Idar-Oberstein

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Coordinates: 49°42′N 7°19′E

Idar-Oberstein (Idar Oberstein)
Country	Germany
State	Rhineland-Palatinate
District	Birkenfeld
Population	34,880 (2005)
Area	91.57 km²
Population density	381 /km²
Elevation	200-450 m
Coordinates	49°42′ N 7°19′ E
Postal code	55743
Area code	06781, 06784
Licence plate code	BIR
Mayor	Hans Jürgen Machwirth (CDU)
Website	idar-oberstein.de

Idar-Oberstein is a city in the Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany. It is The German Captital of Gemstone Industry. The city lies on the Nahe River, in the district of Birkenfeld. It is the largest city in the Hunsrück region of southwest Germany, and has a population of around 35,000.

Contents 1 History 2 Dining 3 Tourism 4 Nightlife 5 Districts 6 Partnerships 7 External links

[edit] History

The towns of Idar and Oberstein belonged to the barons of Daun-Oberstein (who later became the counts of Falkenstein) until 1670. In 1865, both Idar and Oberstein were chartered as cities, and finally in 1933, they united (along with the smaller towns of Algenrodt and Tiefenstein) to form the modern town of Idar-Oberstein.

Idar-Oberstein is currently best known as a gemstone center: until recently, the area was a source for agate and jasper (both semi-precious stones), and the gem and jewelry trade continues to flourish in Idar-Oberstein today.

Two ruined medieval castles are perched on the hills above the town, and are, after gemstones and jewelry, the chief tourist attractions in the city, along with the Felsenkirche (aka Church of the Rock) that was constructed in a crevice in the side of the cliffs on which the castles rest.

Baumholder, a United States military installation just south of Idar-Oberstein, is reportedly the largest concentration of American combat soldiers outside of the U.S.

Additionally, the small U.S. Army post of Strassburg Kaserne overlooks the city from the suburb of Algenrodt. Home to the 1st Battalion, 94th Field Artillery, several hundred U.S. soldiers call Idar-Oberstein home for periods of several years. The enlisted soldiers frequent such establishments as Cafe Carre, Club Ypsilon, and Club Havana. The battalion's officers are relegated to the Brasserie, in the town center, above which the famous American oil tycoon, Jason O. Waters, of Waters and Waters, lives.

The German Army's Artillery School (Artillerieschule) is located in Idar-Oberstein.

Bruce Willis was born in this city in 1955. He was last seen in Idar-Oberstein on August 6, 2005.

Jay Figurski, current aide to U.S. Senator Carl Levin, was stationed here as a U.S. Army officer from 2003-2006.

[edit] Dining

Spiesbraten is a dish typically associated with the area. For many years the town hosted an annual Spiesbraten Fest. Many restaurants specialize in this marinated steak of beef or pork. It is cooked on an open pit over a wood fire. It is typically served with a salad of grated radish. "Schmeckt gut!" (Translation:tastes good)

[edit] Tourism

Since the early 1960s tourism became quite important for Idar-Oberstein. Today one will find many modern facilities like the "Steinkaulenberg" (a gemstone mine open for visitors) and the "Deutsches Edelsteinmuseum" (German gemstone museum) as well as many recreational resorts.

[edit] Nightlife

The recently opened Park Hotel is the main attraction on Friday nights, offering an upscale bar on the main floor and a "euro-rock" themed dance club on the bottom floor. Visitors seeking a younger, more questionable crowd may find respite in Club Ypsilon, in the Oberstein pedestrian zone. The large Russian immigrant population in the city has claimed Ypsilon as its own, despite repeated attempts by U.S. soldiers stationed there to establish an American presence in the club. There's another club called "Granada", opened on Wednesday, Friday an Saturday. It has 2 floors. On the first floor there is a dance club where older disco music is played, on the second floor there is a modern dance club with hiphop, rap and techno music. Other locations in Idar are Cafè Carrè, Brasserie on the Schleiferplatz and Eckstein on the market place, a modern pub for everyone. Additional options for recreational activity include tubing the Nahe river during the early summer, running and hiking through the diamond mine paths, and several city festivals.

[edit] Districts

Old Town:

• Oberstein (8.794)
• Idar (8.466)
• Tiefenstein (2.642)
• Algenrodt (2.382)

→ Population: 22.284

New Districts:

• Göttschied (2.924)
• Weierbach (2.703)
• Nahbollenbach (1.970)
• Mittelbollenbach (1.197)
• Kirchenbollenbach (938)
• Regulshausen (835)
• Enzweiler (747)
• Georg-Weierbach (709)
• Hammerstein (573)

→ Population: 12.596

30th of July 2005

[edit] Partnerships

Idar-Oberstein has established partnerships to this cities:

• Achicourt (France) since 1966
• Les Mureaux (France) since 1971
• Margate (Great Britain) since 1981
• Goiânia (Brazil) since 2004

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Idar-Oberstein, Germany

• Official web site
• gemstone mine Steinkaulenberg
• Deutsches Edelsteinmuseum (German Gemstone Museum)
• The Museum Oberstein
• International Trade Fair for Precious Stones and Jewellery (Intergem)
• History of Idar-Oberstein's gem industry
• Gemstone-Museum
• Wirtschaftsjunioren Idar-Oberstein (JCI Idar-Oberstein)