Munchberg: A primer to Jefferson City's sister city in Germany

An unscientific poll of Jefferson City residents for the German newspaper Frankenpost showed most didn't know a lot about their partner city, Munchberg, Germany.

But the partnership can provide some exclusive benefits for Jefferson City residents: a warm welcome at the town hall, guided tours in Munchberg or even through Germany, affordable lodging and the ability to make friends very quickly.

Here are some basics of the German city:

History of Munchberg - The city was first mentioned in the 10th century as "Monk Mountain" (In German: Moench Berg); it's assumed the first settlers were monks. Over the years, the name evolved into Munchberg. About 652 years ago, Munchberg officially became a town. It has since survived city fires, armed robberies by knights, the Thirty Years' War, Napoleon's invasion in 1806 and bombings during both World Wars. During World War II, Munchberg was the first Bavarian town in which Allied aircraft dropped bombs. Until today, the city has been home to one of the few textile colleges in Germany.

Munchberg today - Today the city is home to about 10,400 residents, is 26.55 square miles and is 1,791 feet above sea level. Winters are long and cold, giving Munchberg the nickname "little Siberia."

The city is located on Highway A9 and the foothills of the "Fichtelgebirge," which is a mountain range in Northern Bavaria. The district is also named "Upperfranconia." On a map, Munchberg can be found east of mid-Germany. Munchberg belonged to the American sector when the country was divided during the Cold War.

Politics - Munchberg has a full-time mayor elected every six years. The current mayor, Christian Zuber, belongs to the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). There are 24 city council members, also elected every six years. There are no term limits. Munchberg has a total of three mayors - the second and the third take control in the mayor's absence.

The jobless rate oscillates between 4 and 5 percent.

Religion - Most Munchberg residents are protestants. Therefore, the biggest church, "Stadtkirche Peter und Paul" in Munchberg belongs to the evangelic Lutherans. Another church is for the Roman Catholics. There also is a small mosque for Turkish people, the biggest foreign population in Munchberg. Other religions include evangelic Methodists and a small group of Jehovah's Witnesses. Institutional religion has lost its significance in the last years. On Dec. 24, which is Christmas in Germany, about 40 percent of the residents attend a church service. On other holidays, about 3 to 6 percent worship in a church.

Food and beverage - The traditional dinner in Upperfranconia is bread with a wide range of sausages and cheese. For lunch, especially on Sundays together with the family, housewives, as well as househusbands (yes, that's a term in Germany), prepare potato or bread dumplings with a roast and red cabbage. There are many variations for side dishes like savoy cabbage, sauerkraut or other vegetables. In Munchberg, there are also popular Italian, Greek, Turkish and Asian restaurants. For several years, there have been McDonald's and Burger King restaurants in Munchberg but no other fast food.

Munchberg once was the hometown to a dozen breweries, before bigger breweries dominated the market. Today, there is just one brewery/restaurant. Also some hard alcohol is produced in Mnchberg, like "Klostertropfen" or "Baerenfaenger," which are herbal liqueurs.

Festivals and parties - There are a lot of different festivals in Munchberg. The two biggest are "Stadtfest" (city festival) at the end of September and "Wiesenfest" (Meadow fest) in the middle of July. While Stadtfest is for the merchants and organized by the advertising association, Wiesenfest is a 3-day affair held by the town hall. Wiesenfest mostly is for kids with an amusement park, a lot of sweets and a march through the city starting at the biggest church to the fairground.

The rest of the year, a handful of pubs and bars - in general called "kneipe" - welcome people to play cards together, celebrate victories or just hang out with friends. One of the most popular kneipen throughout all generations in Munchberg has existed since 1831. The owners changed through the times, but the "Bayerischer Hof" never lost its charm and meaning for the town.

Sports and clubs - Munchberg is an average town in Germany, so the favorite sport is soccer. There are three big clubs: two for soccer, one for sports in general including gymnastics, handball, running and figure skating. In Munchberg, the residents also like to go swimming, bicycling, skiing or horseback riding. For golf, baseball, football and ice hockey, residents must go to one of the bigger cities nearby.

Volunteer activities, like being a firefighter or helping at the YMCA, are a big deal. A huge difference between Munchberg and Jefferson City is fundraising. There are fewer fundraisers in Munchberg, as most of the festivals are hosted by clubs or organizations to earn money for their activities or equipment.

Sightseeing and landmarks - A 76-foot tower located on a hill called "Rohrbuehl" (pipe hill) is one of the landmarks in Munchberg. It's a memorial for those who fell in the two World Wars.

You also can see some parts of the former city wall, which has existed since the beginning of the city's history. And a narrow path called "Kreuzberghohlweg" was an important part of the city during the 15th century (used as a road with cellars on the side for cool storage) and also during WWII (cellars used as air-raid shelters). A little creek with the name "Pulschnitz" flows through the pedestrian zone and makes downtown very attractive.

While the sister cities have similarities, they also have striking differences. Munchberg is smaller, both in population and geographically. The home sizes, likewise, are smaller; housing is inexpensive in Munchberg. No "bad" neighborhoods exist, and it's a tight-knit community.

Jefferson City, meanwhile, offers more in terms of activities, sports and culture, as well as fast food.

Both cities are scenic countrysides, with community-oriented residents who have a love for food and drink.