View source for Guntersblum

{{Infobox German location
|image_photo       = 
|image_coa            = DEU Guntersblum COA.svg
|image_flag        = DEU Guntersblum Banner.svg
|coordinates       = {{coord|49|47|50|N|8|20|44|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|image_plan = Guntersblum in MZ.svg
|state        = Rheinland-Pfalz
|district         = Mainz-Bingen
|Verbandsgemeinde  = Rhein-Selz
|elevation              = 88
|area            = 16.71
|postal_code               = 67583
|area_code           = 06249
|licence               = MZ
|Gemeindeschlüssel = 07 3 39 024
|website           = [https://www.guntersblum.de/ www.guntersblum.de]
|mayor             = Claudia Bläsius-Wirth<ref>[https://www.wahlen.rlp.de/de/kw/wahlen/kd/gebiete/3390000000000.html Direktwahlen 2019, Landkreis Mainz-Bingen], Landeswahlleiter Rheinland-Pfalz, accessed 4 August 2021.</ref>
|leader_term       = 2019&ndash;24
|party             = CDU
}}
'''Guntersblum''' is an ''Ortsgemeinde''– a [[Municipalities of Germany|municipality]] belonging to a ''[[Verbandsgemeinde]]'', a kind of collective municipality – in the [[Frankfurt/Rhine-Main|Frankfurt/Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region]] in the [[Mainz-Bingen]] district in [[Rhineland-Palatinate]], [[Germany]].

== Geography ==

=== Location ===
Guntersblum lies on the [[Rhine]]’s left bank between [[Mainz]] and [[Worms, Germany|Worms]], right on the Mainz–[[Ludwigshafen]] [[railway]] line, and roughly 25&nbsp;km south of Mainz.

The municipality’s total area is 1&nbsp;668&nbsp;ha, 1&nbsp;373&nbsp;ha of which is given over to [[agriculture]] and [[forestry]], and 550&nbsp;ha of this is used for [[winegrowing]]. Winegrowing areas include Guntersblumer Vögelsgärten and Oppenheimer Krötenbrunnen while individual vineyards are Steinberg, Authental, Steigterassen, Bornpfad, Kreuzkapelle, Eiserne Hand, St. Julianenbrunnen and Sonnenhang.

== History ==

=== 9th to 10th century ===
Between 830 and 850 Guntersblum, had its first documentary mention as ''Chunteres Frumere'' in the [[Lorsch codex]]: a kingly bondsman had to pay the royal court interest in the form of two ''Fuder'' (very roughly, 2&nbsp;000&nbsp;L) of wine. On 13 June 897 came the municipality’s first datable documentary mention, this time under the name ''Cundheresprumare'' (“Gunter’s Plum Garden”). In this document, King [[Zwentibold]] confirmed to the monks at [[St. Maximin's Abbey, Trier|Saint Maximin's Abbey]] at [[Trier]] that they had holdings at their disposal in Guntersblum. Between 922 and 927, the Archbishop of Cologne endowed this monastery to the Holy Virgins and [[Saint Ursula]]’s Monastery in Cologne with holdings, among other things several ''arpents'' of fields in Guntersblum.

=== 13th to 18th century ===
In 1215, the [[Xanten Cathedral|Xanten Monastery]] leased its income from the church at Guntersblum (yearly 12 ''Fuder'' of wine, 100 ''Malter'' of [[rye]] and 50 ''Malter'' of [[wheat]]) to the knight Herbord von Albig and his son Cuselin. In 1237, the Monastery sold the church patronage rights and the whole of its holdings in Guntersblum to the [[Worms Cathedral]] Monastery. The goods were shared between the brothers Friedrich III of Leiningen and Emich IV of Leiningen-Landeck. The latter acquired the Electoral-Cologne feudal estate in Guntersblum. Before 1242, Friedrich III of Leiningen was enfeoffed by the Archbishops of Cologne (the village’s owners) with the ''[[Vogt]]ei'' over Guntersblum. Beginning then, Guntersblum remained under Leiningen lordship and belonged until 1316 to the [[House of Leiningen]]:
:until 1466 to the House of Leiningen-Hardenburg.
:until 1572 to the House of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Hardenburg.
:until 1658 to the House of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Falkenburg (in Heidesheim).
:until 1766 to the House of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Falkenburg in Guntersblum.
:until 1787 to the House of Leiningen-Dagsburg-Hardenburg.
:from 1787 to the House of Leiningen-Guntersblum.
:late 1797 – End of Leiningen lordship; Rhine’s left bank annexed to [[France]].

A document now at the [[University of Pennsylvania|University of Pennsylvania Libraries]] shows a succession of [[Jewish]] [[Melamed|private tutorship]] in Guntersblum as early as 1742.<ref>[https://franklin.library.upenn.edu/catalog/FRANKLIN%209978069811903681 UPenn Karp BI.28]</ref>

=== 19th century ===
In 1814 and 1815 came the [[Congress of Vienna]] and along with it, the end of French rule. In 1815 and 1816, the Province of [[Rhenish Hesse]] (''Rheinhessen'') came into being and was annexed to the [[Grand Duchy of Hesse]], thereby making Guntersblum Hessian. In 1828 and 1829, work on straightening the [[Rhine]] was done, part of which involved the creation of the Kühkopf (“Cow’s Head”), an island, formerly joined to the left bank as the land inside an oxbow. In 1852, Guntersblum became part of the new Oppenheim district. In 1853, the ''Hessische Ludwigsbahn'' ([[railway]]) from [[Mainz]] to [[Worms, Germany|Worms]] was built.

=== 20th century ===
In 1930, the last occupation troops from the [[First World War]] left Guntersblum. In March 1945, [[United States|American]] [[tank]] units rolled through Rhenish Hesse and also Guntersblum. After the [[Second World War]], Guntersblum grew in the course of the [[Wirtschaftswunder|great economic upswing]] throughout Germany to more than double its former size. Given the way the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] occupiers set their occupation zones up, the Kühkopf area became part of Hesse. In 1969, Guntersblum was made part of the newly formed ''[[Regierungsbezirk]]'' of Rheinhessen-Pfalz and, within that, part of the newly formed [[Mainz-Bingen]] district. In 1972, Guntersblum became the seat of the like-named [[Guntersblum (Verbandsgemeinde)|''Verbandsgemeinde'']], which merged into the ''Verbandsgemeinde'' [[Rhein-Selz]] in 2014.

=== Religion ===

==== Evangelical parish ====
[[File:Guntersblum- Evangelische Kirche- von Marktplatz aus 16.5.2009.JPG|thumb|Evangelical church]]
The church was built about 1100 as a three-naved basilica with two towers. Then, the Xanten Monastery owned the church patronage rights and made [[Viktor of Xanten|Saint Viktor]] the church's patron saint. In 1617 and 1618, the nave was torn down because it was in an ill state of repair. In 1619, new building work began. Owing to the [[Thirty Years' War]], the work on the new church was not finished until sometime between 1685 and 1688. In 1702, the south tower fell down. Its replacement is the one with the clock, built between 1839 and 1842. Both the church's towers are particularly noteworthy. The style of such eight-sided vaults on a square foundation most likely originated in [[Persian Empire|Persia]] and further developed in 7th-century [[Armenia]]. This “Oriental relationship” has led to the towers being called the “Saracen Towers”. Towers in this style have only five representatives in Germany (compare Alsheim, Dittelsheim-Heßloch, St. Paulus (Worms), [[Wetzlar Cathedral|Wetzlar]]). Among the church's other peculiarities is the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] baptismal font. It is believed to date from about 1490 and is one of the so-called Lion Fonts (''Löwentaufsteine'').

==== Catholic parish, Saint Viktor’s ====
[[File:Guntersblum- Alsheimer Straße (in Höhe des Rathauses)- Richtung katholische Kirche 21.4.2009.JPG|thumb|Catholic church]]
For some 100 years, the two denominations shared a house of worship. Eventually the civic community helped the [[Roman Catholicism|Catholics]] build their own “Saint Viktor’s Church” (''Sankt Viktorskirche'') in 1844 and 1845. The church building went up on land belonging to the parish across the street from the Town Hall. The festive consecration was undertaken by Bishop Petrus Leopold Kaiser from Mainz on 16 November 1845. The consecration document hangs in the church's sacristy. In July 1965, the parish priest was able to move into the parish-owned [[rectory]] across from the Catholic Church. In 1982 and 1983, the Catholic parish built itself a parish hall, to a great extent through its own means and donations, which Canon Fahney dedicated on 13 March 1983.

The priest who has been leading the Guntersblum Catholic parish, Father Alphons Mohr, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his entry into the priesthood not long ago.

== Politics ==

=== Coat of arms ===
The municipality's [[Coat of arms|arms]] might be described thus: Per fess azure an eagle displayed argent armed, beaked and langued gules, and argent a flowerpot of the first issuant from which five roses of the third slipped vert.

The eagle is the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] borne by the Counts of Leiningen. They held the village in fief for centuries and lived at the local castle. The roses are canting for part of the municipality's name (“flower” in [[German language|German]] is ''Blume'').<ref>[http://www.ngw.nl/int/dld/g/guntersb.htm Description and explanation of Guntersblum’s arms]</ref>

=== Town partnerships ===
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Muldenstein]], [[Anhalt-Bitterfeld]], [[Saxony-Anhalt]]

== Culture and sightseeing==

=== Museums ===
[[File:Guntersblum Museum 1.jpg|thumb|Museum on the Kellerweg]]
*''Kelterhaus'' (“Wine Press House”, Kellerweg 20) from the 19th century, old building wing built in classical [[Gründerzeit]] style with imposing, wood-veneered and painted wine-tasting parlour from that time, last run as a restaurant and passing into municipal ownership in 2000. Since 2003, it has been used as a museum.

=== Buildings ===
[[File:Guntersblum Kellerweg N45 at left 097.jpg|thumb|Wine press houses on the Kellerweg]]
[[File:Julianenbrunnen01.jpg|thumb|Julianenbrunnen – in the background at left, Prof. Carl Küstner's former summer workshop]]
*The '''Kellerweg''' is a Guntersblum peculiarity. For a kilometre or so along the municipality's raised western edge runs this street where the wine cellars and wine press houses have been set up, safe there from groundwater and flooding from the Rhine. The oldest cellar bears the date 1600. The midpoint on the Kellerweg forms the '''Julianenbrunnen''' ([[Spring (hydrology)|spring]]). Yearly since 1964, the municipality has been celebrating the ''Kellerweg-Fest'' on the last two weekends in August. Similar building complexes can also be found in [[Austria]] where they are called ''Kellergasse''.
*'''Waterworks pumphouse'''
The pumping apparatus with a machine hall and a machinist's house was built in 1906 and 1907 by Wilhelm Lenz, Mainz Grand Ducal Education Inspector. The buildings are in [[Art Nouveau]] forms with Baroque elements. The apparatus from that time is partly preserved (Gimbsheimer Straße 52).

=== Parks ===
In the Rhine on the Guntersblum Heights is found the so-called ''Naherholungsgebiet Insel Kühkopf'' (“Cow’s Head Island Recreation Area”). The island can be visited by ferry from April to October from Guntersblum Harbour in the municipality's core. The ferry does not carry motorized vehicles, although visitors may take a bicycle.

=== Sport ===
* SV 1921 Guntersblum – With roughly 430 members, SV 1921 Guntersblum is one of the municipality's bigger clubs. The first team plays in the ''Landesliga'' (State League). The first team's success under trainer H. Scheffel's leadership is at the fore in the club's work. Rainer Richter is the club's first chairman, backed up in this by Scheffel. The club grounds are found on Alsheimer Straße on the way into the municipality coming from Alsheim.
* Turnverein 1848 e.V. (gymnastic club)
* Tennis club
* Wassersportfreunde –  [[Canoe camping]]. Right on the Rhine across from the  Kühkopf nature conservation area stands the Wassersportfreunde (“Watersport Friends”) boathouse.

=== Regular events ===
[[File:Kellerwegfest.jpg|thumb|View towards the ''Julianenbrunnen'']]
'''Kellerweg-Fest''' on the last two weekends in August with many visitors from the surrounding area.

== Economy and infrastructure ==

=== Transport ===
Guntersblum lies right on ''[[Bundesstraße]]'' 9, which runs along from [[Ludwigshafen|Ludwigshafen am Rhein]], parallel to the Mainz–Ludwigshafen [[railway]] line to [[Mainz]]. Guntersblum lies between two urban agglomerations, the [[Frankfurt Rhine Main Region]] and the [[Rhine Neckar Area]].

There are also railway links to these two metropolitan areas with half-hourly trains. In 2015, the [[RheinNeckar S-Bahn]] will begin running here. Furthermore, there are highway links to [[Autobahn]]en [[Bundesautobahn 61|A&nbsp;61]] and [[Bundesautobahn 63|A&nbsp;63]] through the Autobahn cross at Alzey, 25&nbsp;km away. This is only worthwhile for driving towards [[Koblenz]] and [[Kaiserslautern]], as Mainz, Worms and Ludwigshafen can be reached more quickly over the B&nbsp;9.

=== Shopping ===
In Guntersblum are found several bakeries, butcher's shops, hairdressers, supermarkets and discount outlets. Also, many gastronomical businesses are on hand alongside the odd winery.

=== Education ===
The [[primary school]] named after the Guntersblumer Carl Küstner is attended by roughly 200 pupils. Within the school's property is also housed the [[folk high school]].

Furthermore, Guntersblum has two [[kindergarten]]s, ''Spatzennest'' and ''Zwergenpalast'' (“Sparrow’s Nest” and “Dwarfs’ Palace”).

== Notable people ==
* [[Augustus Buchel|Augustus Carl Büchel]] (1813–1864), German-born [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] who [[Killed in action|died of wounds]] received at the [[Battle of Pleasant Hill]], [[Louisiana]].
* [[Henry Dübs]], (b. 1816, d. 24 April 1876) German-British engineer and founder of the [[Dübs & Company]] locomotive works in [[Glasgow]], Scotland.
* [[Georg K. Glaser]], (1910–1995) German born French writer
* [[Ferdinand Adolf Kehrer]] (1837–1914), gynaecologist, inventor of the modern [[Caesarian section]]
*Carl Küstner (1861–1934), landscape painter and art professor.
* Johann Philipp Kreißler, ancestor of US automotive pioneer [[Walter Percy Chrysler]], founder of [[Chrysler]]), emigrated in 1709

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Guntersblum}}
* [http://www.mainz-bingen-foto.de/pages/Guntersblum Photos of Guntersblum] {{in lang|de}}
* [https://www.kulturverein-guntersblum.de/ Homepage of Club for the Preservation of Guntersblum Cultural Heritage] {{in lang|de}}

{{Cities and towns in Mainz-Bingen (district)}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Municipalities in Rhineland-Palatinate]]
[[Category:Mainz-Bingen]]
[[Category:Rhenish Hesse]]