Maikammer () is a municipality in the Südliche Weinstraße district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated on the German Wine Route, approx. 5 km south of Neustadt an der Weinstraße. Maikammer is the seat of the Verbandsgemeinde Maikammer.
Geography
Location
Maikammer lies at elevations from 120 to 300 m at the foot of the
Kalmit, the highest mountain in the
Palatine Forest (673 m), in a landscape dominated by
. Other high ground within the boundaries of the parish includes the north flank of the Schafkopf (617 m), the
Rotsohlberg (607 m), the north flank of the Stotz (603 m), the northeast flank of the Breitenberg (545 m), the Flachkopf (498 m) and the Wetterkreuzberg (401 m).
Neighbouring municipalities are (clockwise): Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Kirrweiler (Pfalz), Edenkoben, Sankt Martin (Pfalz), Edenkoben (exclave), Gommersheim (exclave) and Kirrweiler (exclave).
Climate
Due to its mild climate, not only do grapes grow here but also exotic fruit such as
kiwifruit,
,
and
.
Industry
Maikammer's local economy is predominantly supported by the wine industry. The area is well known for the vineyards of
Alsterweiler,
Kappellenberg, Kirchenstück,
Immengarten and
Heiligenberg, which produce Müller-Thurgau and
Riesling grapes. Wine has played a significant part in Maikammer's history, both economically and culturally. Maikammer is also host to numerous villas built by the original wine families of the area, which now help to attract tourists to the area.
During the 1850s, Anton Ullrich and his brother Franz Ullrich established an enameling factory in Maikammer producing enameled kitchenware. This factory was a major source of employment for the people of Maikammer, employing around 1,000 people at its peak. The products made in Maikammer were sold throughout Europe, distribution extended as far east as Russia. The factory was closed in 1928 as a result of Germany's hyperinflation.
Spelling variations
The town of Maikammer has also been spelled in the following ways: Meinkeimere (1315), Meinkemer (1329), Menkemer (1335), Menkemere (1345), Meinkemeren (1346), Meinkemer (1348), Meinkeymer (1350, 1366), Meinkeimer (1370), Meinkemer (1391, 1419), Meynkeimere (1437), Meynkamere (1464), Meinkheimer (1468), Meyekeymere (1500), Mainkeimer (1542), Meynkammer (1560), Maycammer (1650), and since 1800 Maikammer.
Mayors
-
Sebastian Frantz (1860–1904)
-
Eduard Wolf (1904–1920)
-
Dr. J.C. Wolf (1920–1933)
-
Gustav Buchenberger (1933–1942)
-
Otto Wingerter (1942–1945)
-
Dr. J.C. Wolf (1945–1946)
-
Alfred Wagner (1946–1947)
-
Rudolf Straub (1947–1948)
-
Hermann Ullrich (1948–1955, CDU)
-
Johannes Damm (1955–1973, CDU)
-
Rudolf Müller (1973–1974, CDU)
-
Dieter Ziegler (1974–1994, CDU)
[ Maikammer: Ex-Minister Dieter Ziegler gestorben, Die Rheinpfalz, 5 March 2019.]
-
Karl Schäfer (1994–incumbent, CDU)
[
]
Notable residents
-
General Jakob Freiherr von Hartmann (1797–1873)
-
Franz Ullrich (1830–1891), industrialist
