View source for Demerath

{{Infobox German location
|image_coa            = DEU Demerath COA.svg
|coordinates       = {{coord|50|10|31|N|6|56|42|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|image_plan = Demerath in DAU.svg
|state        = Rheinland-Pfalz
|district         = Vulkaneifel
|Verbandsgemeinde  = Daun
|elevation              = 440
|area            = 10.51
|postal_code               = 54552
|area_code           = 06573
|licence               = DAU
|Gemeindeschlüssel = 07 2 33 016
|website           = [http://www.demerath-eifel.de/ www.demerath-eifel.de]
|mayor             =
}}
[[File:Demerath westansicht.jpg|thumb|290px|View from the west ([[Steineberg]]) of Demerath]]
'''Demerath''' is an ''[[Ortsgemeinde (Germany)|Ortsgemeinde]]'' – a [[Municipalities of Germany|municipality]] belonging to a ''[[Verbandsgemeinde]]'', a kind of collective municipality – in the [[Vulkaneifel]] [[Districts of Germany|district]] in [[Rhineland-Palatinate]], [[Germany]]. It belongs to the [[Daun (Verbandsgemeinde)|''Verbandsgemeinde'' of Daun]], whose seat is in the [[Daun, Germany|like-named town]].
== Geography ==
=== Location ===
The municipality lies in the [[Volcanic Eifel]], a part of the [[Eifel]] known for its volcanic history, geographical and geological features, and even ongoing activity today, including gases that sometimes well up from the earth.
Close to Demerath are several of the Volcanic Eifel's [[maar]]s; lakes that form in volcanic craters. These are the [[Pulvermaar]] and the [[Holzmaar]] in [[Gillenfeld]], and the [[Schalkenmehrener Maar]] and the [[Ulmener Maar]].
[[Cochem]] on the [[Moselle]] and the [[Nürburgring]] each lie 25&nbsp;km away.
== History ==
In 1075, Demerath had its first documentary mention as ''Diemunderode''. In 1319, the village was called ''Demeroyt'', in 1341 ''Dymelderade'' and in 1368 ''Dymenroide''. In 1475, the village church was described as the ''Demarait'' branch of the Parish of Wollmerath. From 1518, there was a high court in Demerath held by the [[County of Manderscheid|Counts of Manderscheid]]. In 1644 came the Battle of the Steineberger Ley, at which many of the area's inhabitants were slaughtered by Lotharingian troops. In 1728, ''Demerath, Ambts Dauhn'' (that is, in the ''[[Amt (country subdivision)|Amt]]'' of Daun) got a ''Polizey oder Dorfordnung'' (police force). In 1794 the village was occupied by [[France|French]] troops. About 1794, the so-called ''Freiheitseiche'' ("Freedom Oak") was planted. In 1803, Demerath was raised to a parish in its own right. Beginning in 1815, after [[Prussia]]n rule had begun, Demerath belonged to the Daun district. In 1841, the municipality received a new police force for the ''Bürgermeisterei'' (“Mayoralty”) of Gillenfeld. From 1904, there was [[telephone]] service in Demerath. In 1920, the volunteer [[fire brigade]] was founded, as was the music club in 1960. In 1970, the local school was dissolved, and in 2003, the ailing Freedom Oak was felled and a new one was planted.<ref>http://www.demerath-eifel.de/images/Geschichte_Demerath.PDF {{Bare URL PDF |date=March 2022}}</ref>
== Politics ==
=== Municipal council ===
The council is made up of 8 council members, who were elected by [[Plurality voting system|majority vote]] at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wahlen.rlp.de/kw/wahlen/2009/gemeinderatswahlen/ergebnisse/2330101600.html|title=LWL RLP - Kommunalwahlen: Ergebnisse der Ratswahlen: Wahlergebnisse 2009: Stadt- und Gemeinderatswahlen|website=www.wahlen.rlp.de}}</ref>
=== Mayor ===
As of 2021, the position of mayor of Demerath is vacant.
=== Coat of arms ===
The German blazon reads: ''Unter silbernem Schildhaupt, darin schräggekreuzt rotes Schwert und roter Schlüssel, in Grün ein goldener Stein, aus dem unteren Schildrand wachsend, darüber zwei goldene Eichblätter mit Eicheln.''<ref>Genehmigungsurkunde vom 20. Oktober 1980, AZ.: 100-020.022, Bezirksregierung Trier</ref>
The municipality's [[Coat of arms|arms]] might in English [[Heraldry|heraldic]] language be described thus: Vert issuant from base a stone, above which an oak twig issuant from the chief leafed and fructed of two, the whole Or, in a chief argent a sword hilt sable and a key in saltire both gules, the key in bend sinister and surmounting the sword.
In its composition, the municipal arms go back to the [[French Revolution]]. The [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]]s gules and argent (red and silver) in the [[chief (heraldry)|chief]] stand as a reminder of the municipality's former allegiance to the [[Electorate of Trier]]. The key and the sword refer to the local patron saints, [[Saint Peter|Peter]] and [[Saint Paul|Paul]]. The stone in the base is a representation of the court stone before the church, and the oak sprig above stands for the ''Freiheitseiche'' (“Freedom Oak”), planted in the time of French rule, under which this court stone stood. The high court that sat here carried out its death and mutilation penalties upon this stone. The field tincture, vert (green), stands for the village's charming, rustic location in the scenic conservation area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.demerath-eifel.de/81 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521084658/http://www.demerath-eifel.de/wappen.html|title=Ortsgemeinde Demerath in der Vulkaneifel|archivedate=May 21, 2012|website=www.demerath-eifel.de}}</ref>
== Culture and sightseeing ==
=== Buildings ===
* Saint Peter's and Saint Paul's [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] Parish Church, Talstraße 2, [[aisleless church]], essentially from the 18th century, expanded in 1803, east tower from 1827, ''[[Bildstock]]'' from 1775.
* Gartenweg 1 – former bakehouse, single-floor quarrystone building, apparently from 1880.
* Talstraße 7 – estate alongside street, two-floor solid structure, 19th century.
* Talstraße 10 – house from a former [[Timber framing|timber-frame]] estate alongside street, partly solid, 18th century.
* Talstraße 21 – timber-frame ''Quereinhaus'' (a combination residential and commercial house divided for these two purposes down the middle, perpendicularly to the street) expanded into a corner estate, partly plastered.
* Ulmener Straße 2 – timber-frame house from a corner estate, partly solid or plastered.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://denkmallisten.gdke-rlp.de/Vulkaneifel.pdf|title=Directory of Cultural Monuments in Vulkaneifel district}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.demerath-eifel.de/ Municipality’s official webpage] {{in lang|de}}
* [http://www.michls.de/demerath/demerath.html Demerath – private page] {{in lang|de}}
* [http://www.swr.de/landesschau-rp/hierzuland/-/id=100766/nid=100766/did=2349972/1h8dd2p/index.html Brief portrait of Demerath with film] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606154025/http://www.swr.de/landesschau-rp/hierzuland/-/id=100766/nid=100766/did=2349972/1h8dd2p/index.html |date=2011-06-06 }} at [[SWR Fernsehen]] {{in lang|de}}
{{Cities and towns in Vulkaneifel (district)}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Vulkaneifel]]