Gönnheim

Gönnheim is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bad Dürkheim district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.GeographyLocationThe winegrowing centre lies between the Haardt range and the Rhine. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Wachenheim, whose seat is in the like-named town.HistoryIn 771, Gönnheim had its first documentary mention as Ginningheim.Population developmentGönnheim’s population rose from 124 in 1521 to 184 in 1592.PoliticsMunicipal councilThe council is made up of 16 council members, who were elected by proportional representation at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.The municipal election held on 7 June 2009 yielded the following results:Coat of armsThe German blazon reads: In Silber auf grünem Boden der heilige Martin in blauem Harnisch auf einem nach links schreitenden goldbezäumten und -behuftem Schimmel reitend, seinen roten Mantel durch ein silbernes Schwert mit einem am Boden sitzenden Bettler mit goldenem Lendenschurz teilend.The municipality’s arms might in English heraldic language be described thus: Argent on ground vert Saint Martin proper armoured azure mounted on a steed passant sinister of the field bridled and unguled Or, in his dexter hand a sword of the first bendwise sinister cutting his cloak gules, on the ground a beggar proper wearing a loincloth of the fourth sitting sinister and arms reaching up.