What if I told you that the municipality of Bobenheim-Roxheim was once two separate villages? These villages merged in 1969. Now, it is a single municipality in the Rhein-Pfalz-Kreis.
Bobenheim-Roxheim sits in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The town lies about 5 km south of Worms. It is also about 13 km northwest of Ludwigshafen. Bobenheim-Roxheim has a rich history.
Back in 900 AD, Bobenheim-Roxheim played a role in Worms’ defense. It shared responsibility for maintaining Worms’ city wall. This shows its early importance in the region.
Let’s dive deeper into Bobenheim-Roxheim’s past. Bobenheim and Roxheim were once part of the Hochstift Worms. In the 13th century, the villages became a fief of the Lords of Stauf. Ownership changed hands frequently. Bobenheim suffered a fire in 1460.
In 1562, Roxheim saw an influx of Dutch reformed refugees. Two ships arrived carrying these people. They later settled in Frankenthal. Most residents of Bobenheim-Roxheim relied on fishing and agriculture.
Bobenheim had a postal connection. It was a minor post station of the Rheinhausen post office. It was part of the Dutch postal route between Innsbruck and Brussels. This was the first continuously operated postal line in the Holy Roman Empire. Johann Baptista von Taxis received permission from Emperor Karl V to operate the Rheinhausen post office. This included branches in Bobenheim near Worms and Diedelsheim.
In 1969, Bobenheim am Rhein and Roxheim/Pfalz merged. This happened during Rhineland-Palatinate’s regional reform. Bobenheim had 3,970 residents then. Roxheim had 4,971. Together, they formed the new municipality of Bobenheim-Roxheim.
Bobenheim-Roxheim includes the deserted village of Littersheim. It lies northeast of Bobenheim. A large estate exists there. It originated from the Worms monastery Maria Münster. Today, it is known as Nonnenhof or Littersheimer Hof.
Roxheim once had a Jewish community. They built a synagogue in 1889. It no longer exists. A Jewish cemetery was established around 1850. It was used until 1935. In 2015, Stolpersteine were placed to remember the Jews deported during the Third Reich.
Bobenheim-Roxheim has grown over the centuries. In 1667, Bobenheim had only 120 residents. After the War of the Palatinate Succession, the population grew. By 1771, it had 300 people. The end of feudalism in 1797 allowed more people to move in. Small farmers and craftsmen arrived. The population rose from 334 in 1802 to about 700 in 1840.
The arrival of the Mainz-Ludwigshafen railway in 1853 boosted growth. Commuters settled there. They worked in Worms, Frankenthal, and Ludwigshafen. By 1939, the population reached 2,664.
Roxheim’s population also grew. After the War of the Palatinate Succession, it had about 600 residents in 1797. The end of feudalism doubled the population by 1840 to over 1,000.
Bobenheim-Roxheim offers much to see. The Jewish cemetery is a protected area. The Catholic churches St. Laurentius and St. Maria Magdalena are landmarks. The Evangelical Church and the Nonnenhof are also notable.
The town has a local history museum. It also has Germany’s only permanent Leonardo da Vinci museum. Nature lovers will appreciate the Bobenheimer Altrhein nature reserve. The Hinterer Roxheimer Altrhein is also worth a visit.
Bobenheim-Roxheim continues to evolve. It balances its historical roots with modern developments. This makes it a unique place in Rhineland-Palatinate.