THE mouthful that is Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler is explained by the merging of the previously separate towns of Ahrweiler and Bad Neuenahr in 1969.
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| The two towns, now officially districts of a single town, lie mainly on the left bank of the Ahr, a benign-looking river that nevertheless flash-flooded in July 2021, killing more than 130 people in the immediate area |
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| Stone bridges were swept away, and not all have been replaced |
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| Bad Neuenahr is the more populous of the two districts, perhaps thanks to its status as a spa, but Ahrweiler has much more of interest to history-lovers, starting with the main gateway to the old town |
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| The entrance is guarded by a statue of a militiaman displaying Ahrweiler's 1365 coat of arms |
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| View of the town's medieval wall, much of which still stands |
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| The same section of wall, but seen from inside Ahrweiler |
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| Looking back to the gateway |
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| The 13th-century church of Saint Laurentius (Lawrence) is said to be the Rhineland's oldest 'hall church', ie a church with nave and aisles of roughly equal height |
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| A type of mural known as lüftlmalerei, in this case dated 1403 and invoking Saint Sebastian as protector of the town's crossbowmen |
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| Flood damage is still being repaired |
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| But the main square looks good |
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| As do most homes and businesses |
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