BERGISCH GLADBACH

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'' is a city and capital of the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis (district), in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Contents

Geography

Neighbouring municipalities

History

Economy

Twin towns

Born in Bergisch Gladbach

External links

Geography

Bergisch Gladbach is located east of the river Rhine, approx. 10 kilometers east of Cologne.

Neighbouring municipalities

Beginning in the north clockwise the neighbouring municipalities and neighbouring towns are: Odenthal, Kürten, Overath, Rösrath, Cologne and Leverkusen.

History

Early settlements existed in the 13th century, but the town was officially founded in 1856.

The word “Bergisch” in its name originates from its location in the earldom of Berg and was added to distinguish it from Mönchengladbach. In 1975 the city incorporated the neighbouring Bensberg and when it reached a population of 100,000 in 1977 it received the rank of a city.

Economy

Its principal industries include paper manufacturing, printing, glasswool manufacturing and high tech.

Twin towns

★ Bourgoin-Jallieu, France, since 1956

★ Luton, United Kingdom, since 1956

★ Velsen, Netherlands, since 1956

★ Joinville-le-Pont, France, since 1960

★ Runnymede, United Kingdom, since 1965

★ Marijampolė, Lithuania, since 1989

★ Limassol, Cyprus, since 1991

★ Pszczyna, Poland, since 1993

Born in Bergisch Gladbach

★ Heidi Klum, German supermodel

★ Georg Koch, German football goalkeeper

External links

★ Bergisch Gladbach Official site

★ Fire Department Bergisch Gladbach