DEUTSCHLAND | GERMANY |
Bundesland: Rheinland-Pfalz | Rhineland-Palatinate |
Landkreis: Westerwaldkreis |
Westerburg is situated at an elevation of 366 m in the district Westerwaldkreis of northeastern Rhineland-Palatinate. The town has a population of about 5,900 and is also the seat of the administration for the administrative union (Verbandsgemeinde) of the same name, consisting of the municipalities of Ailertchen, Bellingen, Berzhahn, Brandscheid, Enspel, Gemünden, Girkenroth, Guckheim, Härtlingen, Halbs, Hergenroth, Höhn, Kaden, Kölbingen, Langenhahn, Pottum, Rotenhain, Rothenbach, Stahlhofen am Wiesensee, Stockum-Püschen, Weltersburg, Westerburg, Willmenrod and Winnen. The Verbandsgemeinde has a total population of about 24,500.
The dominion of Westerburg was first mentioned in 1209 as the seat of the lords of Westerburg. Later it came in possession of the counts of Leiningen. The line Leiningen-Westerburg was partioned in 1705 into the lines Leiningen-Westerburg-Altleiningen and Leiningen-Westerburg-Neuleiningen which shared the property of the Westerburg domains. In 1806 Westerburg passed to the Grand Duchy of Berg, in 1813/1815 it came in possession of Nassau which in 1866 fell to Prussia. Since 1946 it is part of Germany's state of Rheinland-Pfalz. Between 1866 and 1939 Westerburg was the administrative seat of the district Westerburg, and between 1939 until 1974 the seat of the district Oberwesterwaldkreis.
The old castle Westerburg [top picture: background top] was built in 1181–1192. Some modifications were made in later times.
The Protestant town church Sankt Dionys [top picture: background centre] dates back to 1516.
The railroad bridge depicted on the bottom right picture is a steel truss construction of 1906/1907. It is still in use today.
The building depicted on the bottom left picture is labeled Heilsgebäude (?). No information could be found on this building.
If you have more information, please let me know.