Solingen: Germany

Solingen: Germany
Solingen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the northern edge of the region called Bergisches Land, south of the Ruhr area. Population: 163,600 (2001).
Solingen is called the “town of blades�, since it is known for the manufacturing of knives and scissors. In medieval times the swordsmiths of Solingen coined the town’s image, which is preserved to date. 90% of German knives are produced in Solingen.
“Müngstener Brücke�, a railroad bridge between Solingen and Remscheid
Solingen was first mentioned in 965. It was a tiny village for centuries, but became a fortified town in the 15th century. In World War II the Old Town was completely destroyed, so there are few sights. Those remaining include:
Castle of the counts of Berg, 12th century
Klosterkirche, church (1690).
German Blade Museum, presenting swords and cutting tools of all epochs
Müngstener Brücke, a railroad bridge connecting Solingen with the neighbour town of Remscheid; 107 m above the ground, hence the highest railroad bridge of Germany.
Solingen was the birthplace of Adolf Eichmann. More recently, the city has been well known because of a May 29, 1993 fire in which two women and three girls died in an arson attack on the house of a Turkish family in Solingen. Seven more people were severely injured. Followers of Neo-Nazism were believed to have set the fire. The incident ignited further controversy when the German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, refused to attend the funeral for the Solingen victims