# Achtelsbach

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**Achtelsbach** is an *[Ortsgemeinde](/source/Ortsgemeinde_(Germany))* – a [municipality](/source/Municipalities_of_Germany) belonging to a *[Verbandsgemeinde](/source/Verbandsgemeinde)*, a kind of collective municipality – in the [Birkenfeld](/source/Birkenfeld_(district)) [district](/source/Districts_of_Germany) in [Rhineland-Palatinate](/source/Rhineland-Palatinate), [Germany](/source/Germany). It belongs to the [*Verbandsgemeinde* of Birkenfeld](/source/Birkenfeld_(Verbandsgemeinde)), whose seat is in the [like-named town](/source/Birkenfeld).

## Geography

### Location

The municipality lies on the Traunbach, at the foot of the *Schwarzwälder Hochwald* (High [Black Forest](/source/Black_Forest)) in the [Hunsrück](/source/Hunsr%C3%BCck). Both north and south of the village lie wooded mountains of 500 and 525 m above [sea level](/source/Sea_level) respectively. Just west of the village runs the state boundary with the [Saarland](/source/Saarland). Achtelsbach lies some 6 km west of the district seat of [Birkenfeld](/source/Birkenfeld). [Idar-Oberstein](/source/Idar-Oberstein) lies 22 km to the northeast, while [Sankt Wendel](/source/Sankt_Wendel) lies roughly 25 km to Achtelsbach's south.

### Neighbouring municipalities

Achtelsbach's neighbours are [Brücken](/source/Br%C3%BCcken,_Birkenfeld), Traunen (an outlying centre of Brücken), [Meckenbach](/source/Meckenbach,_Birkenfeld) and Eisen. The last named place is part of the municipality of [Nohfelden](/source/Nohfelden) in the Saarland's [Sankt Wendel district](/source/Sankt_Wendel_(district)).

### Constituent communities

Also belonging to Achtelsbach is the homestead of Forsthaus Neuhof.[2]

## History

In 1256, Achtelsbach had its first documentary mention as *Achtelsbach*. Soon afterwards, in the decades that followed, the village managed to become a hub among the neighbouring villages, and in 1315 it became the seat of a *Pflege* (literally “care”, but actually a local geopolitical unit), which, besides Achtelsbach, also administered the neighbouring villages of Meckenbach and Traunen. This *Pflege* was a subfief from the [Electorate of Trier](/source/Electorate_of_Trier) whose immediate lords were the *[Vögte](/source/Vogt)* of Hunolstein. In 1480, this arrangement ended when [Louis I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken](/source/Louis_I,_Count_Palatine_of_Zweibr%C3%BCcken), sent his own *[Schultheiß](/source/Schulthei%C3%9F)* out to Achtelsbach. The territory of the *Pflege* was expanded to encompass first [Ellweiler](/source/Ellweiler), and beginning in the late 18th century also Eisen and Eckelshausen. In the course of the [French](/source/France) takeover of the [Rhineland](/source/Rhineland) in the [French Revolutionary Wars](/source/French_Revolutionary_Wars), Achtelsbach became the seat of a *mairie* (“mayoralty”), which lasted even after the [Congress of Vienna](/source/Congress_of_Vienna) (1814-1815) as an [Oldenburg](/source/Duchy_of_Oldenburg) *Bürgermeisterei* (also “mayoralty”) until 1876.

The parish of Achtelsbach was originally coëxtensive with the *Pflege*, until Brücken and [Abentheuer](/source/Abentheuer) were added to it. It lost influence after the [Reformation](/source/Protestant_Reformation) and was ceded to Birkenfeld and Sötern (today an outlying centre of Nohfelden). It is known that there was a parish priest at the Achtelsbach church, which was consecrated to [Saint Ulrich](/source/Ulrich_of_Augsburg), as of 1334, although the church's beginnings stretch back further. The church itself, which has been [Evangelical](/source/Evangelical_Church_in_Germany) since the 16th century, is, with its churchtower that defines the village's skyline, Achtelsbach's most prominent building. On 9 January 2010, the belltower, and indeed the whole church, were heavily damaged in a fire.[3]

## Politics

### Municipal council

The council is made up of 8 council members, who were elected by [majority vote](/source/Plurality_voting_system) at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.[4]

### Mayor

Achtelsbach's mayor is Kai Sohns.[5]

### Coat of arms

The German blazon reads: *In geteiltem Schild oben in Silber eine rote, sechsblättrige Rose mit goldenen Butzen, unten ein wachsender, rotgekrönter, -bewehrter und -gezungter goldener Löwe in Schwarz.*

The municipality's [arms](/source/Coat_of_arms) might in English [heraldic](/source/Heraldry) language be described thus: Per fess argent a rose foiled of six gules barbed proper and seeded Or, and sable issuant from base a lion rampant of the third armed, langued and crowned of the second.

The German blazon says nothing about the rose's “barbs” (sepals).

The rose in the [escutcheon](/source/Escutcheon_(heraldry))’s upper field refers to the Evangelical church in the village, which, with its enormous tower, dominates the skyline. The [charge](/source/Charge_(heraldry)) in the field below this is a reference to the village’s former allegiance to the [Dukes of Palatinate-Zweibrücken](/source/Palatine_Zweibr%C3%BCcken). Moreover, the village’s old court seal also showed a lion.

The arms have been borne since 5 July 1965, when they were approved by the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior.[6]

## Culture and sightseeing

### Buildings

The following are listed buildings or sites in [Rhineland-Palatinate](/source/Rhineland-Palatinate)’s Directory of Cultural Monuments:[7]

- Evangelical church, Hohlstraße 1 – formerly [Saint Ulrich’s](/source/Ulrich_of_Augsburg) Parish Church (*Pfarrkirche St. Ulrich*), [aisleless church](/source/Aisleless_church), essentially [mediaeval](/source/Middle_Ages), [Baroque](/source/Baroque_architecture) conversion 1738; in the tower a tomb slab, 1738
- Hauptstraße 24 – *Quereinhaus* (a combination residential and commercial house divided for these two purposes down the middle, perpendicularly to the street), marked 1857, [timber-frame](/source/Timber_framing) barn
- Hauptstraße 47 – *Quereinhaus*, stately *Quereinhaus*, mid-19th century; conversion possibly about 1900, bakehouse addition
- Hauptstraße (beneath the Evangelical church) – warriors’ memorial; 1920s, design by Johann Wettgen, [Hermeskeil](/source/Hermeskeil)
- Former *Forsthaus Neuhof* (forester's house), Neuhof 1 – dwelling and work building, partly timber-frame (largely slated), 1855, commercial building

## Economy and infrastructure

### Transport

Achtelsbach has no [railway](/source/Railway) link. The nearest [railway station](/source/Railway_station) lies seven kilometres to the southeast at [Neubrücke](/source/Hoppst%C3%A4dten-Weiersbach) on the [Nahe Valley Railway](/source/Nahe_Valley_Railway). There are road links to Birkenfeld, to Nonnweiler in the [Saarland](/source/Saarland) and to [Hermeskeil](/source/Hermeskeil) beyond the High Forest. The [Autobahn](/source/Autobahn) [A 62](/source/Bundesautobahn_62) ([Kaiserslautern](/source/Kaiserslautern)–[Trier](/source/Trier)) runs by Achtelsbach roughly five kilometres to the south; [interchanges](/source/Interchange_(road)) are to be found in Neubrücke and Nohfelden-Türkismühle. *[Bundesstraßen](/source/Bundesstra%C3%9Fe)* 41 and 269 lead from Birkenfeld to Neubrücke a few kilometres east of Achtelsbach.

### Scouting Hall

Achtelsbach is home to the state hall of the [Idar-Oberstein](/source/Idar-Oberstein) *[Bund der Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder](/source/Bund_der_Pfadfinderinnen_und_Pfadfinder)* (Guides and Scouts). In the 1970s, this former farmhouse was bought up by the boyscouts and renovated. Ever since, it has been let out to many clubs from throughout Germany, who use it regularly. Each year, several thousand visitors spend the night in the house or on the meadow next to it. Also, there is an open-house day in the autumn on which the scouting hall (*Pfadfinderheim*) presents itself.

## Further reading

- Alfred Eiler: *Achtelsbach Geschichte einer Heimat*; Achtelsbach: Ortsgemeinde Achtelsbach, 2000

## References

1. [Direktwahlen 2019, Landkreis Birkenfeld](https://www.wahlen.rlp.de/de/kw/wahlen/kd/gebiete/1340000000000.html), Landeswahlleiter Rheinland-Pfalz, accessed 10 August 2021.

1. [Statistisches Landesamt Rheinland-Pfalz – Amtliches Verzeichnis der Gemeinden und Gemeindeteile](http://www.statistik.rlp.de/fileadmin/dokumente/berichte/A1132_201001_ur_G.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20151125005812/http://www.statistik.rlp.de/fileadmin/dokumente/berichte/A1132_201001_ur_G.pdf) 2015-11-25 at the Wayback Machine, Seite 18 (PDF)

1. [*www.allgemeine-zeitung.de*, retrieved 9 January 2010](http://www.allgemeine-zeitung.de/region/bad-kreuznach-bad-sobernheim-kirn/landkreis-bad-kreuznach/8179247.htm)

1. [Kommunalwahl Rheinland-Pfalz 2009, Gemeinderat](http://wahlen.rlp.de/kw/wahlen/2009/gemeinderatswahlen/ergebnisse/1340200200.html)

1. ["Achtelsbach"](https://www.achtelsbach.de/) (in German). Retrieved 2020-01-07.

1. ["Description and explanation of Achtelsbach’s arms"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120325011414/http://www.vgv-birkenfeld.de/gemeinden/achtelsbach/achtelsbach_start.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.vgv-birkenfeld.de/gemeinden/achtelsbach/achtelsbach_start.htm) on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2011-06-06.

1. [Directory of Cultural Monuments in Birkenfeld district](https://denkmallisten.gdke-rlp.de/Birkenfeld.pdf)

## External links

- [Brief portrait of Achtelsbach with film](http://www.swr.de/landesschau-rp/hierzuland/-/id=100766/nid=100766/did=2350418/ia8cqo/) at [SWR Fernsehen](/source/SWR_Fernsehen) (in German)
- [*Pictures of the church fire on 9 January 2010*](https://web.archive.org/web/20110904211004/http://www.bachus-kirn.de/bilder_ajax.php?jahr=2010&galerie=9)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Achtelsbach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achtelsbach) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achtelsbach?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.