Kaifenheim is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Cochem-Zell district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Kaisersesch, whose seat is in the like-named town. Geography Kaifenheim lies in the Vordereifel (“Further Eifel”), more or less halfway between Mayen and Cochem in the northern part of the district. The Autobahn A 48 runs nearby, affording a quick link to Kaisersesch, Mayen and Koblenz. The municipality's population is 853. The countryside here is characterized by fields and meadows mostly used for agriculture. There are streams, both big and small, the biggest of which is the Elzbach. This is spanned near Kaifenheim by an Autobahn bridge that is more than 100 m high. History In 1005, Kaifenheim had its first documentary mention. The document reads: “1005 Aug 13 King Henry II donated to the Adalbert Foundation in Aachen, among other things, KIVENHEIM in the Gau of Meinvelt of the County of Bechelius.” More than three centuries later, in 1334, Kaifenheim became a parish seat. As can be seen in the first documentary mention, the village's name has not always had its current form. Over the centuries, history has recorded the following forms: CAUPONIACUM, Kievenheim (in the Middle Ages), Kavenheim, Kevenheim, Kewenheim, Keyfenheim, Keiffenheim. The last variant – with two Fs – is also a surname found in the Mayen area. A 1745 Visitation report from the Rural Chapter of Ochtendung, Archdeaconry of Carden, states: Keyfenheim, Item nullum cathedratium; 3 ½ schilling Koltsche secundum antigum registrum Item communitas in ultima sinode novem summeren avence, et campanator unum pullum et summerum avence et manipulum luminis, et inde habet expensas . Item casta una in Aclesia 3 hall. Item officium 1 1/1 hall, or “Keyfenheim, no cathedraticum, the municipality must give 9 Simmer of oats for the horses; 1 Simmer of oats, 1 chicken and one bundle of candles are to be given by the sexton; craftsmen pay 1½ Heller.” According to documents kept at the Archdeaconry, Kaifenheim received visitations in 1563, 1569, 1620, 1728, 1778 and 1832. On 26 October 1755, strong earthquakes were reported to have shaken the Eifel-Moselle region. There was heavy damage in some places: trees were uprooted and walls fell down. Further earthquakes were reported until 1759. In 1780, the rectory was built. About 1790, Kaifenheim was stricken with another disaster when the local livestock came down