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Happy Anniversary!
The Union Community of Ramstein-Miesenbach was founded Apr. 22, 1972, and celebrated its 50th anniversary two years ago. This year marks another year of celebration, the awe-inspiring 300th anniversary of its Kerwe!
Ramstein-Miesenbach is best known as being the host community to Ramstein Air Base since 1951 and is comprised of the four individual communities Hütschenhausen, Kottweiler-Schwanden, Niedermohr and Steinwenden, as well as the City of Ramstein-Miesenbach itself. In 1991 the City of Ramstein-Miesenbach was granted its city rights and can look upon a rich history of ever-changing situations.
There are traces of a settlement prior to the Roman era along the old west-east road, located north of the West Palatinate moorland. Ceramic and coin findings and the remains of a villa near the Unterschernauer Mill are reminiscent of a settlement during the Roman era about 2,000 years ago.
Ramstein was first officially mentioned in a certificate dated Jun. 2, 1215, when emperor Friedrich II, grandson of Friedrich Barbarossa, granted the patronage of the mother church to Ramstein and of two daughter churches in Weilerbach and Spesbach to Reinhard of Lautern. In the late 14th century Ramstein became a part of the “Kurpfalz” (Electoral Palatinate) as a part of Bavaria.
During the Thirty Years’ War 1618-1648, Ramstein and the surrounding villages were depopulated, and people only gradually began to re-settle. By 1684, nine families were accounted for and by 1802 the population had increased to 368. The original church on the school hill was destroyed and fell to the Protestants at the end of the 17th century. In 1718 Ramsteiner Catholics regained ownership of their church and began reconstructing the ruins.
The church along with a cemetery was completed and consecrated Sep. 10, 1724, and a Kirchweih was celebrated in honor of the occasion. Ever since then, the people of Ramstein have been celebrating their church festival on the third Sunday in September, this year from Sep. 13–17.
A further church in the city center, St. Nikolaus was built and completed in 1903. The original sacral building on the hill had become too small for the growing community, was weather-torn and demolished except for the tower, which eventually collapsed in 1916. The columbarium, an urn church with 2,000 urns, was established in its place in 2023, based on construction plans of the initial church by Dr. Werner and Maria Heinrich.
The celebration grounds have also moved to the city center and an initially religious oriented celebration has evolved into a lively town festival throughout time. Ramsteiners and visitors alike can enjoy a typical Kerwe with rides and music, food and drinks, a Kerwestrauss (a colorful handbound pole with streamers) and lots of fun for family and friends, not to forget the annual silly speech on a ladder and the parade on Sunday.
The Straussjugend (a group of youngsters organizing the event) are working on a few special activities for the anniversary. The weekend event kicks off on Friday evening when rides start at 6 p.m. and the Straussjugend meet for the “calibration” at 9 p.m. with numerous former Straussjugend participants, followed by live music with “Hüttenrocker.”
Tapping of the keg will be on Saturday at 6:30 p.m., followed by live music with “Strassenmusikanten” and fireworks at 9:45 p.m. On Sunday rides will pick up at 1 p.m. and line up for the parade at 2 p.m., which will circle around town and end for the “Kerwerede.” Monday starts with “Frühschoppen” and the Straussjugend will sing at the market fountain at 7 p.m. On Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. the Straussjugend will meet for the last time to “bury” the Kerwe.
Don’t miss out on the fun, join the festive weekend and help Ramsteiners celebrate the tricentennial!
