# Niedererbach

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**Niedererbach** is an *Ortsgemeinde* – a community belonging to a *[Verbandsgemeinde](/source/Verbandsgemeinde)* – in the [Westerwaldkreis](/source/Westerwaldkreis) in [Rhineland-Palatinate](/source/Rhineland-Palatinate), [Germany](/source/Germany).

## Geography

### Location

The community lies in the [Westerwald](/source/Westerwald) between [Koblenz](/source/Koblenz) and [Limburg an der Lahn](/source/Limburg_an_der_Lahn) on the edge of the Nassau Nature Park on the boundary with [Hesse](/source/Hesse). It belongs to the [*Verbandsgemeinde* of Montabaur](/source/Montabaur_(Verbandsgemeinde)), a kind of collective municipality. Its seat is in the [like-named town](/source/Montabaur).

### Neighbouring communities

Niedererbach's neighbours are [Obererbach, Westerwaldkreis](/source/Obererbach,_Westerwaldkreis), [Dreikirchen](/source/Dreikirchen), [Nentershausen](/source/Nentershausen,_Rhineland-Palatinate), [Görgeshausen](/source/G%C3%B6rgeshausen) and [Elz, Hesse](/source/Elz,_Hesse).

## History

In 1291, Niedererbach had its first documentary mention as *Erlebach*. The document is dated 12 May 1291. In the document a pastor named Friedrich and the parish of *Erlebach* are mentioned which document a legal transaction with the commander and the [Teutonic Knights](/source/Teutonic_Knights) in [Koblenz](/source/Koblenz). The original is kept at the Central Archive of the Teutonic Knights in [Vienna](/source/Vienna). Since 2006, the community of Niedererbach has been in possession of a copy of the document.

In 2006 the community celebrated one of the biggest festivals since its beginnings, the one hundredth [Kirmes](/source/Kermis). This most important of village festivals is held each year on the last weekend in August and recalls the consecration of the parish church of St. Katharina in 1906. One part of the tower is considerably older and may come from the time about AD 1200. Before today's church stood here, there was on the same spot a [Baroque](/source/Baroque_architecture) church built in 1725, about the size of the side nave today. This old church was torn down in 1904, although the tower was left standing. Only the uppermost third was torn down and renewed. In September 1904, excavation work began for the new parish church. On 14 May 1905, the first stone was laid and on 10 August 1905, the topping-out ceremony was held. The framework was completed in December 1905. In May 1906 began the plastering, the window fitting and the interior decoration. On 19 August 1906, the new church building was ceremonially blessed by Bishop Dominikus Willi

Since Niedererbachers were once known for making little whistles from willow twigs, they are sometimes still known as *Erwocher Peifscher* today.

## Politics

### Community council

The council is made up of 12 council members who were elected in a municipal election on 28 May 2014. In the last direct vote for mayor (*Ortsbürgermeister*), held on the same day, Gerhard Theis was elected to office as the only candidate for a further four years.

### Coat of arms

The sword and [breaking wheel](/source/Breaking_wheel) in the community's [arms](/source/Coat_of_arms) are symbols of the parish church's patronage, namely [Saint Catherine](/source/Catherine_of_Alexandria) (the wheel is also known as a Catherine wheel). The [alder](/source/Alder) sprig refers to the community's name (Erbach = Erlenbach). The wavy parting per pale stands for the community's charming rural location in the Erbach valley. As a token of the former allegiance to the [Electorate of Trier](/source/Electorate_of_Trier), that territory's [tinctures](/source/Tincture_(heraldry)) have been incorporated into the civic arms.

## Culture and sightseeing

### Theatre

- theaterfreunde niedererbach 1976 e.V.

### Fire brigade

- Freiwillige Feuerwehr Niedererbach (volunteer fire brigade)

### Music

- CHORamel (formerly Junger Chor) Niedererbach (choir)
- Chorgemeinschaft “Cäcilia-St.Katharina” (choir association)

### Sport

- Sportverein Niedererbach 1920 e.V. (sport club)
- Schützenverein Niedererbach 1978 e. V. (shooting club; disciplines: air rifle, air pistol, sport bow)
- Trimm-Treff Niedererbach (fitness)

### *Culture and Local Customs*

These are clubs that make it their business to improve or promote the community:

- Verschönerungsverein Niedererbach e.V. (beautification)
- Förderverein "Unser Dorf hat Zukunft" 2006 e.V. (promotion)
- Förderverein zur Traditions- und Brauchtumspflege Niedererbach 2010 e. V. (promotion)

### Buildings

- St.Katharina parish church
- Railway viaduct
- Historic slate gallery
- “Alter Sportplatz” open-air stage

### Natural monuments

- "Gaasekippel" slate mountain
- Graveyard linden

### Regular events

- Kermis (last weekend in August whose Sunday is also in August)
- Ostereierschießen, shooting club (“Easter Egg Shoot”, Sunday before Easter)
- Maiwanderung, beautification club (1 May)
- Dorfpokalschießen, shooting club (“Cup Shoot”, 3 October)

## Economy and infrastructure

### Transport

The nearest [Autobahn](/source/Autobahn) [interchange](/source/Interchange_(road)) is *[Diez](/source/Diez,_Germany) - [Nentershausen](/source/Nentershausen,_Rhineland-Palatinate)* on the [A 3](/source/Bundesautobahn_3) ([Cologne](/source/Cologne)–[Frankfurt](/source/Frankfurt_am_Main)), some 3 km away. The nearest [InterCityExpress](/source/InterCityExpress) stops are at [Limburg Süd station](/source/Limburg_S%C3%BCd_station) and [Montabaur station](/source/Montabaur_station) on the [Cologne-Frankfurt high-speed rail line](/source/Cologne-Frankfurt_high-speed_rail_line), each 13 km away, as well as Koblenz on the [Rechte Rheinstrecke](/source/Rechte_Rheinstrecke). Niedererbach itself has a halt on the [Limburg](/source/Limburg_(Lahn)_station)-[Siershahn](/source/Siershahn) line ([Lower Westerwald Railway](/source/Lower_Westerwald_Railway), *Unterwesterwaldbahn*). This local transport line links the region to the InterCityExpress station in Montabaur and is run by the private transport company Vectus. The Unterwesterwaldbahn was fully modernized technically in early 2007 to a state-of-the-art level, thus ensuring continued running for years.

### Public institutions

- Kindergarten
- Dorfgemeinschaftshalle "Haus Erlenbach" (community centre)
- Jugendraum ("Youth Room")
- Barbecue place with pavilion

## External links

- [Niedererbach](http://www.niedererbach.de/) (in German)

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