Sponheim

Sponheim is a municipality in the district of Bad Kreuznach in Rhineland-Palatinate in western Germany.

Sponheim
View of Sponheim with the abbey
Coat of arms
Location of Sponheim within Bad Kreuznach district
Sponheim
Sponheim
Coordinates: 49°50′45″N 7°43′35″E
CountryGermany
StateRhineland-Palatinate
DistrictBad Kreuznach
Municipal assoc.Rüdesheim
Government
 • MayorMichael Berghof (SPD)
Area
 • Total14.35 km2 (5.54 sq mi)
Elevation
230 m (750 ft)
Population
 (2018-12-31)[1]
 • Total736
 • Density51/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zoneCET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes
55595
Dialling codes06758
Vehicle registrationKH
Websitewww.sponheim.de

History
Abbey of Sponheim c. 1650
Detail of tomb relief of Johannes Trithemius by Tilman Riemenschneider

Sponheim was the capital of the County of Sponheim.

Sponheim Abbey

There was a Benedictine abbey here which was founded in 1101 by Stephan II, Count of Sponheim not far from the comital residence at Castle Sponheim. Johannes Trithemius was one of the abbots. Traveling from university to his home town in 1482, he was surprised by a snowstorm and took refuge in the Benedictine abbey of Sponheim near Bad Kreuznach. He decided to stay and was elected abbot in 1483, at the age of twenty-one. In his time, the abbey library increased from around fifty items to more than two thousand. However, his efforts did not meet with praise, and his reputation as a magician did not further his acceptance. Increasing differences with the convent led to his resignation in 1506.

See also

References
  1. "Bevölkerungsstand 2018 - Gemeindeebene". Statistisches Landesamt Rheinland-Pfalz (in German). 2019.


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