Medelsheim is a German village, part of the municipality of Gersheim, in the Saarpfalz-Kreis, Saarland.

Mendelsheim
Coat of arms of Mendelsheim
Location of Mendelsheim
Map
Mendelsheim is located in Germany
Mendelsheim
Mendelsheim
Mendelsheim is located in Saarland
Mendelsheim
Mendelsheim
Coordinates: 49°08′N 07°12′E / 49.133°N 7.200°E / 49.133; 7.200
CountryGermany
StateSaarland
DistrictSaarpfalz
MunicipalityGersheim
Area
 • Total8.81 km2 (3.40 sq mi)
Elevation
310 m (1,020 ft)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total487
 • Density55/km2 (140/sq mi)
DemonymMedelsheimer
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
66453
Dialling codes06844
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography edit

Medelsheim is in the Parr countryside. In the south, the municipal border is the state border with France. To the east is the German state of Rheinland Pfalz.

Politics edit

The districts of Medelsheim and Seyweiler together form a municipality. Of the nine seats in the local council, all belong to the CDU. (2019)

History edit

Archeological finds in Medelsheim span the period from the early Bronze Age through the Gallo-Roman period. The earliest written mention of the village of "Medilinesheim" is found in a June 28, 888 charter of the East Frankish King Arnulf.

During World War II Medelsheim was briefly occupied at the beginning of the war by French troops during the September 1939 Saar Offensive. It was reoccupied by German troops the next month.

In 1995 Medelsheim was awarded a gold medal in the nationwide competition "Unser Dorf soll schöner werden" (Roughly: "Most Beautiful Village").[1] Literally translates to "our village should become more beautiful"

Culture edit

As the center of the traditional Catholic area of the Parr, Medelsheim has many crossroads in its field, which are connected to each other by a hiking trail.

The Church of St. Martin is based on Roman foundations. It contains Gothic wall paintings and a Gothic retable from around 1430, which was found in 1956.The Kreuzkapelle to the Sorrowful Mother on the Husarenberg was formerly a pilgrimage chapel. It dates from 1767 and contains a Pietà from 1554.

At the suggestion of Michael von Faulhaber, Bishop of Speyer, the Way of the Cross was laid out in 1920, the 14 stations of which depict scenes from the Passion of Christ [4]. The Way of the Cross leads up to the Husarenberg. The individual stations are worked into simple white pillars with gable roofs as folk-art half-reliefs.

Traditionally, the Jakobsmarkt, which has existed for centuries, takes place on the second Sunday in July, where historical handicrafts are presented in addition to the hustle and bustle of the fair.

People edit

As of 2013 Medelsheim has a population of approximately 480.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Medelsheim". Gemeinde Gersheim. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2013.

External links edit