Friesenhagen

Friesenhagen is a municipality in the north of the district of Altenkirchen, in Rhineland-Palatinate, in Western Germany.

Friesenhagen
Municipality
Coat of arms
Location of Friesenhagen within Altenkirchen (Westerwald) district
Friesenhagen Show map of Germany Friesenhagen Show map of Rhineland-Palatinate
Coordinates: 50°54′12″N 7°48′38″E
Country	Germany
State	Rhineland-Palatinate
District	Altenkirchen (Westerwald)
Municipal assoc.	Kirchen
Government
• Mayor (2019–24)	Norbert Kläs[1] (SPD)
Area
• Total	51.36 km2 (19.83 sq mi)
Elevation	330 m (1,080 ft)
Population  (2023-12-31)[2]
• Total	1,649
• Density	32/km2 (83/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes	51598
Dialling codes	02734, 02294, 02297
Vehicle registration	AK
Website	www.friesenhagen.de

Rote Kapelle (red chapel)

Geography

Friesenhagen is the northernmost community of Rhineland-Palatinate. With an area of 51.3 square kilometres (19.8 sq mi), it is also the largest community in the district of Altenkirchen.

Oftentimes, the Friesenhagen area is also referred to as "Wildenburger Land", owing to the presence of nearby Castle Wildenburg.

History

Friesenhagen was first mentioned in a papal document issued by Pope Innocence II in the year 1311.

The altar of St. Sebastian's church is attributed to the first half of the 13th Century.

St.Sebastianus church in the center of Friesenhagen

In the late medieval period, marked by the 30-year war (1618 to 1648) and for more than half a century, Friesenhagen was the location of infamous witch-hunts. Over 200 people, both male and female, perished in the years of persecution between 1590 and 1652. The executions of supposed witches took place on "Blumenberg", a hill overlooking the village of Friesenhagen. In memory of the persecutions, St. Anna Chapel, more commonly referred to as "red chapel", was built in this location.^[3]