Bochum

About Bochum

Bochum was developed with a proper Charlemagne set up in the 9th century. It had its own royal court at a junction of two important trade routes. Cofbuokheim mentioned these details in 1041 through a document of the archbishops of Cologne. Other assumptions are that it might have meant ‘Brookhome’ or ‘Bacheim.’ This town was hardly in the limelight until 19th century when the coal mining and steel industries were developed here. Its industrialization process transformed the entire region.

Bochum was bombed heavily by the British and American bombers in the World War II. Its entire inner circle was damaged. Tens of thousands of its citizens were liquidated in that genocide. Once the war ended, this city became part of the new state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The disturbances left greater impact upon the entire city where most of its mines remained closed from 1960 to 1980.

Presently the Opel Astra car company is assembled by the General Motors at their plants in Bochum. This city had its first university, The Ruhr University in 1965, which has the distinction of being the first educational institution to be founded in Germany since World War II. The Nokia group willed to shut down its production plant from here in the early 2008. But the group had to counter with heavy oppositions. Approximately 20,000 protesters stood against this decision.

Its ancient church, Propsteikirche St. Peter is the main attraction of this city. This church was built in 785-800 by Charlemagne. The Paul Pauluskirche City Hall, another attraction, was built in 11th century. The Church of St. Vincent is an example of the Ottonian architecture here. It was built in the Romanesque style that later turned into Gothic edifice. Bochum has its own brewery, named Moritz Fiege that produces low alcohol pilsner and hell style beers.