Halle, North Rhine-Westphalia
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| Halle | |
| Coat of arms | Location |
| Administration | |
| Country | Image:Flag of Germany.svg Germany |
|---|---|
| State | North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Admin. region | Detmold |
| District | Gütersloh |
| Local subdivisions | 6 |
| Mayor | Anne Rodenbrock-Wesselmann (SPD) |
| Basic statistics | |
| Area | 69.21 km² (26.7 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 70-316 m |
| Population | 21,329 (31/12/2006) |
| - Density | 308 /km² (798 /sq mi) |
| Other information | |
| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) |
| Licence plate | GT (until 1974 HW) |
| Postal code | 33790 |
| Area codes | 0 52 01 |
| Website | www.hallewestfalen.org |
Halle (officially Halle (Westf.), in order to distinguish from the larger Halle, Saxony-Anhalt) is a town in the German Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia and belongs to the district of Gütersloh. It lies approx. 37 km south-east of Osnabrück and 15 km west of Bielefeld.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
[edit] Geographic Location
Halle is situated in sandy plain of the river Ems on the southern slopes of the Teutoburg Forest, which crosses the town area from northwest to southeast. This mountain range separates the Eastern part of the Münsterland and the Westfalian Bay. The highest points are the Hengeberg elevating 316 meters and the Eggeberg elevating 312 meters. With 70 meters the south- western outskirts are the lowest point. There the creeks Hessel, Rhedaer Bach as well as the Ruthebach leave the city limits. All creeks have its source in the Teutoburg Forest and ultimately join the river Ems. The town area is essentially characterized by agriculture, but has also substantial amount of forest areas, namely the Teutoburg Forest and the Tatenhauser Forest. The 52nd degree of latitude traverses the town area in its southern part.
[edit] Geology
The northern part of the town area of Halle is situated in the Teutoburg Forest mountain range, with the city limits running on the ridge in large parts. Towards the south the town area levels off into the sandy plains of the river Ems.
[edit] Dimensions of urban area
The town covers an area of 69,29 km² (26,75 square miles). The major part consists of agricultural area (4.550 ha) and forests (1.168 ha), in total approx. 83 %, followed by developed area (673 ha) and circulation area (386 ha), in total approx. 15 %. The maximum stretch both in northern - southern direction and in western - eastern direction is approx. 10km. The northernmost point is north of Eggeberg at approx. 52° 5' northern latitude, the southernmost point is south of Kölkebeck.
[edit] Neighbouring communities
Halle borders the town of Borgholzhausen in the northwest, the town of Werther in the northeast, the community of Steinhagen in the southeast and south, the town of Harsewinkel in southeast and the town of Versmold in the west, all belonging to the district of Gütersloh. Major neighbouring cities are Bielefeld and Gütersloh, both approx. 15 km away.
- Bokel, 854 inhabitants
- Halle, 13.558 inhabitants
- Hesseln, 1.406 inhabitants
- Hörste, 1.681 inhabitants
- Kölkebeck, 553 inhabitants
- Künsebeck, 3.583 inhabitants
[edit] History
Halle is located in the Ravensberger Land or more specifically in the County of Ravensberg, deducted from the Burg Ravensberg located in the neighbouring community of Borgholzhausen . The vicissitudes of history were predominantly influenced by the bishops of Osnabrück, Napoleon and German emperors.
The area of the town and the former district of Halle formerly belonged to the Ravensberg. The latter was surrounded by the principalities of Osnabrück, Münster, Paderborn and Minden and was neighbouring the Principality of Lippe. In contrast to these principalities Ravensberg always has been secular estate, which at first belonged to the Counts of Ravensberg and later to their Jülich heirs. After this nobility also became extinct the county, along with others, came into possession of the house of Kleve-Mark and about a century later via the Margraviate of Brandenburg of the kingdom of Prussia.
In the year 1246 bishop Engelbert of Osnabrück swapped the church "tor Halle", situated on the southern edge of his diocese, with all rights and duties with the castle and Benedictine Abbey Iburg in exchange for the church in Rheda with all rights and earnings. In the document, dating May 9, 1246, which seals the exchange - in a manner of speaking the certificate of birth - Halle is mentioned for the first time. The two villages Oldendorf and Gartnisch, today subdivisions of Halle embracing it in the east and west, are older than the present core of settlement. They are already mentioned as early as in the 11th century.
The Ravensberg rent-roll, finalized in 1556, lists 49 names in Halle between the years 1491 and 1541, thereof 26 free citizens and 23 bondmen of the territorial lord respectively of the noble landlords in Steinhausen and Tatenhausen. The population is estimated around 350 heads in the 16th century. During this time the Protestant Reformation began in Halle, gradually but largely changing people's religious affiliation. Only few noble families remained Roman Catholic, among them the Lords of castle Tatenhausen, in whose territory the catholic community Stockkämpen continues to exist to date.
On April 17, 1719 Halle was granted town privileges by king Frederick William I of Prussia and it was capital of the district of Halle for 150 years. As a result of the Prussian defeat against Napoleon the town came under French reign between 1807 and 1813. Temporarily Halle was divided, the border between the French Empire and the Kingdom of Westphalia passed through the town (partly alongside the Laibach creek). During this time the population suffered from the pressing encumbrances caused by the necessity to finance the French Revolutionary Wars.
In 1813 Prussia regained the administration. Halle was allocated to the Regierungsbezirk Minden in the Province of Westphalia and again became capital of its own district.
Until well into the 19th century Halle remained largely agrarian- oriented, mainly grain, flax or hemp was cultivated and animal husbandry was run. The traffic infrastructure of Halle, being located alongside several supra-regional roads, was not disadvantageous; however there were no paved roads until 1844 and the town was always outshined by Bielefeld.
In the mid 19th century the town changed its face with industrialization setting in and gained significance. In particular, the connection to the railway line "Haller Willem" (Bielefeld-Osnabrück) since 1886 played a prominent role. A brandy distillery (Kisker), coldmeat factories and woodwork undertakings came into existence.
The next essential change was brought by World War II respectively its consequences. Owing to the absorption and integration of a large number of refugees grave economic and demographic shifts were brought about.
After almost 160 years Halle lost its position as district capital due to a reorganization of administrative districts in 1973: Gütersloh became capital of the new district. Until then Halle even had its own license plate code "HW“.
There are no known documents about the name Halle and the nascence of the town. The most common (but non- provable) explanation is that it is derived from "hale“, meaning salt.
[edit] Religion
More than half of the population is member of Protestant churches, some 15 % are Roman Catholic. Besides the two Landeskirche parochials, the protestant-lutheran parochial and the Catholic parochial Herz-Jesu (Heart of Jesus) there are also the Free Church parochials Mennonite-Plymouth Brethren, New Apostolic parochial and Free Evangelic Church. Additionally Jehovah's Witnesses are represented with one parochial and muslims can attend services in the Turkish- Islamic cultural association.
[edit] Incorporations
Due to the "Bielefeld-law", dating October 24, 1972 the town of Halle was united with the communities of Bokel, Hesseln, Hörste, Kölkebeck and Künsebeck on January 1, 1973. The new city of Halle also replaced the former administrative office of Halle. Based on the same law parts of the communities of Amshausen, Borgholzhausen, Brockhagen and Theenhausen were integrated into the city. On July 1, 1972 the villages Ascheloh, Eggeberg and Gartnisch had already been integrated.
[edit] Inhabitants
(always per December 31 unless stated otherwise)
- 1491-1541 - approx. 49
- 1500-1600 - approx. 350
- 1871 - 5.545 (incl. later incorporations)
- 1880 - 1.600 (without later incorporations)
- 1939 - 8.169 (incl. later incorporations), without incorporations 3.500
- 1961 - 15.258
Since January 1, 1973 including incorporated communities:
- 1998 - 20.023
- 1999 - 20.251
- 2000 - 20.478
- 2001 - 20.728
- 2002 - 20.786
- 2003 - 20.928
- 2004 - 21.224
- 2005 - 21.283
- 2006 - 21.600 (March)
- 2007 - 21.638 (April)
[edit] Politics
[edit] Town Council
- CDU 14 seats
- SPD 11 seats
- The Greens 3 seats
- FDP 2 seats
- UWG (independent voters alliance) 2 seats
- STU (agenda party favouring a specific marked-out route for the unfinished motorway) 6 seats
(date of issue: communal election dating September 26, 2004)
[edit] Mayor
Sitting mayoress since 2002 is Anne Rodenbrock-Wesselmann (SPD).
Predecessors:
- Jürgen Wolff, CDU (? - 2002)
- Wilhelm Bentlage, ? (? - ? )
[edit] Coat of Arms
The coat of arms of Halle shows three silver lilies on red ground. In the foreground as the heart sign it shows the coat of arms of the County of Ravensberg (three red chevrons on silver).
It was granted for the first time in 1908 by order of the King of Prussia, continued to be used unchanged after the incorporations of 1973. The three chevron presumably hint to the former to the belonging to county of Ravensberg, the three lilies assumedly date back to an official community seal of the 18th century.
[edit] Town Twinning
The town twinning between Halle and Ronchin (France) celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2004.
[edit] Culture and Sights
[edit] Architecture
- The Protestant parish church is located amidst the tree-lined church square and surrounded by half-timbered buildings. The arched building was originally built single-nave in the 13th century; a square choir and a west tower were added to the southern side aisle in the 15th century. The northern addition dates from 1886. Remnants of Baroque features in the interior could be preserved, among them the sandstone pulpit of 1716. In the northern side aisle there is a gallery balustrade that dates back to 1661.
- To this date a considerable number of half-timbered buildings could be preserved. The built-up area around the church has an impressive closedness, only few comparable structures are preserved in the area (compare Delbrück, Gütersloh). The oldest building is Kirchplatz No. 3, which was dated dendrochronologically to the year 1512. Kirchplatz No. 11 has a storefront that is carved with fan rosettes, the storefront was used for a new building after the old building to which it originally belonged was broken down. In the nearby Bahnhofstraße there are further eminent half-timbered buildings. The house no. 10 is exceptionally stately, showing a special form of bay windows to the street, that dates back to the 17th century.
- Kiskerhaus, nowadays used by the folk high school. The former head office of the Kisker distillery consists of an older core building from 1692 that was extended in 1712.
- The Catholic Church Herz-Jesu was inaugurated on November 14, 1909. The building was donated by countess Julia Korff-Schmising- Kerßenbrock.
- The moated castle Tatenhausen is situated in the Tatenhausen Forest. The castle was ancestral home to the barons and counts von Korff, called Schmising. It was built in the Weserrenaissance style. The erection of the east wing started in the year 1540, based on foundations from the 14th century. The centre section and the west wing were built in Baroque style in the 18th century. The Baroque style Orangery was designed by Johann Conrad Schlaun in 1751. The castle is still inhabited. The surrounding lake is fed by the creek Laibach.
[edit] Museums
Halle has the only ‘’museum for works of childhood and adolescence of important artists" in Germany. Namely paintings during adolescence of artists like Paul and Felix Klee, August Macke, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Pablo Picasso are in the focus of the museum's work.
[edit] Music
In February Halle hosts the super regionally renowned "Haller Bachtage", with choir- and orchestra concerts, chamber and organ concerts being staged during one week. In many cases international celebrities of classical music can be engaged (Peter Schreier, Thomas Quasthoff, Petr Eben a.o.). Management: KMD Martin Rieker.
[edit] Natural Monuments
Approx. 437 acres of the Tatenhausen Forest are protected by the Habitats Directive of the European Union. This area hosts rare bats like the Bechstein bat (Myotis Bechsteinii), the greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis Myotis) and the lake bat (Myotis Dasycneme). Moreover the Laibach creek is a habitat for the common kingfisher. The reserve is the only known habitat for a rare bug species (Heldbock ). Typical types of biotopes are mixed forests of beech and oak with a high degree of old wood and alder-ash tree-pasture forests.
[edit] Sports
Every year in June Halle hosts the Gerry Weber Open which is the only German ATP-lawn tennis tournament. Tennis professionals use this tournament as a tune-up for Wimbledon. In 2007 the Gerry-Weber-Stadium, which is the 2nd- biggest stadium in the district of Gütersloh, hosted several matches of World Men's Handball Championship.
Located north of the town the "Golf Club Teutoburger Wald" has a course with 27 holes.
The men's team of "TC Blau-Weiß Halle" have won the German Team Tennis Championships in 1995 and 2006.
[edit] Regular Events
Besides the Gerry-Weber-Open and the "Haller Bachtage" the town fest "Haller Willem" traditionally takes place on Ascension Day.
[edit] Infrastructure and economics
[edit] Traffic
The highway B68 runs through Halle.
[edit] Train and Bus
The train stations "Halle (Westf.)", "Künsebeck", "Halle Gerry-Weber-Stadion" and "Hesseln" are located alongside the railway tracks of the Haller Willem (KBS 402). The identically named Regionalbahn commutes hourly between Bielefeld, Halle and Osnabrück (during weekdays partly half- hourly between Bielefeld and Halle). The service is run by the NordWestBahn which uses Talent trains for speeds up to 120 km/h.
Regional buses run to Bielefeld, Gütersloh, Werther (Westfalia), Steinhagen (Westfalia), Brockhagen and Versmold.
For all public transport within North- Rhine Westfalia there are two unified tariffs: Der Sechser and the NRW- tariff. For connections to Osnabrück an additional tariff (VOS plus) is valid.
[edit] Bundesautobahn 33
The marked- out path of the Bundesautobahn 33 runs trough Halle. For decades the planning of this highway is politically controversial. On one hand it is bound to take pressure of the highway B68 in city centre, on the other hand the marked- out path runs through the Tatenhauser Wald, part of which is protected by the FFH.
[edit] Pedestrian and Bicycle Traffic
Halle is located on three supra- regional bike routes. Die BahnRadRoute Teuto-Senne leads from Osnabrück via Halle and Bielefeld to Paderborn. The routes R3 from Haaksbergen to Bad Pyrmont and R45 from Schledenhausen to Hainchen lead through Hörste and Bokel. Additionally four circular routes, each approx. 20 km long, run through Halle, developing in a shamrock shape starting at the train station.
Halle has a car-free zone and hikers find a choice of twelve signposted circular routes.
[edit] Companies residing in Halle
The most renowned employers in Halle are:
- Gerry Weber
- August Storck KG
- Kisker-Brennereien
- Branch of Baxter International
[edit] Media
- Haller Kreisblatt (newspaper, subsidiary of Neue Westfälische)
- Westfalen-Blatt (newspaper)
- Haller Willem (city magazine)
- Radio Gütersloh (local radio station)
[edit] Public Facilities
The town offers a number of public services for its citizens. The public library holds approx. 30.000 books. It is located in a landmarked distillery building of the Kisker- Brennereien. This building also hosts the municipal archive.
The Lindenbad is fun spa that combines indoor and outdoor swimming pools. It is operated by the Technische Werke Osning GmbH which is owned by the town.
The local hospital with 163 beds available is run by the Klinikum Ravensberg gGmbH which also operates a hospital in Versmold.
The Magistrates' Court in Halle is also responsible for Borgholzhausen, Steinhagen, Versmold and Werther.
The auxiliary fire brigade of Halle is responsible for fire protection and fire fighting and deployed out of Halle, Hörste and Kölkebeck.
[edit] Education
Some schools of Halle are of relevance beyond Halle since they provide offers for adjacent communities, namely the Berufskolleg, the Kreisgymnasium and the folk high school. The schools in Halle are:
- Grundschule Gartnisch, elementary school
- Grundschule Lindenschule, elementary school
- Grundschule Hörste, elementary school
- Grundschule Künsebeck, elementary school
- Hauptschule Halle, secondary school
- Realschule Halle, secondary school
- Kreisgymnasium Halle, secondary school
- Gerhart-Hauptmann-Schule, school for children with special educational needs
- Berufskolleg Halle, vocational school
- Folk high school Ravensberg
[edit] Public Characters
[edit] Sons and daughters of the town
Born in Halle are:
- 1803: Ferdinand Wilhelm Brune, architect of the classicism era
- 1939: Heiner Erke, psychologist
- 1962: Sarah Wiener, cook
- 1963: Monica Theodorescu, dressage rider
- 1975: Jörg Ludewig, race cyclist
[edit] Other public characters that are connected with Halle
Not born in Halle, but living/ having lived or worked there:
- Hans Schwier, politician (SPD) and minister of cultural affairs in North Rhine-Westphalia, represented Halle in the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia between 1970 and 1975
- Burghard Schloemann, church musical director and founder of the "Haller Bach-Tage"
- Gabriele Behler, later minister of cultural affairs in North Rhine-Westphalia, taught at Kreisgymnasium Halle
- Heribert Bruchhagen, football official, taught at Kreisgymnasium Halle
[edit] External links
Towns and municipalities in Gütersloh (district) | |
|---|---|
| Borgholzhausen | Gütersloh | Halle | Harsewinkel | Herzebrock-Clarholz | Langenberg | Rheda-Wiedenbrück | Rietberg | Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock | Steinhagen | Verl | Versmold | Werther | |
ca:Halle (Westfàlia)
da:Halle (Nordrhein-Westfalen)
de:Halle (Westfalen)
es:Halle (Westfalia)
eo:Halle (Vestfalio)
fr:Halle (Rhénanie-du-Nord-Westphalie)
nl:Halle (Noord-Rijnland-Westfalen)
no:Halle (Westfalen)
pt:Halle (Renânia do Norte-Vestfália)
ru:Халле (Вестфалия)
vo:Halle (Nordrhein-Westfalen)
