Founding and age
The place Nettersheim has been settled since Roman times. The earliest surviving documentary mention as “Nefresheim” is dated to the year 867. The present-day political municipality of Nettersheim was formed in 1969 through the merger of eleven previously independent localities.
As of 1 July 1969, the present-day municipality of Nettersheim was formed in the course of the municipal reorganisation in the former district of Schleiden from eleven localities: Bouderath, Buir, Engelgau, Frohngau, Holzmülheim, Marmagen, Nettersheim, Pesch, Roderath, Tondorf and Zingsheim. The basis was the Act on the Reorganisation of Municipalities of the District of Schleiden.
Since Roman times the area around Nettersheim has been continuously settled; among other things, the veneration of Gallo-Roman matrons (Aufaniae) is attested. In the 9th century the Abbey of Prüm held property in Nettersheim. In 1187 Nettersheim property was confirmed to Steinfeld Abbey. In 1346 a parish priest is attested for “Nechterssem”. In 1536 “Nechtersheym” appears in the visitation records of the Duchy of Jülich as a chapel of Zingsheim. On 2 April 1705 Nettersheim was elevated to a parish. The present-day large municipality with eleven localities has existed since 1969.
| Year |
Title |
Description |
| 867 |
First documentary mention as Nefresheim |
According to the Handbook of the Diocese of Aachen, King Lothar II transferred an estate in “Nefresheim” to the nobleman Otbert. This is the earliest documented mention of the place. |
| 9. Jahrhundert |
Property of Prüm Abbey |
In the 9th century, according to the Handbook of the Diocese of Aachen, Prüm Abbey held property in Nettersheim. |
| 1187 |
Confirmation of property for Steinfeld Monastery |
In 1187, Nettersheim property was confirmed for Steinfeld Monastery. |
| 1346 |
Parish priest in Nechterssem |
In 1346, according to the Handbook of the Diocese of Aachen, “Nechterssem” had a parish priest. |
| 1536 |
Chapel of Zingsheim |
In the visitation records of the Duchy of Jülich from 1536, “Nechtersheym” is listed as a chapel of Zingsheim. |
| 1705 |
Elevation to the parish of St. Martin |
On 2 April 1705, Nettersheim became a parish in the Eifel deanery. The first parish priest was the Premonstratensian Albert Brandt of Steinfeld (1705–1719). |
| 1802 |
Assignment to the Diocese of Trier |
Under parish priest Philipp Engel, Nettersheim became a parish in the canton of Blankenheim in the Diocese of Trier in 1802. |
| 1827 |
Deanery of Steinfeld |
From 1827 onward, the parish of Nettersheim St. Martin belongs to the Steinfeld deanery. |
| 1969 |
Formation of the present-day municipality |
On 1 July 1969, the municipality of Nettersheim was formed from the eleven localities of Bouderath, Buir, Engelgau, Frohngau, Holzmülheim, Marmagen, Nettersheim, Pesch, Roderath, Tondorf and Zingsheim. |
| 1989 |
Opening of the Naturzentrum Eifel |
Since 1989, the Naturzentrum Eifel in Nettersheim has presented nature and history topics of the Eifel through exhibitions and events. |
Important information
Nettersheim is a municipality belonging to a district in the Eifel with eleven localities and a strong focus on nature, environmental and historical education. At its heart is the Eifel Nature Centre with tourist information, exhibitions and the Archaeological Landscape Park.
The municipality of Nettersheim lies in the district of Euskirchen in the southwest of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the upland landscape of the northern Eifel between the Urft and Erft rivers in the German-Belgian Nature Park High Fens – Eifel. It belongs to the Cologne administrative district.
The municipality comprises an upland landscape of the northern Eifel with historically shaped village centres. Tourist and natural-history sources emphasise particular plant and animal richness, fossil-rich geological outcrops and a high density of archaeological monuments, especially from Roman times.
In the localities there are numerous craft businesses, particularly in Marmagen (“village of craftspeople”). In Zingsheim there is a commercial estate. The forest as regional capital led to the establishment of the Rhineland Timber Competence Centre in Nettersheim, which provides information on timber for heating and construction.
Tourist offerings centre on the nature experience village of Nettersheim with the Eifel Nature Centre, the Archaeological Landscape Park, adventure trails and hiking as well as cycling routes. The municipality’s central tourist information is located in the Eifel Nature Centre (Urftstraße 2–4).
The cultural and educational offering is shaped among other things by the Eifel Nature Centre, the Archaeological Landscape Park and, according to tourism presentations, more than 60 associations. Since September 2014 the Roman Road Information Centre has also been based at the Nature Centre.
Outstanding sights include the Archaeological Landscape Park with traces of the Roman settlement along the Agrippa Road (presumably Marcomagus), the Eifel Nature Centre and the House of Fossils.
The municipal town hall is located in Zingsheim (Krausstraße 2, 53947 Nettersheim). Further municipal facilities include, among others, the Eifel Nature Centre, the House of Fossils and tourist information facilities.
- Eleven localities in one municipality since 1969
- Location in the northern Eifel between Urft and Erft
- Eifel Nature Centre (since 1989)
- Archaeological Landscape Park Nettersheim
- Roman settlement remains along the Agrippa Road
- Roman Road Information Centre
- House of Fossils
- Timber Competence Centre Rhineland
- Tourist Information in the Nature Centre
- German-Belgian Nature Park High Fens – Eifel
- Marmagen
- Zingsheim
- Tondorf
- Engelgau
- Pesch
- Frohngau
- Holzmülheim
- Buir
- Bouderath
- Roderath
- Blankenheim
Notable events
For Nettersheim, in particular the earliest documentary mention in the 9th century, elevation as a parish in 1705, municipal reorganisation in 1969 and the development of the nature and archaeology offering since 1989 are documented.
| Period |
Title |
Category |
Description |
Significance |
| 867 |
Documentary mention of Nefresheim |
History |
King Lothar II granted an estate in “Nefresheim” to the noble Otbert. The mention is regarded as the earliest documented evidence of the place. |
It marks the beginning of Nettersheim’s written local history. |
| 2. April 1705 |
Elevation to an independent parish |
Culture |
Nettersheim became a parish in the Eifel deanery after the inhabitants had previously petitioned for parish status. Albert Brandt became the first parish priest. |
The elevation strengthened ecclesiastical independence from Zingsheim and shaped the local parish organization. |
| 1. Juli 1969 |
Municipal reorganization into a larger municipality |
Politics |
Eleven localities were merged into the new municipality of Nettersheim. |
This created the present-day political municipality in its spatial and administrative form. |
| 1989 |
Founding of the Naturzentrum Eifel |
Culture |
The Naturzentrum Eifel began its work with exhibitions and events on the nature and history of the Eifel. |
It became the central forum for environmental education and tourist information in the municipality. |
| 18. Mai 2014 |
Opening of the Archaeological Landscape Park |
Culture |
After excavations by the University of Cologne and partial reconstructions, the Archaeological Landscape Park was opened. Settlement traces along the Agrippastraße were made visible, presumably the Roman place Marcomagus. |
The park makes Nettersheim’s Roman settlement history experienceable for visitors and is part of the Erlebnisraum Römerstraße project. |
| September 2014 |
Relocation of the Roman Road Information Centre |
Culture |
The Roman Road Information Centre moved into the Naturzentrum Eifel and expanded the archaeological exhibition with modules on Roman roads and the use of raw materials in the Eifel. |
Nettersheim thus became one of the locations of the Roman Road Information Centre along the Agrippastraße. |
Notable people
Documented are, among others, the first parish priest after elevation as a parish in 1705, later Premonstratensian parish priests, and the incumbent mayor of the municipality.
| Name |
Role |
Lifespan |
Relation to place |
Why notable |
| Albert Brandt |
First parish priest of Nettersheim St. Martin |
Pfarramt 1705–1719 |
He was a Premonstratensian from Steinfeld and the first parish priest after Nettersheim was elevated to a parish on 2 April 1705. |
With him begins the independent parish history of Nettersheim in the sources of the Diocese of Aachen. |
| Philipp Engel |
Last Premonstratensian parish priest |
Pfarramt 1793–1810 |
He was the last Premonstratensian parish priest in Nettersheim. Under him, the parish was assigned in 1802 to the canton of Blankenheim in the Diocese of Trier. |
His term of office marks the transition from Premonstratensian parish staffing to the modern diocesan affiliation. |
| Norbert Crump |
Mayor of the municipality of Nettersheim |
|
According to the imprint of the municipal website, he is the authorized representative mayor of the municipality of Nettersheim with seat at Krausstraße 2 in Zingsheim. |
As mayor, he represents the municipality as a corporation under public law. |
| Lothar II. |
King of Lotharingia |
855–869 |
In the year 867, according to the Handbook of the Diocese of Aachen, he transferred an estate in "Nefresheim" to the nobleman Otbert. |
Through this charter, the earliest documented mention of Nettersheim has been handed down. |