Oberwiesen

Oberwiesen
Municipality
Coat of arms
Location of Oberwiesen within Donnersbergkreis district
Oberwiesen Show map of Germany Oberwiesen Show map of Rhineland-Palatinate
Coordinates: 49°41′54.39″N7°57′38.55″E / 49.6984417°N 7.9607083°E / 49.6984417; 7.9607083
Country	Germany
State	Rhineland-Palatinate
District	Donnersbergkreis
Municipal assoc.	Kirchheimbolanden
Government
•  Mayor (2019–24)	Heike Renz [1]
Area
• Total	1.61 km2 (0.62 sq mi)
Elevation	250 m (820 ft)
Population  (2022-12-31) [2]
• Total	554
• Density	340/km2 (890/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes	67294
Dialling codes	06358
Vehicle registration	KIB

Oberwiesen is a municipality in the Donnersbergkreis district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is one of the smallest municipalities in the country by area.

Geography

Oberwiesen is situated in the North Palatine Uplands, about 8 km (5 mi) north of its highest peak, the Donnersberg. It borders Kriegsfeld, Offenheim, Orbis and Kirchheimbolanden.

The Wiesbach stream flows through the village.

History

It is said that the area was settled around the year 1200 arranged by noblemen from nearby Morschheim. They were vassals of the Counts of Bolanden . Who ruled the village until it was given to the imperial counts of Nassau-Weilburg due to financial troubles.

Other sources state that the location of modern day Oberwiesen was settled later then other areas. The origins of the village are unknown, it is suspected that a place named Wisha, mentioned as part of the Dominion of Stauf corresponds to Oberwiesen. It was part of the Dominion in the 14th century but given away as fief.

In the following centuries multiple rulers had control over Oberwiesen.

After the War of the First Coalition Oberwiesen was occupied and later annexed by France with the Treaty of Campo Formio in 1797. From 1798 to 1814 it belonged to the French Departement du Mont-Tonnerre. After the Congress of Vienna the region was first given to Austria (1815) and later to Bavaria (1816).

After World War II Oberwiesen became part of Rhineland-Palatinate (1946). Since 1969 it belongs to the Donnersbergkreis district.

Politics

Council

The village council is composed of 12 members who were elected in a personalized proportional representation in the local elections on June 9, 2024, and the honorary mayor as chairman. ^[3]

Heraldry

The coat of arms was bestowed to the municipality in 1844 by Ludwig I of Bavaria and traces its roots to a seal from 1779.

Religion

The catholics belong to the Diocese of Speyer and are administered by the parish in Kirchheimbolanden. The protestants are part of Morschheim‘s congregation in the Evangelical Church of the Palatinate.

Culture and sights

Buildings

protected house

There are three protected buildings in the municipality, under which is the protestant church. A catholic church is located in the village center.

Festivals

The local Kerwe is celebrated yearly on the last weekend of August.

Infrastructure

The nearest highway exit is along A63 near Kirchheimbolanden (9 km). The nearest train station is also located there.

Bus line 902 of the VRN (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Neckar) connects Oberwiesen to Kirchheimbolanden and Gaugrehweiler.

References

1. Direktwahlen 2019, Donnersbergkreis, Landeswahlleiter Rheinland-Pfalz, accessed 9 August 2021.
2. "Bevölkerungsstand 2022, Kreise, Gemeinden, Verbandsgemeinden" (PDF) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt Rheinland-Pfalz. 2023.
3. Der Landeswahlleiter RLP. "Gemeinderatswahl 2024 Oberwiesen" . Retrieved 2024-06-28.