Weil am Rhein

Infobox German Location
Art = Stadt
Name = Weil am Rhein
image_photo = Vitra Design Museum.jpg
imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Vitra Design Museum
Wappen = Wappen Weil am Rhein.pnglat_deg = 47 |lat_min = 35 |lat_sec = 41
lon_deg = 7 |lon_min = 36 |lon_sec = 39
Lageplan =
Bundesland = Baden-Württemberg
Regierungsbezirk = Freiburg
Landkreis = Lörrach
Höhe = 281
Fläche = 19.47
Einwohner = 29519
Stand = 2006-12-31
PLZ = 79546–79576
PLZ-alt = 7858
Vorwahl = 07621
Kfz = LÖ
Gemeindeschlüssel = 08 3 36 091
Gliederung = 7
Adresse = Rathausplatz 1
79576 Weil am Rhein
Website = [http://www.weil-am-rhein.de/ www.weil-am-rhein.de]
Bürgermeister = Wolfgang Dietz
Partei = CDU

Weil am Rhein is a German town and commune situated on the east bank of the River Rhine, and close to the point at which the Swiss, French and German borders meet. It is the most southwesterly town in Germany.

Geography

Weil am Rhein is located at coord|47|35|42|N|7|36|39.6|E|type:city(29421)_region:DE-BW in the district of Lörrach in the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg. The city limits border France to the west and Switzerland to the south. Locally Weil is situated in the region referred to as Markgräflerland.

The city's location on the Rhine and proximity to the Black Forest give it a continental climate, particularly suited to viticulture.

History

The town is first documented in the year 786 as "Willa", a name which is thought to be of Roman origin. Agriculture dominated local industry until the 19th century, when the city began to grow, aided by its favourable transport connections. A railway marshalling yard linking Weil am Rhein to Basel was built in 1913. Swiss textile factories were established in the Friedlingen quarter. 1934 saw the construction of a harbour on the Rhine.

After the Second World War the population again grew rapidly due to the influx of refugees and stateless persons. Between 1971 and 1975 the communities of Ötlingen, Haltingen and Märkt were incorporated and Weil am Rhein became a substantial town.

Twin towns

Weil am Rhein is twinned with the following towns:

* Bognor Regis (United Kingdom)
* Huningue (France)
* Trebbin (eastern Germany)

Tourism and leisure

* The premises of the furniture maker Vitra, featuring buildings by architects such as Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid and Tadao Ando, are an attraction for architecture fans. The premises also include the Vitra Design Museum.
* The "Laguna" water park

External links

* [http://www.weil-am-rhein.de/ Official site] de icon
* [http://www.design-museum.de Vitra Design Museum] de iconen icon
* [http://www.laguna-badeland.de Laguna water park] de icon
* [http://www.badische-seiten.de/bilder/weil-am-rhein/ Weil am Rhein: pictures] de icon