Rivenich

Rivenich is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.GeographyLocationThe municipality lies in the Eifel on the river Salm. The municipal area is 33% wooded. The nearest city is Trier, some 24 km away to the southwest. Rivenich belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Wittlich-Land, whose seat is in Wittlich, although that town is itself not in the Verbandsgemeinde.HistoryIn 748, Rivenich had its first documentary mention as Riveniacus. After the French Revolution, the village became part of the Department of Sarre. In 1814 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1947, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate.PoliticsMunicipal councilThe council is made up of 12 council members, who were elected by proportional representation at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairman.