The friendly welcome is much more for Neuwied than just a slogan. It goes right back to the settlement's origin, is an integral part of its early development and why it flourished in the 18th century to become the place it is today.

Count Frederick of Wied founded the town in 1653 on the right bank of the river Rhine at the confluence with the small river Wied. Within just a few years Neuwied had established a social climate of tolerance and freedom. Count Frederick and his successors welcomed all law-abiding citizens to their small town to live there free from religious persecution and to help it develop economically. Many different faiths settled in the young town, among them Mennonites and Moravians. Today, some of their houses and churches belong to the architecturally important buildings in the city centre and are symbols of Neuwied's religious freedom. Moreover, Neuwied is the birthplace of Prince Maximilian of Wied, explorer and expert on Native American culture. The founding zu Wied family still lives in Neuwied Palace, their private residence, with the park that is partially open to the public as a backdrop. And it is also interesting to note that English football was played on our town as early as the 1860s.

While Neuwied is a planned Baroque settlement and relatively young town compared to its neighbors like Koblenz and Andernach, its suburban districts and surrounding villages are in the most part much older than the town centre. Each of them enriches Neuwied – boasting 66,000 inhabitants – with its own traditions, charming characteristics and great commitment of its citizens – a lively diversity for all to enjoy.

The town gave its name to the Neuwied Basin, the attractive landscape of the rivers Rhine and Wied at the foothills of the Westerwald, which is well worth a visit. Delving into cultural history or indulging in modern cultural life, enjoying what nature has to offer or pursuing sports activities, or simply taking a short break from everyday life to spend a few days with your family: no matter what you prefer, Neuwied and its region have a lot to offer.

There is so much to see and so much to learn about this unique place on the river Rhine, Europe's busiest waterway. Please browse through our pages and get a taste of our town. There is, of course, much more to experience "live".

Welcome to Neuwied!