DEUTSCHLAND | GERMANY |
Bundesland: Nordrhein-Westfalen | North Rhine-Westphalia |
Regierungsbezirk: Düsseldorf | |
Kreis: Mettmann |
Neviges (until 1935 named Hardenberg) is situated at an elevation of 152 m in the valley of the stream Hardenberger Bach. Since 1974 it is a city borough of Velbert. Neviges, consisting of Neviges proper and several outlying localities, has a population of about 18,900 (2013).
The modern name of the town, Neviges, is derived from an old name of the Hardenberger Bach, Navigisa. The oldest written document mentioning the place as part of the domains of the lords of Hardenberg dates from 1220. In 1354 the domains were sold to the counts of Jülich-Berg (see Solingen-Burg) and Ravensberg (see Bielefeld) who remained in its possession until 1496. During the Reformation period, Hardenberg was the meeting place of the first synod of Berg. The town then remained Protestant until 1649 when it returned to Catholicism. Hardenberg became a pilgrimage site in the 17th century. In 1688 the spiritual pilgrimage was permitted by the Cologne vicar general. As a result of the French municipal reorganization of the Grand Duchy of Berg (1806–1813), the Mayor's Office of Hardenberg was established. During the last third of the 19th century, the name Hardenberg-Neviges became more and more popular but nevertheless did not become official. The municipality was given the status of a town in 1922. The name Neviges finally was made official in 1935. Neviges and Langenberg were incorporated into the neighbouring municipality of Velbert in 1975.
The parish church of the Immaculate Conception [left, no. 3780]
was built in 1728 to serve the pilgrims who had come to Hardenberg since 1681, serving at the same time as monastery,
parish and pilgrimage church. The impressive Baroque grace altar of around 1680 is made of black and grey marble. The high
altar, the organ prospect, the choir stalls, the pulpit and confessionals are outstanding examples of early Rococo style of
the 1st half of the 18th century. Next to this church, the new pilgrimage church of Mary, Queen of Peace was built
in 1966–1968 in concrete building in Brutalist style.
The Way of the Cross on Kreuzberg [near left, no. 4038]
was created at the end of the 19th century. Partly destroyed during World War II it was restred in 1949–1955.
[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neviges;
https://gemeinden.erzbistum-koeln.de/maria-koenigin-des-friedens/Kirchengemeinde-Maria-Koenigin-des-Friedens/kirchen/,
https://www.myheimat.de/essen/kultur/st-mariae-empfaengnis-in-velbert-neviges-d2963633.html,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria,_Königin_des_Friedens, https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevigeser_Wallfahrtsdom;
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kreuzweg_(Neviges)]