The old town Ediger

As the Roman armies ventured forth into Gaul-Germanic territory during the 2nd and 3rd century a.c., they displaced the Celt population by their superior understanding of infrastructure and warfare.

A burial ground near Nehren, the remains of a Roman Garrison upon the Calmont as well as the discovery of pottery shards, originating from a Roman manufacture near Treves are proving the former presence of the great Empire in Ediger-Eller.

It is quite likely, that the well-kept tradition of winemaking along the Moselle was also founded by the Roman conquerors.

In the year 639 a.c. both villages were officially documented for the first time.

The preserved records indicate the status of royal villages under the reign of Franconian king Dagobert I from the famous Merowingian dynasty. Eller, as the then larger of both villages, gained a good deal of reputation quite early. Due to the early Christianisation of the village, Eller was, during the Merowingian reign, the domicile of a monastery, sanctified to St. Fridolin.

During the Middle-Ages, the Church and every important noble dynasty were striving for ownership of vineyards at the Moselle. The noble estates of Pyrmont and Kurtrier in Eller still bear witness to the erstwhile reputation of the former royal village.

During the 12th century, the erstwhile smaller Ediger began to emerge from the shadow of the larger Eller. Charles IV granted municipal law to the village and thus the permission to raise fortifications, to hold a market and a judicial court.

Old Ediger

The remains of the former city walls are still visible around the village centre of Ediger.
Strange as it is, the last step to gain the status of a city was never taken and Ediger still retained its status as a mere village.

Nevertheless Ediger gained a great deal of reputation and wealth during the Middle Ages. Many well maintained timber framed houses in the village centre, as well as the gorgeous bell tower of St. Martinus bear witness to the erstwhile splendour of the winemaker’s township. In the oldest, completely preserved building of Ediger, an ancient estate from the 15th century, an inscription was discovered that indicated a former ownership of the building by the Knights Templar.

Over the following centuries though, the warlike turmoil of the 17th century inflicted a great deal of suffering and destruction upon the two townships. The population sank into poverty and the wine-growing business, which was once the guarantee for wealth and comfort, suddenly suffered an almost complete stalemate.

Only the abolishment of the feudal system at the beginning of the 19th century slowly caused a growing increase in prosperity. The winemakers became independent of their former feudal Lords and gained the rights to purchase the vineyards, which were formerly governed by the Church, the monasteries or the nobility. Drastic improvements of the transportation system, starting with the construction of the “Moselstraße” 1853 and the connection of Eller to the Railway in 1879 were influential to the revival of wine trading at the Moselle.

The 4205m long “Kaiser-Wilhelm”-Railway-Tunnel, which shortens the connection between Cochem and Eller by 20km, was counted as the longest Railway-Tunnel in Europe for many years.

“Kaiser-Wilhelm”
Railway-Tunnel

In the 19th century, Ediger-Eller stood under French occupation for some years, during which both villages were both documented as a twin township for the first time. In gastronomy, reminiscences of the interconnection between French and local cuisine can still be found.

During the Republic of Weimar, the social-democratic representative Dr. Eduard Heinrich Rudolph David from Ediger was to a great deal responsible for the decision, that the colours of Black, Red and Gold are still representing unity, human rights and freedom of the people in the National Flag of modern Germany.

In the year 1969 the status of Ediger-Eller as a twin township was finally documented and sealed. Until today, the township prospers from serving its international guests and visitors the delicious gifts of the vineyards, which deservedly became famous far across the borders of the Moselle region.