Did you know K\u00fcrenz in Trier is more than just a district? It is a place where history and modernity intertwine. K\u00fcrenz is one of Trier’s 19 districts in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Let’s journey back in time. In the 9th century, the area was first developed with farmsteads. The name K\u00fcrenz likely comes from the term Curvada. The district was first officially mentioned in 1227. K\u00fcrenz became part of Trier in 1930.
K\u00fcrenz divides into Alt-K\u00fcrenz and Neu-K\u00fcrenz. Alt-K\u00fcrenz forms the historical heart. You can find it at the lower end of the Aveler Valley. Neu-K\u00fcrenz stretches up to the Petrisberg plateau. Since the 1960s, the Weidengraben settlement has grown here.
During World War II, the K\u00fcrenz marshalling yard was often bombed. New housing estates arose from the 1960s onward, including Weidengraben and Hohlengraben. Today, two-thirds of K\u00fcrenz’s population reside on the Petrisberg plateau.
The parish church of St Boniface and the K\u00fcrenz manor house define the historic center of Alt-K\u00fcrenz. Alexandre-Fran\u00e7ois Bruneteau de Sainte-Suzanne had the two-story villa built in 1810. He was the prefect of the former Saar department. The actual little palace was demolished in 1966 due to disrepair.
Since 1922, the Bethanien monastery has been located in K\u00fcrenz. Benedictine nuns of the Blessed Sacrament reside here. They previously resided in Trier’s Gartenfeld from 1854. The K\u00fcrenz monastery runs a host bakery. Until recently, the sisters also ran extensive agriculture. They also had a Paramenten workshop until 2016.
Neu-K\u00fcrenz extends from the Avelsbach Valley to the Petrisberg plateau. The Weidengraben new housing estate originated in 1963. It borders the Trier University grounds. The university moved to the higher districts in 1977. In 2004, a roundabout was integrated into Kohlenstra\u00dfe. This enabled connection to the State Garden Show on the Petrisberg. A new housing area called Petrisberg was built on the former French military site after the exhibition closed.
The Avelertal is a river valley where the Avelsbach flows into the Moselle. It lies between the Petrisberg plateau and the Gr\u00fcneberg. The Gr\u00fcneberg gets its name from the greenish diabase found there. Only the southwest side of the road is fully built upon. On the opposite side, there are only a few buildings. The road was expanded in the 1960s. It serves as a main connection between Trier’s city center, the higher districts, and surrounding communities.
The Kolonnenweg branches off to the Gr\u00fcneberg. It leads to the Federal Armed Forces’ Technical Center for land-based vehicle systems. At the junction, a cycling and hiking trail begins. It stretches from there through the entire Avelertal to Tarforst. The Gut Avelsbach is also located in the valley. It owns most of the vineyards in the Avelertal.
The Weidengraben is a new housing estate from the 1960s. It stretches along Kohlenstra\u00dfe. The settlement lies at an altitude of 260 meters above sea level. The center has the tallest buildings. The outer ring consists of single-family homes. The name Weidengraben comes from the formerly swampy ground. Numerous willows grew there.
The Hohlengraben is located opposite the Weidengraben. It sits on a slope of the Petrisberg. It is an old barracks quarter for the French garrisons. These barracks houses are still inhabited today. In the 1960s, numerous terraced houses and some high-rise buildings were built there. They now serve mostly as student dormitories.
The residential area on the Petrisberg originated during the State Garden Show 2004. The State Garden Show converted a former German and then French barracks site. The concept on the Petrisberg is unique. It combines a university-related science park with living and working spaces.
K\u00fcrenz continues to evolve. It balances its rich past with modern developments. The district faces challenges such as heavy traffic, particularly in Alt-K\u00fcrenz. Yet, K\u00fcrenz remains a vibrant part of Trier.