Haven’t you wondered about the story behind this seemingly quiet settlement? Holzlar is more than just a place on a map. It is a tapestry woven from history, industry, and nature.
Holzlar is located in Bonn’s district Beuel. It lies east of the Rhine. This community consists of the former villages of Holzlar, Kohlkaul, Heidebergen, Roleber, and Gielgen. Imagine these distinct villages slowly merging. Today, the old borders are mostly gone.
The first mention of Holzlar was in 1394. Back then, it was called “Hultzelar”. The name evolved over time. It changed to Hultzlair, Holtzlar, Holtzlohr, Holzlahr, and finally Holtzlahr.
Did you know that Holzlar was once a mining hub? In 1757, people started digging for brown coal for their own needs. Then, around 50 years later, the Bleibtreu brothers arrived. Leopold and Abraham Bleibtreu bought land. They began quarrying brown coal and alum in Holzlar-Kohlkaul and Holzlar Gielgen.
Before 1969, Holzlar belonged to Amt Menden. In 1969, it became part of Bonn’s Beuel district. Today, Holzlar features mainly housing estates. You will find them particularly in Roleber, Gielgen, and Heidebergen. The north of Holzlar-Kohlkaul offers subsidized housing.
Holzlar is home to a special landmark: the watermill. It is believed to be Bonn’s only functioning historical watermill. The watermill is an early industrial cultural relic. Not much is known about its early days. It likely existed with a Burghof. Wilhelm von Nesselrode received the Burghof in 1502. The war destroyed it in the 16th century. The Reuter family bought the mill in the mid-19th century. They had leased it since the early 1800s. The mill closed in the 1950s. In 1989, the Holzlarer Mühlenverein was founded. The society bought the mill and restored it. Now, it is a Bonn monument with historic preservation.
Between Hauptstraße and Hövelweg lies another gem: the old Protestant cemetery. This small cemetery is one of the oldest in the Rhineland. The Linder family established it as a private cemetery in the mid-17th century. The oldest gravestone dates back to 1658. It bears the inscription “M. Linder”. The cemetery is also known as “Linders Garten”. Lindershausweg is a street name that reminds us of the Linder family. Leopold Bleibtreu expanded the cemetery in 1819. There are now 14 gravestones with the name “Bleibtreu”. The cemetery closed in 1968 and enjoys preservation of sites of historic interest.
In the south and east, forests, brooks, lakes, and ponds dominate the landscape. The Ennert forest has mixed trees and large oaks. Hiking trails crisscross the area making it a popular recreational spot. Several springs flow here. They are named Alaunbach, Ankerbach, Pechsiefen, Holtorfer Bach, and Mühlenbach. Rare animals live in the forest and brooks. You might spot a fire salamander. Or, perhaps a Coronella austriaca. The great spotted woodpecker and Anguis fragilis also call this place home. The Ennert is a designated nature reserve.
From brown coal to rare animals, Holzlar is a place of hidden treasures. Take a moment to appreciate the blend of history and nature. As you leave Holzlar, remember its story. It is a story of evolution and preservation. It is a story etched into the land itself.