Local heritage book of Rohrsheim

Rohrsheim is a district of the town of Osterwieck in the county of Harz in Saxony-Anhalt. The village Rohrsheim is located about 20 km (as the crow flies) northwest of Halberstadt.  Directly next to Rohrsheim you can find the castle Westerburg.  It is the oldest moated castle still preserved in Germany and today houses a hotel. Rohrsheim’s neighbouring villages are Dedeleben, Hessen and Dardesheim. About 650 people live in Rohrsheim.

Rohrsheim was first mentioned in August 941 in a deed of gift from King Otto to the Moritz Monastery in Magdeburg.

The church of St. Matthew and St. Mark is worth seeing. These facts make that clear: The oldest part of the church is the portal on the south side of the nave, which dates back to the 10th century. The altar dates from 1661; the organ, which was made by the organ builder Papenius of Halberstadt, dates from 1760. Also from 1661 is the pulpit with the carved basket (7 apostle figures and sound cover).

The names that the village has been called over time are listed at the entrance to the village. 941 - Rareshem, 1316 - Rorsum, 1498 - Rorszein, 1563 - Rorschem, 2016 - Rohrsheim.

Fallstein Manufaktur & Distillerie from Rohrsheim should not go unmentioned.  Their products range from gin, whisky, fine fruit brandies to cold-pressed fine oils.  Visitors can get an idea of how these organic products are produced by taking a tour of the distillery.

I would like to thank Werner Nicolaus for his kind assistance in compiling the Rohrsheim local family book.