Wuppertal

Foundation of the city

The town of Wuppertal was founded on August 1st, 1929 by the association of the cities independent of Elberfeld and Barmen, of the towns of Cronenberg, Ronsdorf and Vohwinkel, as well as district of Beyenburg belonging at the time at the town of Lüttringhausen. This association formed the city independent of Barmen-Elberfeld . In 1930, the city takes the name of Wuppertal . Indeed, after being consulted, the inhabitants chose this name, because of the position of the city compared to the Wupper river. This fusion is reflected still today in the aspect of the city. Thus, Wuppertal has two principal centers (Elberfeld and Barmen) and five other districts (Beyenburg, Cronenberg, Langerfeld, Ronsdorf and Vohwinkel). Each one of these zones gathers institutions making think of a small town. Of almost everywhere, one can reach in little time a park or a forest in overhang.

Policy

Municipal council

The municipal council currently has (in July 2006) 74 seats (with the cumulated mandates), distributed as follows:

The next vote will take place in 2009.

* The two members not-associates of the council were in the beginning members of WfW. mobility

Schwebebahn

One of greatest attractions of the city is the Monorail suspended ( Wuppertaler Schwebebahn ), inaugurated in 1901 a 13 km length, circulating mainly above the river. There is a driver (human). The oars of two cars are not reversible and must use a loop to make half-turn at the ends.

In 1950, the Cirque Althoff made take the monorail with a young person elephant named “Tuffi”, but this one jumped by a door in the river, being wounded slightly. The April 12th 1999, a screw clamp forgotten on the way by a workman made run off the line one of the cars and precipitate the oar, with about fifty people on board, eight meters downwards in the river. The accident, first fatal accident since 1901, killed five people and wounded 46 of them.

Famous characters

Johannes Rau, president federal of Germany (1999-2004)
Alice Schwarzer, one of driving of the German feminist movement
Rita Süssmuth, was minstre federal and chair German Parliament (1988-1998)
Else Laske-Schüler, poet expressionist
Friedrich Engels, historian, friend and guard of Karl Marx
Friedrich Bayer, founder of the company of painting which became Bayer AG
Pina Bausch, dancer and then choreographer which founded celebrates it Tanztheater Wuppertal in the city in 1976.
Horst Tappert, actor.

Twinning

Wuppertal maintains twinnings with various cities:

linguistic Exchange: Carl Fuhlrott Gymnasium with Dupuy College of Lome ,

Wuppertal Gymnasium with the Marists ,

External bonds

Official site

Simple: Wuppertal

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