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Bestwig is a municipality in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Bestwig | |
|---|---|
 General view of Bestwig | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Bestwig within Hochsauerlandkreis district  | |
  Bestwig  Bestwig | |
| Coordinates: 51°22′N 08°24′E | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Admin. region | Arnsberg |
| District | Hochsauerlandkreis |
| Subdivisions | 6, containing of 17 Ortsteile (villages) |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–25) | Ralf Péus[1] (CDU) |
| Area | |
• Total | 69.36 km2 (26.78 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 750 m (2,460 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 280 m (920 ft) |
| Population (2023-12-31)[2] | |
• Total | 10,677 |
| • Density | 150/km2 (400/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 59909 |
| Dialling codes | 02904, 02905 |
| Vehicle registration | HSK |
| Website | www.bestwig.de |
Bestwig is situated on the river Ruhr, approx. 10 km east of Meschede. It lies on the German Autobahn A 46. Bestwig has a railway station, connecting the town through local trains to Dortmund Hauptbahnhof, Winterberg and Hagen Hauptbahnhof.
Neighbouring municipalities
Since 2009, the municipality is officially divided into 6 so-called Ortschaften, each containing of one to five villages (Ortsteile).
| Ortschaft | Ortsteile | Population[3] |
|---|---|---|
| Velmede | Velmede, Bestwig, Föckinghausen, Nierbachtal, Halbeswig | 4.595 (3.140, 1.391, 29, 28, 7) |
| Nuttlar | Nuttlar, Grimlinghausen | 1.586 (1.556, 30) |
| Ostwig | Ostwig, Alfert, Borghausen | 1.691 (973, 58, 660) |
| Heringhausen | Heringhausen | 793 |
| Ramsbeck | Ramsbeck, Berlar, Valme | 1.827 (1.608, 146, 73) |
| Andreasberg | Andreasberg, Dörnberg, Wasserfall | 609 (482, 76, 51) |
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Bestwig, surrounded by many acres of pine tree forests, is a centre of Christmas tree production.
Tourism, however, is the most important source of income. The Sauerland forests are popular among hikers and, in winter, skiing is possible.
Bestwig has no official partnership with another town, but has close to ties to Niederorschel (Thuringia, Germany) and Niederwiesa (Saxony, Germany).
The coat of arms shows a silver Saint Andrew's Cross on blue ground. The Saint Andrew's Cross is a reference to the patron of the parish church in Velmede, Saint Andrew. The colors silver and blue show the allegiance to the former county of Arnsberg.
- Franz Hoffmeister (1898-1943), Roman Catholic priest
- Theo Bücker (born 1948), coach of Lebanon's national football team
- Wilhelmine Lübke (1885–1981), First Lady
- Ferdinand von Lüninck (born 1888), German nobleman (a Freiherr i.e. a Baron) Roman Catholic, who participated in plans to overthrow Hitler on 20 July 1944. Arrested after plot failed and sentenced to death. Hanged on 14 November 1944.
- Hedwig von Beverfoerde (born 1963), German noblewoman, right-wing political activist and Traditional Catholic
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Waterfall Plästerlegge near Wasserfall
.JPG)
- Wasserfall is named after its famous waterfall, a popular sight during walking tours. It is one of the largest cascades in North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Bergkloster Monastery, the motherhouse of the European Province of the Sisters of St Maria Magdalena Postel
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