Wermelskirchen (Ripuarian: Wärmelßkirrshe) is a town in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, southeast of Remscheid. It is home to one of Europe's biggest live Christmas trees (measuring 26m).

Geography

The distance to Cologne is about 35 kilometers, to Düsseldorf about 45 kilometers. The neighboring municipalities are Remscheid, Hückeswagen, Wipperfürth, Kürten, Odenthal, Burscheid and Solingen. The townscape is characterized by Altberg slate and half-timbered houses.

Coat of arms

The coat-of-arms of the city of Wermelskirchen looks like a silver shield split into thirds. In the left field is an oak tree. In the right field there is a Swan and pictured in the middle field there is a church.

History

From 1822 to 1945, Wermelskirchen was part of the Prussian Rhine Province.

Education

Wermelskirchen has an Evangelical, a Roman Catholic church and a Latin school.

Economy

The city has the head office of OBI and the origin of the caster manufacturer TENTE.

Twin towns – sister cities

Wermelskirchen is twinned with:

Notable people

Honorary citizens