Prüm Explained

Type:Stadt
Image Coa:DEU Prüm COA.svg
Coordinates:50.2081°N 6.4244°W
Image Plan:Prüm in BIT.svg
State:Rheinland-Pfalz
District:Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm
Verbandsgemeinde:Prüm
Elevation:460
Area:22.86
Postal Code:54595
Area Code:06551
Licence:BIT, PRÜ
Gemeindeschlüssel:07 2 32 296
Divisions:5 Stadtteile
Website:www.pruem.de
Mayor:Johannes Reuschen[1]
Leader Term:2019 - 24
Party:Ind

Prüm (pronounced as /de/) is a town in the Westeifel (Rhineland-Palatinate), Germany. Formerly a district capital, today it is the administrative seat of the Verbandsgemeinde ("collective municipality") Prüm.

Geography

Prüm lies on the river Prüm (a tributary of the Sauer) at the southeastern end of the Schneifel, which is 697 m high. Prüm is eponymous for the Prüm syncline (Ger. Prümer Kalkmulde), the largest of the Eifel-lime-synclines. Here, the only GSSP-point in Germany identifies the geological border between the lower Devonian Emsian and the middle Devonian Eifelian.

History

See main article on the town's former monastery, Prüm Abbey. In 2005, the Prüm Convention was signed in the city by several European countries.

Ninety-two percent of the town was destroyed by bombing and ground fighting during the Second World War. In 1949, it was wrecked again by an explosion on the Kalvarienberg hill caused by a fire in an underground ammunition bunker. Twelve people were killed, 15 injured and 965 left homeless.

Economy and infrastructure

Economy

Among the largest employers in the region are MUH Arla, Stihl, Streif, Prüm-Türenwerk and Tesla Grohmann Automation. MUH Arla has its head office at Pronsfeld, 10 kilometres away.

Transport

Since 1980 it has not been possible to take the train to Prüm, with the exception of freight trains that operated up to the end of the 1990s. In December 2000 the last train went through Prüm, and this was a special event. Since that time, the rail tracks have been dismantled.

The federal highway B265 and B410 cross in Prüm, the autobahn A60 and B51 also run near the city.

Prüm Air Station is located just outside Prüm and is operated by the United States Air Force.

Prümer Sommer

In July and August Prüm Summer takes place. It begins with a market and a music competition on the streets on the last Sunday in June. During the next eight Thursdays, various guests meet at the town hall, where there are various competitions, such as a beer jug lift and trunk sawing. There is also a bicycle rally, a fashion show, and dances included in the program.

International relations

See main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany.

Prüm is twinned with: Bangor, Northern Ireland; Monthermé (France, since 1962); Fort Madison, Iowa (United States, since 1998[2])

Notable people

Notes and References

  1. https://www.wahlen.rlp.de/de/kw/wahlen/kd/gebiete/2320000000000.html Direktwahlen 2019, Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm
  2. Web site: Interactive City Directory. Sister Cities International. 12 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024701/http://www.sister-cities.org/interactive-map/Fort%20Madison,%20Iowa. 4 March 2016. dead.