and Schmidtheim as Frankish settlements presumably founded in the 7th century in the Blankenheim limestone basin. On 1 January 1972 the district of Schleiden was dissolved; the municipality of Dahlem has since belonged to the district of Euskirchen.

From the Roman period, according to the Dahlem local history, finds of brick fragments near the Roman road east of the so-called barrows (1930) as well as cremation graves with grave goods in the parcel “Im Leger” (1934) are documented. The Schmidtheim local history mentions traces of pre-Roman presence in the forest district Eichholz as well as remains of Roman building near the Roman road Trier–Cologne. In 973 the village is named as Dalheim in a charter of King Otto II. In 1130 the Abbey of Stavelot-Malmedy held according to the local history nine hides of land in Dahlem. Demonstrably since 1362 Dahlem belonged to the lordship of Kronenburg and remained closely linked with its fate until 1794. The Schöffenbuch of the Dahlem court compiled in 1561 documents lower jurisdiction into the French period. In 1795/96 Dahlem became a Mairie under French administration; in 1816/19 the region passed via the Congress of Vienna and an interim phase under Mecklenburg-Strelitz to Prussia. In parallel, Kronenburg developed from its first mention in 1277 as a castle-valley settlement with later ironworks along the Kyll; in 1350 Kronenburg is named according to the local history as a town (oppidum), and around 1400 it received curtain walls, towers and gates. In 1487 the castle came according to KuLaDig into the possession of the Counts of Manderscheid and for about 250 years was the centre of an important lordship in the upper Kyll valley. In 1555 Kronenburg fell according to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Historische Stadt- und Ortskerne NRW, owing to affiliation with the Duchy of Luxembourg, under Spanish rule until 1715. Schmidtheim became the administrative seat and in 1870/71 received the highest railway station in the Eifel. Berk belonged ecclesiastically and territorially to the lordship of Kronenburg and was elevated to a parish in 1803. In 1969 Baasem, Berk, Kronenburg and Schmidtheim were incorporated into the larger municipality of Dahlem; the administrative seat is in Schmidtheim. In 1972 Schmidtheim, with the dissolution of the district of Schleiden, came to the district of Euskirchen.

Year Title Description
867 First documentary mention First known mention of Dahlem in Otbert's deed of gift dated 20 January 867 in the Eifelgau; at the same time Smideheim and Basenheim are named in the PrĂĽm tradition.
973 Mention as Dalheim In a charter of King Otto II, the hunting ban is confirmed for Archbishop Gero of Cologne; the village of Dalheim is also named therein.
1362 Affiliation with the Lordship of Kronenburg Documented from 1362, Dahlem belonged to the Lordship of Kronenburg and remained linked to its history until 1794.
1528 First church mention The first mention of a church or chapel in Dahlem dates from 1528; around 1550 the first pastor, Laurentius Saturnus, is named.
1795/96 Mairie under French administration After the Austrian Netherlands were annexed to France, Dahlem became a mairie; the first maire was Peter Casters. At that time 564 people lived in 90 houses.
1922 Dahlem passenger station On 18 December 1922 the Dahlem passenger station was opened; a goods loading point had already existed since 1904.
1961 Dahlemer Binz airfield Inauguration and opening of the airfield on the Dahlemer Binz.
1969 Municipal territorial reform In the course of the municipal territorial reform, Dahlem became a large municipality with the districts of Baasem, Berk/Frauenkron, Dahlem, Kronenburg and Schmidtheim; the seat of administration is Schmidtheim.
1130 Property of the Abbey of Stavelot-Malmedy According to local history, the Abbey of Stavelot-Malmedy owned nine hides of land in Dahlem; as late as 1627 the "Juchenfelder" were still associated with this property.
1277 First mention of Kronenburg Kronenburg is first mentioned in a charter of the Abbey of Malmedy-Stavelot; the Order of St John already had a house there and remained patron until 1803.
1561 Schöffenbuch of the Dahlem court The Schöffenbuch begun in 1561 and kept until 1796 documents purchase, exchange, inheritance and mortgage matters of the lower jurisdiction.
1631–1638 Witch hunts in Dahlem During the witch hunts, according to local history, about 16 people from Dahlem, mostly women, were executed; in the Lordship of Kronenburg many people also died of the plague.
1848 Provincial road Cologne–Trier The provincial road from Cologne to Trier, which ran through Dahlem, was completed and improved long-distance road links.
1870/71 Railway connection for Schmidtheim With the completion of the Cologne–Trier railway line, Schmidtheim received the highest station in the Eifel (around 554 to 555 metres above sea level).
1921–1926 Tell plays in Kronenburg Below the castle, Schiller's "Wilhelm Tell" was performed on an open-air stage; according to local history, a total of 55 performances took place.
1967 Dahlem's 1100th anniversary The municipality celebrated the 1100th anniversary of the place Dahlem and published the book "Meine Heimat Dahlem/Eifel".
1985 Kronenburg conservation area statute On 14 August 1985 the municipality of Dahlem adopted a conservation area statute for the castle–valley settlement area of Kronenburg; it was published on 3 October 1985.
2022 Relocation of Abbey Maria Frieden After 69 years on the Dahlemer Binz, the Trappistine community Abbey Maria Frieden left Dahlem on 22 June 2022 and moved to Kall-Steinfeld.
50 v.–400 n. Chr. Roman-period finds near Dahlem Near the Roman road east of the so-called barrows, brick sherds were found in 1930; in the field "Im Leger", cremation graves with grave goods were discovered in 1934.
um 1200 First mention of Berk as Berchheim Berk local history records around 1200 the first historical mention as "Berchheim"; from about 1360 Berk is known as a chapel place and belonged ecclesiastically and territorially to the Lordship of Kronenburg.
1350 Kronenburg named as a town According to Kronenburg local history, the place is called a town (oppidum) in 1350; around 1400 it receives ring walls, towers and gates.
1492–1508 Construction of the parish church of St John the Baptist The late Gothic parish church of St John the Baptist in Kronenburg was built, according to the Working Group Historic Town and Village Centres NRW, between 1492 and 1508 as a single-pier church.
1768 Berk pilgrimage church The church in Berk dedicated to Saint Brice was designated a pilgrimage church in 1768; Pope Clement XIII privileged the Helpers' altar and granted indulgences to the Helpers' confraternity.
1803 Elevation of Berk to a parish The chapel place Berk was elevated to a parish in 1803.
1832 Concession deed for the Dahlemer Berg mine On 26 August 1832 the Royal Prussian Chief Mining Authority issued the concession deed for the ironstone mine "Dahlemer Berg"; 88 Dahlem landowners are named therein.
1892 Dedication of the Marienallee Pastor Klerx dedicated the lime and chestnut avenue "Marienallee"; according to local history almost every Dahlem family took part by digging a planting pit.
1911 Passage of Kaiser Wilhelm II On 20 October 1911 Kaiser Wilhelm II passed through the festively decorated place of Dahlem on his journey from Bonn to Lieser.
1973–1976 Construction of Kronenburg Lake Kronenburg Lake was created as a cross-border joint project of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate; it serves as a flood retention basin for the catchment of the Kyll and Taubkyll.
1977 Kronenburg's 700th anniversary According to local history, Kronenburg celebrated the 700th anniversary of its first documentary mention.
1979–1981 Securing of Kronenburg castle ruins According to the Working Group Historic Town and Village Centres NRW, the ruins of the Kronenburg castle complex were comprehensively secured in the years 1979 to 1981.
2007 Partnership charter with Sarzeau In November and December 2007 the official partnership charter between the municipality of Dahlem and the Breton municipality of Sarzeau was signed in Sarzeau and in Dahlem.
2013 Water rope park at Kronenburg Lake According to the special-purpose association, since 2013 Kronenburg Lake has had Germany's only water rope park.
1198 First mention of the Lords of Schmidtheim According to Schmidtheim local history, the brothers Heinrich and Godfried "van Smydehem" appear as witnesses in a charter; the municipality's wedding-venue page cites this as the first mention of the Lords of Smydeheim as residents of the moated castle.
1327 Independent Kronenburg line According to the Working Group Historic Town and Village Centres NRW, an independent Kronenburg line developed in 1327 with Knight Peter of Kronenburg, who died in 1414 without male heirs.
1487 Kronenburg to the Counts of Manderscheid According to KuLaDig, Kronenburg Castle came into the possession of the Counts of Manderscheid in 1487 and for about 250 years was the centre of one of the most important lordships in the upper Kyll valley.
1760–1769 Construction of the Kronenburg manor house The listed manor house in Kronenburg was built, according to the municipality's wedding-venue page, between 1760 and 1769 on behalf of the Count of Blankenheim and from 1769 served as the seat of office for the bailiff J. Faymonville.
1976 Grant of coat of arms and banner By deed of the district president dated 6 April 1976, the municipality of Dahlem received, according to its main statute, the right to use a coat of arms and a flag as a banner.
2016 Refurbishment of the Kronenburg Lake dam According to the Kronenburg Lake special-purpose association, the asphalt seal of the dam was extensively refurbished in 2016: for over 1.5 million euros about 6,600 square metres of embankment surface were milled and about 1,200 tonnes of asphalt newly laid.

Important information

On its website the municipality of Dahlem characterises itself among other things with unspoilt nature and environment, active leisure opportunities and commercial and building land. It comprises several districts; Dahlem is the main residential focus, Schmidtheim the second-largest residential place with commercial land, Kronenburg a historic castle village. For tourism, flying, sailing, surfing, angling, cycling and walking are emphasised. According to the main statute the municipal coat of arms shows above a rising red eagle armed in gold and below three silver hammers; the right to bear arms and banner was granted on 6 April 1976. The municipality maintains a partnership with the Breton municipality of Sarzeau and offers civil wedding venues at Schloss Schmidtheim, at Burghaus Kronenburg and at Villa Kronenburg.

The municipality of Dahlem lies in the district of Euskirchen in the administrative region of Cologne in North Rhine-Westphalia. The municipal area includes the localities Baasem, Berk, Dahlem, Frauenkron, Kronenburg and Schmidtheim. The main statute also names Hammerhütte as a municipal district designation. Kronenburg lies high above the Kyll valley; the municipality describes itself for tourism as a starting point with proximity to Rhineland-Palatinate and Belgium. The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Historische Stadt- und Ortskerne NRW locates the municipality right in the south of NRW on the border with Rhineland-Palatinate. The forebay of Kronenburger See lies partly in the Rhineland-Palatinate Verbandsgemeinde Gerolstein; the main lake and the remaining area of the forebay lie in the municipality of Dahlem. KuLaDig gives for the Kronenburg monument area the coordinate about 50° 21′ 49″ N, 6° 28′ 38″ E.

The municipal area is heavily wooded: according to municipal figures, woodland accounts for 5,507.08 hectares and agricultural land for 3,031.99 hectares. Water surfaces are given as 60.78 hectares, recreational areas as 79.48 hectares and traffic areas as 479.49 hectares. Building and open land amount to 258.84 hectares; other areas 103.66 hectares. IT.NRW records as of 31 December 2024 woodland or scrub at 5,419 hectares (56.9 percent) and agricultural land at 3,057 hectares (32.1 percent). The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Historische Stadt- und Ortskerne NRW describes the municipality of Dahlem as situated in one of the most densely wooded areas of North Rhine-Westphalia. East of Dahlem, according to the municipal flyer, lies the heath-moor complex “Wasserdell” of about 12 hectares, designated as an SAC and nature reserve (Natura 2000). Among the attractions named are Kronenburger See and the castle village of Kronenburg in the Kyll landscape. Also named are walking and cycle paths such as the Wildnispfad, the Dahlemer Quellenpfad, the Moorpfad and the Kyll cycle path. The municipality lists 2 EifelSpuren and 16 EifelSchleifen, including among others Heidenkopf, Dahlemer Weitblicke, Moorpfad, Kloster Maria Frieden and Kronenburger See.

Schmidtheim is described by the municipality as the second-largest residential place with commercial land. Historically, ironstone mining played a role: in the local history employment of 145 persons in iron mining is named for 1783; the Dahlemer Berg mine reached a high output rate in 1873 and ceased operations in 1896. Ironworks arose at Kronenburgerhütte and Hammerhütte; cast-iron stove plates, stoves and pots were sold far afield. According to the Baasem local history the Kronenburger Hütte was closed in 1850 and the Hammer-Hütte in 1859. Otto Graf Beissel von Gymnich founded a sawmill at Schmidtheim station in 1899; the Dahlem sawmill ceased operations in 1964. Baasem was long agriculturally characterised and produced “Baasemer Käs’”; cabbage growing gave the place the nickname “Boosemer Kappesburen”. The airfield Dahlemer Binz is also regarded according to the airfield company as a commercial location; the operator is a Flugplatzgesellschaft mbH whose sole shareholder is the municipality of Dahlem.

As attractions the municipality names Kronenburger See, the castle village of Kronenburg, the late Gothic church in the castle enceinte of Kronenburg and the traffic and sports airfield Dahlemer Binz. According to the tourism page Kronenburger See offers about 28 hectares of water surface; the holiday park Kronenburger See comprises about 130 holiday houses with a leisure and service centre including an indoor pool. In Schmidtheim there is a free barefoot and generations park with 15 stations on more than 5,000 square metres next to the football pitch; named among others are bowls, a labyrinth, a herb garden, an insect hotel, a Kneipp basin and a small arts stage. Kronenburg is regarded as a tourist magnet with a restored historic village centre; named are Kronenburg art and culture days, a Christmas market and a flea market. At the lake according to the Zweckverband there are among others boat hire, a sailing school, a rowing club and since 2013 a water rope course. The municipality describes the airfield Dahlemer Binz as a main landing site for gliding and powered flight with an asphalt runway 1,070 metres long plus 200 metres of safety area, three glider runways and facilities for parachute jumps and balloon ascents. The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Historische Stadt- und Ortskerne NRW also names the roughly 130-kilometre Kyll cycle path as well as walking offerings such as the Wildnispfad and the Dahlemer Quellenpfad. According to the municipal flyer the Moorpfad opens up the Wasserdell hillside moor, Glaadtbachtal, Vierherrenstein and a Roman-road exposure.

The castle village of Kronenburg and the late Gothic church in the castle enceinte rank among the culturally highlighted places of the municipality. KuLaDig describes Kronenburg as one of the most important medieval castle-valley settlements of the Eifel region; the existence of the castle has been attested since 1277. Upper and lower castle precincts are separated by the middle gate and were accessible only via the medieval north gate with drawbridge across a neck ditch. In the 1920s Kronenburg became known through the Tell plays. The local history also documents the development of the parish and of schooling in Dahlem as well as the castle and parish church of St Martinus in Schmidtheim. In the Hasenberg-Hof of the Dr Axe Foundation in Kronenburg the art cabinet according to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Historische Stadt- und Ortskerne NRW shows changing exhibitions, among others paintings of the Düsseldorf school of painting. In the 1930s Herr Peiner according to the municipality’s wedding venues page founded a painting school in Villa Kronenburg as an outpost of the Düsseldorf Academy of Art. The municipal working group on culture and history publishes local booklets and postcard volumes on the districts.

Named are the castle village of Kronenburg with castle ruin and castle enceinte, the late Gothic church in the castle enceinte of Kronenburg, the Amthaus or Burghaus of 1766 (construction period according to the wedding venues page 1760–1769), Kronenburger See, the airfield Dahlemer Binz and Schloss Schmidtheim. The monument area statute of 1985 protects the castle-valley settlement of Kronenburg down to the foot of the mountain spur above the Kyll valley. baukunst-nrw further names surviving parts of the keep, the zwinger wall and the flanking towers, the north gate, Haus Pallandt of 1704 and the Brigida chapel. The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Historische Stadt- und Ortskerne NRW highlights Wilhelm-Tell-Gasse and the single-pillar church of St Johann Baptist. The Vierherrenstein on the Rhineland-Palatinate/NRW state border is according to the Moorpfad flyer a historic boundary stone with the coats of arms of the adjoining lordship districts. Schloss Schmidtheim is according to the municipality a former moated castle under monument protection in the building complex of 1627.

According to its own figures the municipal area is 95.18 square kilometres. Infrastructure includes among others railway stops in Dahlem and Schmidtheim as well as the airfield Dahlemer Binz. In 1900 a water pipeline was built in Dahlem, in 1912 an electricity network; on 14 December 1912 electric light burned there for the first time. In Baasem every house was connected to the water pipeline in 1906; in 1914 connection to the regional electricity grid followed. In Schmidtheim according to the local history central water supply came in 1903/04 and electricity in 1912. In 1971 the bypass relieved the place of Dahlem of through traffic. According to the main statute the administrative seat is in Schmidtheim. The Zweckverband Kronenburger See is managed on a business basis by the municipality of Dahlem. Civil weddings are according to the municipality possible at Schloss Schmidtheim, at Burghaus Kronenburg and at Villa Kronenburg.

The Baasem local history documents the production of “Baasemer Käs’”, which enjoyed a good reputation in the near and wider surroundings and was still produced in 1920. Favourable limestone soils were used by the people of Baasem for cabbage growing and raising young plants; through sales on markets as far as Malmedy, Prüm and Schleiden they received the nickname “Boosemer Kappesburen”.

  • Districts Baasem, Berk, Dahlem, Frauenkron, Kronenburg and Schmidtheim
  • Castle village Kronenburg
  • Kronenburg Lake
  • Airfield Dahlemer Binz
  • Rail connection on the Cologne–Trier line
  • Large forest area in the municipality
  • Historic iron ore mining Dahlemer Berg
  • Abbey Maria Frieden on the Dahlemer Binz
  • Castle village Kronenburg with historic conservation statute
  • Kronenburg Lake with about 28 hectares of water surface
  • Abbey Maria Frieden on the Dahlemer Binz (1952–2022)
  • Barefoot and generations park Schmidtheim
  • Holiday park Kronenburg Lake
  • Schmidtheim Castle
  • Municipal coat of arms with eagle and three hammers
  • Flood retention basin Kronenburg Lake (1973–1976)
  • Single-pillar church St. Johann Baptist in Kronenburg
  • Pilgrimage church St. Briktius in Berk
  • Partner municipality Sarzeau in Brittany
  • Water high ropes course at Kronenburg Lake
  • Art cabinet Hasenberghof of the Dr. Axe Foundation
  • Baasem cheese and cabbage cultivation
  • Kyll cycle path and Eifelsteig connection
  • Highest railway station in the Eifel in Schmidtheim
  • Paved airfield runway Dahlemer Binz (1,070 m)
  • Moor path Wasserdell as SAC and nature reserve
  • Two EifelSpuren and 16 EifelSchleifen in the municipality
  • Vierherrenstein at the state border NRW/Rhineland-Palatinate
  • Civil wedding venues Schmidtheim Castle and Burghaus Kronenburg
  • Villa Kronenburg with historic Peiner painting school
  • Municipal coat of arms and banner since 1976
  • Renovation of the Kronenburg Lake dam wall 2016
  • Baasem
  • Berk
  • Frauenkron
  • Kronenburg
  • Schmidtheim
  • HammerhĂĽtte
  • KronenburgerhĂĽtte
  • Stadtkyll
  • Blankenheim
  • Nettersheim
  • Hallschlag
  • Blankenheimerdorf
  • Bad MĂĽnstereifel
  • Marmagen
  • Urft
  • Gerolstein
  • Wiesbaum
  • JĂĽnkerath
  • Dollendorf

Notable events

For Dahlem and its districts numerous historically documented turning points are recorded, including the first mention in 867, the castle history of Kronenburg from 1277, witch hunts, French and Prussian administrative history, ironstone mining, railway and airfield openings, the Tell plays, the territorial reform of 1969, the construction of Kronenburger See from 1973 to 1976, the monument area statute of 1985, the partnership with Sarzeau in 2007, the dam renovation in 2016 and the relocation of Abbey Maria Frieden in 2022.

Period Title Category Description Significance
20. Januar 867 First mention in the Otbert charter History Nobleman Otbert exchanged estates with King Lothar II and, among other things, transferred property in the place Dahlem in the Eifelgau; at the same time Smideheim and Basenheim appear in the record. This is the documentary attestation of Dahlem and important neighbouring places that the municipality regards as the first mention.
1362 Affiliation with the Lordship of Kronenburg Politics Dahlem demonstrably belonged to the Lordship of Kronenburg from 1362. From then until 1794, the local history was closely linked to the Lordship of Kronenburg.
1618–1648 Thirty Years' War and population loss Disaster The number of households in Dahlem fell from 52 (1629) to 31 (1649); after the war a decline in houses from 55 to 19 was reported. In the Lordship of Kronenburg the population had shrunk by about half. Local history thus documents a severe demographic and economic collapse.
1795/96 French Mairie Dahlem Politics Dahlem became a Mairie under French legislation and official language; the first Maire was Peter Casters. The episode marks the transition from the Lordship of Kronenburg to the modern municipal administrative unit.
1944–1945 Bombardments in the Second World War Disaster Dahlem was repeatedly hit by bombing raids; 17 civilians died. Schmidtheim and Kronenburg likewise suffered heavy wartime damage. The wartime destruction ranks among the most severe modern ruptures in local history.
1952–1958 Foundation of Abbey Maria Frieden Culture In 1952 the first Trappistine nuns arrived at Dahlemer Binz; in 1953 the monastery was founded, in 1955 it was elevated to an abbey, and in 1958 the abbey church was consecrated. A religious centre thus arose on the municipal territory that remains associated with the district of Dahlemer Binz to this day.
1. Juli 1969 Municipal territorial reform into a larger municipality Politics Under the reorganisation act of 24 June 1969, today's municipality of Dahlem was formed with effect from 1 July 1969 and comprised the former municipalities or districts of Baasem, Berk, Kronenburg and Schmidtheim. Since then the present municipal structure has existed, with the administrative seat in Schmidtheim.
1277 First mention of Kronenburg Castle History Kronenburg is first mentioned in a charter of the Abbey of Malmedy-Stavelot and belongs to the lordship of the noble lords of Dollendorf. This marks the beginning of the documented history of one of the defining castle places of the later municipality of Dahlem.
1597–1638 Witch persecution in Dahlem and Schmidtheim Disaster In Schmidtheim, waves of witch trials with numerous death sentences are attested; according to local history, about 16 people from Dahlem were executed around 1631 to 1638. The persecutions rank among the severest early modern social upheavals in the municipal area.
1842–1855 Emigration to North America Economy In 1842, 42 people emigrated from Dahlem to North America; in 1852 and 1855 further groups of emigrants followed via Antwerp to New York and on to Wisconsin or Chicago. The waves of emigration reflect the region's economic hardship in the 19th century.
1921–1926 Tell plays below Kronenburg Castle Culture Schiller's drama "Wilhelm Tell" was performed on an open-air stage below the castle by citizens of Kronenburg; a total of 55 performances are attested. The plays brought Kronenburg supra-local renown and still shape the cultural memory of the castle place today.
1985 Conservation area statute for Kronenburg Culture On 14 August 1985 the municipality of Dahlem adopted a conservation area statute for the castle–valley settlement area of Kronenburg; on 3 October 1985 it was publicly announced. The statute protects the historic silhouette and building fabric of one of the municipality's most important architectural monuments.
22. Juni 2022 Relocation of Abbey Maria Frieden to Steinfeld Religion After 69 years the Trappistine community closed the enclosure in Dahlem and moved to Kall-Steinfeld; a farewell celebration with a pontifical mass accompanied the departure. The end of monastic use at Dahlemer Binz marks a rupture in the more recent religious and social history of the place.
1973–1976 Construction of Lake Kronenburg for flood protection Economy Lake Kronenburg was created as a cross-border joint project of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate with about 27 hectares of water surface and a retention volume of roughly 2.7 million cubic metres. The dam protects Kronenburg and downstream localities in Rhineland-Palatinate and at the same time developed into a supra-regional recreational lake.
7. Februar 1984 First flood test of Lake Kronenburg Disaster During heavy thunderstorm rainfall, according to the special-purpose association, up to 48 cubic metres of water per second flowed in from the Kyll and Taubkyll; 28 cubic metres per second were retained and 20 passed on. The lake thus passed its first test as a flood retention basin.
1688 Destruction of Kronenburg Castle in the Nine Years' War Disaster According to the Working Group Historic Town and Village Centres NRW, Kronenburg Castle was destroyed by French troops in 1688. The destruction marks the transition from a habitable hill castle to the later ruin, whose administrative function was taken over by the castle house of 1766.
1768 und 1803 Elevation of Berk to pilgrimage church and parish Religion In 1768 the Briktius Church in Berk was designated a pilgrimage church; in 1803 the chapel settlement was elevated to a parish. Berk thus became an ecclesiastical centre in the Lordship of Kronenburg with a continuing pilgrimage tradition.
2005–2007 Partnership Dahlem–Sarzeau Politics In 2005 the mayors signed a friendship charter; in 2007 the official partnership charter was signed in Sarzeau and Dahlem. The partnership permanently links the North Eifel municipality with a Breton commune and has since shaped cultural exchange.
1850 und 1859 Closure of the ironworks KronenburgerhĂĽtte and HammerhĂĽtte Economy According to the local history of Baasem, the Kronenburger ironworks was closed in 1850 and the Hammer ironworks in 1859; lack of demand, high costs and long transport routes are cited as causes. The end of the ironworks terminated centuries of iron industry in the Kyll valley and forced many men to migrate away.
1971 Fire at the church in Berk Disaster A fire destroyed the central part of the church in Berk; the tower and choir could be saved and remained parts of the rebuilt church. The fire is a severe rupture in the sacred history of the district of Berk.
1555–1715 Spanish rule over Kronenburg Politics According to the Working Group Historic Town and Village Centres NRW, Kronenburg came under Spanish rule in 1555 under Charles V because of its affiliation with the Duchy of Luxembourg until 1715. The episode places the castle settlement in the wider territorial history of Luxembourg and the Spanish Netherlands.
2016 Rehabilitation of the dam at Lake Kronenburg Economy The special-purpose association rehabilitated the asphalt sealing of the dam for over 1.5 million euros on about 6,600 square metres and renewed, among other things, KronenstraĂźe, dam lighting and fencing. The measure secured the technical functionality of the flood retention basin and recreational lake.
1930er Jahre Peiner painting school in Villa Kronenburg Culture According to the municipality's wedding location page, Mr Peiner acquired buildings of the later Villa Kronenburg in the 1930s and founded a painting school there as an outpost of the DĂĽsseldorf Academy of Art. Kronenburg thus early became a place of artistic training and strengthened its role as a painters' motif and artists' place.
6. April 1976 Granting of the municipal coat of arms Politics By charter of the district president, the municipality of Dahlem received, according to the main statute, the right to bear a coat of arms with an eagle and three hammers as well as a red-and-white flag as a banner. The coat of arms visualises the historical connection to the Lordship of Kronenburg and to the lords of Schmidtheim and has since shaped municipal identity.

Notable people

In the local history published by the municipality and in further primary sources several persons with a clear local connection are named, including early parish priests, teachers, officials, noble families, tourism pioneers, initiators of the Tell plays, mayors of the partnership period, airfield officials, local mayors as well as clerics born in Dahlem and the serving mayor.

Name Role Lifespan Relation to place Why notable
Laurentius Saturnus Pastor um 1550 genannt He is recorded in the local history as the first named pastor of Dahlem. His mention falls in the early phase of the place's ecclesiastical organization after the first mention of a church in 1528.
Peter Casters Mayor (Maire) He was the first Maire of the Mairie Dahlem during the French period 1795/96. He thus stands at the beginning of Dahlem's modern municipal administration.
Ludwig Dreesen Teacher gestorben 2. Februar 1937; Tätigkeit in Dahlem 1887–1925 He taught in Dahlem from 1887 to 1925. According to the local history, he prepared 50 young men for the teaching profession, 24 of them from Dahlem.
Peter Schmitz Theologian and university lecturer gestorben 1941 He was born and raised in Dahlem. He studied theology and law and latterly lectured at the university in Vienna; in 1941 he was buried in Mödling near Vienna.
Bernhard Pesch Clergyman and dean The clergyman from Miescheid was priest and dean in Dahlem for 23 years and founded the Kolping association there. The local history highlights his long pastoral work and the golden jubilee of his priesthood in 1971.
Jan Lembach Mayor He is listed on the municipal website as mayor of the municipality of Dahlem; address Schmidtheim, HauptstraĂźe 2, 53949 Dahlem. He is also association chairman of the Zweckverband Kronenburger See and managing director of the Flugplatzgesellschaft Dahlemer Binz. As incumbent mayor he represents the present municipal leadership of the municipality, the Zweckverband Kronenburger See, and the airfield company.
Otbert Nobleman and vassal genannt 867 He appears in the donation charter of 20 January 867 as the transferor of property in the place Dahlem in the Eifelgau. His charter forms the written attestation of Dahlem that the municipality treats as the first documentary mention.
Katharina Faymonville Castle lady and tourism pioneer gestorben 1969 im Alter von 89 Jahren As "Burg-Nettchen" she converted the castle house in Kronenburg into a guest house for hikers and painters and sold the property in 1951. The local history credits her with founding the tourist era of Kronenburg.
Eva von Schmidtheim Heiress genannt um 1511 She married Daeme Beissel von Gymnich and brought the inheritance of the lordship of Schmidtheim into this line. Through her began the Beissel von Gymnich line that remains connected with Schloss Schmidtheim to this day.
Daeme Beissel von Gymnich Local lord genannt 1511 He succeeded to the inheritance of the lordship of Schmidtheim and is regarded as the progenitor of the Schmidtheim line of the Beissel von Gymnich. According to the local history, the family still resides in Burg or Schloss Schmidtheim.
Pfarrer Windelschmidt Pastor and initiator of the Tellspiele Together with teacher Finken he initiated the open-air performances of Schiller's "Wilhelm Tell" in Kronenburg. The Tellspiele from 1921 to 1926 brought Kronenburg supra-local cultural renown.
Lehrer Finken Teacher and co-initiator of the Tellspiele Together with Pastor Windelschmidt he initiated the open-air performances of Schiller's "Wilhelm Tell" in Kronenburg. As co-initiator of the Tellspiele he helped shape Kronenburg's cultural flowering in the 1920s.
Lehrer Peetz Teacher and school chronicler Tätigkeit ab 1829 für 50 Jahre In 1829 he took over the leadership of the school in Dahlem for 50 years and started a school chronicle. His long headship and the school chronicle document Dahlem's educational history in the 19th century.
Pfarrer Ludwig Schmitz Pastor genannt 1843/1844 Under his leadership the old church in Dahlem was demolished down to the tower in 1844 and rebuilt within a few months; in 1843 the new cemetery was laid out. He shaped the modern church rebuilding and the relocation of the cemetery in Dahlem.
Pfarrer Klerx Pastor genannt 1892 In 1892 he consecrated the lime and chestnut avenue "Marienallee" in Dahlem. The Marienallee was created under his initiative as a communal planting project by almost all Dahlem families.
Thomas Faymonville Bailiff genannt ab 1766 After the dismissal of bailiff de la Fontaine he was appointed bailiff in Kronenburg when the new castle house was built in 1766. The wedding venue page names the Amtsverwalter J. Faymonville from 1769 as a user of the castle house. His term of office is linked with the rebuilding of the castle house as the administrative seat of the lordship of Kronenburg.
Bertram Beissel von Gymnich Local lord 1591–1648 Under his rule a second wave of around 50 witch trials with 42 death sentences swept over Schmidtheim in 1630/31. The local history associates him with the most severe witch persecutions in the district of Schmidtheim.
Otto Graf Beissel von Gymnich Entrepreneur and landowner genannt 1899 In 1899 he founded a sawmill at Schmidtheim station and also employed many workers in his forestry operation. He thus ranked among the largest employers in the region around the turn of the 20th century.
Jean Jannet Pastor genannt 1720 Under his leadership a new parish church was built in Schmidtheim in 1720. He stands at the beginning of the modern church building of St. Martinus in Schmidtheim.
Reinhold Müller Mayor genannt 2003–2011 in der Partnerschaftschronik In 2003 he travelled to Sarzeau to explore a possible partnership and in 2005 signed the friendship charter as well as the partnership charter in 2007. As mayor he shaped the beginning of the municipal partnership Dahlem–Sarzeau.
Anneliese Kinnen Chair of the partnership association In 2003 she travelled to Sarzeau with Mayor MĂĽller and prepared the friendship charter together with Pierre Chambrillon. As association chair she was a central actor in building the partnership with Sarzeau.
Erwin Bungartz Managing director of the airfield company On the municipal page on Flugplatz Dahlemer Binz he is listed alongside Jan Lembach as managing director of the Flugplatzgesellschaft mbH. As managing director he takes part in the operational management of the airfield, whose sole shareholder is the municipality of Dahlem.
Albert Peters Owner and renovator of the Kronenburg castle house According to the municipality's wedding venue page he acquired the castle house in Kronenburg from St. Vith and renovated it extensively after a period of structural impairment. Through the renovation the listed castle house again became usable as a representative wedding and hotel venue.
Martin Kinnen Local mayor of Baasem He is named by the municipality as local mayor in Baasem and, according to town hall information, advocated the expansion of the Generationenplatz and play facilities in Baasem. As local mayor he represents the interests of the district of Baasem and also appears as a sales contact for publications of the Arbeitskreis Kultur und Geschichte.
Hans-Josef Bohnen Local mayor of Schmidtheim In a municipal notice on defibrillators in Schmidtheim he is named as local mayor and supported new locations at the village square and sports ground. As local mayor he contributes to local infrastructure and safety in the district of Schmidtheim.
Matthias Kopp Pastor genannt 1964–1966 Under his leadership, according to the Schmidtheim local history, the old parish church of St. Martinus was extended in the years 1964 to 1966. He shaped the modern extension of the Schmidtheim parish church.
Peter von Kronenburg Knight genannt 1327; gestorben 1414 According to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Historische Stadt- und Ortskerne NRW, an independent Kronenburg line developed with him in 1327; he died in 1414 without male descendants. With his death Kronenburg became a secondary lordship of the county of Blankenheim-Manderscheid.

Sources

Source Publisher Used for
General data | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem Population as of 31.12.2024 by districts including secondary residences, area, population density, elevation, land use, transport links, sights, character traits, radio frequency Dahlemer Binz
Local history Dahlem | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem First mention 867, Dalheim 973, Roman finds, Stavelot-Malmedy 1130, Kronenburg lordship, schöffenbuch, church/parish, witch persecution, wars, mining, railway, airfield, Maria Frieden monastery, territorial reform 1969, people and events, weather station, Marienallee, imperial visit 1911
The municipal council | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem Postal code 53949, mayor Jan Lembach, locality structure
Main statute of the Municipality of Dahlem (10th amendment) Municipality of Dahlem Municipal name, formation as of 01.07.1969, cadastral districts, administrative seat Schmidtheim, localities, municipal part HammerhĂĽtte and Frauenkron, coat of arms and banner description, award 06.04.1976
Municipal profile Dahlem Information und Technik Nordrhein-Westfalen (IT.NRW) / Statistik.NRW Assignment to district of Euskirchen, Cologne administrative region, municipality type small town, land use 31.12.2024
Local history Kronenburg | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem First mention 1277, castle and lordship history, town designation 1350, ironworks KronenburgerhĂĽtte/HammerhĂĽtte, Tell plays, tourism, arts and culture days, Christmas market, flea market, Katharina Faymonville, 700th anniversary celebration 1977
Local history Schmidtheim | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem First mention Smideheim 867, name interpretation Schmiedeheim, Beissel von Gymnich, castle, railway station 1870/71, witch trials, administrative seat, wartime events 1945, population figures 1953 and 1980, Lords van Smydehem 1198, water/electricity, village action day 2007, pastor Matthias Kopp
Local history Baasem | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem Basenheim, name interpretation Basino/Baso, affiliation with Kronenburg/Luxembourg, school history, Baasem cheese and Kappesburen, closure of the ironworks 1850/1859, wartime events, incorporation 1969, 1111th anniversary celebration 1978
Tourism | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem Kronenburg Lake about 28 ha, holiday park with 130 holiday houses, barefoot and generations park Schmidtheim with 15 stations, low mountain climate, leisure offer, description Kronenburg/Kyll valley, clean air Northern Eifel
Monument area “Dahlem - Kronenburg” | KuLaDig LVR / KuLaDig (Kultur.Landschaft.Digital) Kronenburg Castle since 1277, Manderscheid 1487, castle-valley settlement with upper and lower boroughs, north gate and middle gate, late Gothic church, administrative building 1766, monument area statute 14.08.1985 and publication 03.10.1985, coordinates
Our origins – Abbey Maria Frieden Abbey Maria Frieden (Trappistines) Monastery foundation 1952/1953 on the Dahlemer Binz, founding sisters, monastic life, relocation 2022 to Steinfeld
Abbey Maria Frieden relocates – farewell celebration in Dahlem Abbey Maria Frieden (Trappistines) Closure of the enclosure and departure on 22.06.2022 after 69 years, farewell celebration, planned reuse as Haus Maria Frieden
Local history Berk | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem First mention Berchheim around 1200, chapel place from 1360, choir 1516, plague 1680, pilgrimage church 1768, parish 1803, incorporation 1969, church fire 1971, school closure 1972
Dahlem-Kronenburg – Picturesque crown in the south Arbeitsgemeinschaft Historische Stadt- und Ortskerne in Nordrhein-Westfalen Location on the border with Rhineland-Palatinate, castle history Kronenburg, Peter von Kronenburg 1327, Spanish rule 1555–1715, single-pillar church 1492–1508, Brigida chapel 1734, castle house 1766, securing of the ruin 1979–1981, flea market July, Christmas market, arts and culture days, Hasenberghof/art cabinet, woodland wealth, Kyll cycle path approx. 130 km, wilderness trail, tourist info address
Historic village centre Dahlem-Kronenburg baukunst-nrw / Architektenkammer Nordrhein-Westfalen Castle and village centre description, administrative building 1766, parish church St. Johann Baptist as single-pillar church from 1492, Brigida chapel, House Pallandt 1704, preserved ring walls and north gate
Kronenburg Lake | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem Water surface about 27 ha, special-purpose association, flood retention basin Kyll/Taubkyll, member bodies, management by Municipality of Dahlem, association chair Jan Lembach
The dam | Kronenburg Lake Zweckverband Kronenburger See Construction period 1973–1976, catchment area about 77 km², storage volume approx. 2.7 million m³, dam wall 18 m / 320 m, drawdown 3.5 m from October, flood event 07.02.1984, ownership shares, water rope course since 2013, renovation 2016 with costs and quantities
Partner municipality Sarzeau | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem Partnership with Sarzeau in Brittany, location Presqu’île de Rhuys, about 6,500 inhabitants, economic structure fishing/tourism/agriculture
About us | Partner municipality Sarzeau Municipality of Dahlem Partnership chronicle: exploration 2003, certificate of friendship 2005, partnership certificates 2007, Place de Sarzeau 2008, involvement of Reinhold MĂĽller and Anneliese Kinnen
Coat of arms of Schmidtheim | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem Three silver hammers as the old coat of arms of the Lords of Schmidtheim at Schmidtheim Castle
Dahlemer Binz | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem Sail and powered flying, sightseeing flights, sponsorship by Flugplatzgesellschaft mbH with Municipality of Dahlem as sole shareholder, runway dimensions 1,070 m plus 200 m, three glider runways, approval up to 5.7 t, parachute and balloon, managing directors Jan Lembach and Erwin Bungartz
Venues for civil marriage ceremonies | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem Schmidtheim Castle as a moated castle, Lords of Smydeheim 1198, enfeoffment 1511, building complex 1627, castle house construction period 1760–1769, administrative steward Faymonville, registry office around 1800, renovation by Albert Peters, Villa Kronenburg 1670s, Peiner painting school 1930s, Eifelverein 1950s, hotel since 1995
Hiking & cycling | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem 2 EifelSpuren and 16 EifelSchleifen with names and lengths, EifelBahnSteig stages Blankenheim-Wald–Schmidtheim–Dahlem–Jünkerath
Barefoot and generations park Schmidtheim (flyer) Municipality of Dahlem / IG Schmidtheim e. V. Area over 5,000 m², 15 stations, Kneipp basin, boules, labyrinth, herb garden, insect hotel, location Talweg next to football pitch, free use, construction by volunteers under IG Schmidtheim
Moor path Dahlem (flyer) Municipality of Dahlem Heath moor complex Wasserdell approx. 12 ha, FFH and nature conservation area, Glaadtbach valley, Vierherrenstein, Roman road outcrop, former gravel sand pit Heidenkopf, barrier-free boardwalk approx. 500 m
New publications | Working group Culture and History Municipality of Dahlem / Working group Culture and History Municipal reorganisation 01.07.1969 with dissolution of Amt Schmidtheim, affiliation with the district of Euskirchen from 01.01.1972, publications on Recherhof/motte and postcards, sales points citizens’ office Hauptstraße 23 Schmidtheim and local mayor Martin Kinnen Baasem
New defibrillators in Schmidtheim | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem Defibrillators at the village square and sports ground Schmidtheim, local mayor Hans-Josef Bohnen, involvement of mayor Jan Lembach and SG Dahlem-Schmidtheim
New play facilities in Baasem | Municipality of Dahlem Municipality of Dahlem Generations square and play facilities Baasem, local mayor Martin Kinnen, reference to generations park Schmidtheim and further playgrounds in the municipality