Schwelm is a municipality in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany in the district of Ennepe-Ruhr.

Geography

Schwelm is situated in the southeast of the "Ruhrgebiet", the Ruhr Area of Germany, between Westphalia and the "Bergisches Land", a region known as Berg. Schwelm is commonly known as the "Pforte Westfalens", or the "Gate to Westphalia".

Surrounding towns include Wuppertal, Ennepetal, Gevelsberg, and Sprockhövel.

Districts

• Aechte de Muer
• Brunnen
• Fronhof
• Linderhausen
• Loh
• Möllenkotten
• Oberstadt
• Oehde

It was the centre of bleaching during the Middle Ages. Textiles arrived in the [20th century with the name JP Bemberg AG which built several factories in the area and continues today since 1900.

• Ossenkamp
• Parlament
• Rote Wasser
• Winterberg
• zur alten Post

History

The history of Schwelm can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Schwelm was officially established in 1496 and became seat of the Ennepe-Ruhr district in 1929.

Points of Interest

Schwelm is home to the "Brauerei Schwelm", the Schwelm Brewery, one of the few remaining private breweries in Germany. Established in 1830 by Haarmann & Kathagen, the brewery was one of the first worldwide to switch from wooden to metal storage containers. The original administration building of the brewery, the "Rietz´sche Haus" built in 1701, is still in use today.

The oldest piano manufacturer in the world is located in Schwelm. Since 1794, "Rud. Ibach Sohn" has been building pianos and, until 1904, organs in Schwelm.

Twinning

• Fourqueux , in the Paris area

External links

• www.schwelm.de (German)
• Ibach Pianos (German)
• Schwelmer Brauerei