Düngenheim 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 Location Düngenheim lies in the Eifel at the edge of the district of Cochem-Zell. The municipality stretches to a length of 1.4 km and is the biggest municipality in the Verbandsgemeinde of Kaisersesch. Climate Yearly precipitation in Düngenheim amounts to 729 mm, which falls into the middle third of the precipitation chart for all Germany. At 47% of the German Weather Service’s weather stations, lower figures are recorded. The driest month is September. The most rainfall comes in November. In that month, precipitation is 1.4 times what it is in September. Precipitation varies only minimally and is spread quite evenly throughout the year. At only 1% of the weather stations are lower seasonal swings are recorded. History In 1997, the village marked 900 years of existence with a great historical market in the village centre. The village’s whole history was edited together in the book “Von Dunechinga bis Düngenheim” – a reference to differing names that it has had through the ages – by the local author Stefan Gorges, whose father had begun this chronicle. Düngenheim was part of the Electorate of Trier and the local lordship was held by the Stuben Monastery. Beginning in 1794, Düngenheim lay under French rule. In 1815 it was assigned to the Kingdom of Prussia at the Congress of Vienna. Since 1946, it has been part of the then newly founded state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Long a part of Düngenheim’s everyday life was slate quarrying in various pits throughout the area. In the mid 20th century, the operations were shut down. Quite a few men still suffer today from the effects of the hard outdoor work. The quarries’ entrances were sealed up and now serve only as lodgings for bats. Nevertheless, the village’s slate quarrying history can still be seen by visitors in the great expanses of slate rubble. Politics Municipal council The 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 2004 municipal election had been conducted by majority vote. The municipal election held on 7 June 2009 yielded the following results: Mayor Düngenheim’s