Arbach

Arbach is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Vulkaneifel district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Kelberg, whose seat is in the like-named municipality.GeographyLocationThe municipality lies in the Vulkaneifel, a part of the Eifel known for its volcanic history, geographical and geological features, and even ongoing activity today, including gases that sometimes well up from the earth.HistoryIn 1336, Arbach had its first documentary mention as Arrebarre or Arrebach, in which the prefix Arre – cognate with the English “ear” in the same meaning – referred to ears of cereal grains (this is Ähre in Modern High German).PoliticsMunicipal councilThe council is made up of 6 council members, who were elected by majority vote at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.Coat of armsThe German blazon reads: In Gold, durch einen schrägrechten blauen Wellenbalken geteilt, vorn drei schwarze Getreidehalme, hinten ein rotes durchgehendes Kreuz.