Gerolstein - 1909

City rights were granted to Gerolstein in 1336. In 1691, the town was almost completely destroyed when it was liberated from French occupation by troops from the Duchy of Jülich. After reconstruction, a devastating fire burnt down the town in 1708, and again in 1784.

In the 1801 Treaty of Lunéville the area on the left bank of the Rhine river was given to France, but due to the resolutions of the Vienna Congress, Gerolstein (and the left banks of the Rhine) came to the Kingdom of Prussia in 1815.

Water from a spring that once was used already by the Celts and the Romans—was bottled and sold beginning in 1724. This still forms the basis for today's mineral water industry in Gerolstein. And this bottled water is what Gerolsteion is known for all over Germany.

Today Gerolstein has a population of less than 8000 and it may not be large enough to keep businesses. Two discount shops are near the town. The butchery moved out already. It just started to snow...