Sankt Aldegund

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Sankt Aldegund is a small wine village in western Germany, in Rhineland-Palatinate. It is part of the Cochem-Zell district and belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde Zell (Mosel). The Moselle river runs nearby, roughly halfway between Trier and Koblenz. About 535 people live there, and the village covers about 6 square kilometers at an elevation of around 100 meters.

History and people:
The village was first mentioned in 1097 as Sanctam Aldegundam. Roman-era finds show there were settlements nearby, including a villa rustica and a woman's grave from Emperor Constantine the Great's time. The namesake is Saint Aldegonde (Aldegundis), a Merovingian princess and abbess of the 7th century. An old village school is noted from 1523. The area was ruled by France starting in 1794, then became part of Prussia in 1815. Since 1946 it has been in Rhineland-Palatinate. In 1970 it joined the Verbandsgemeinde Zell.

Government:
The council has 12 members, plus the honorary mayor who acts as chair. The mayor for 2019–2024 is Günter Treis.

Cultural monuments:
The Old Church is a Romanesque building perched on a hill above the village. It was a long-standing pilgrimage site to Saint Bartholomew the Apostle. Inside are a Renaissance altar, a 16th‑century painting called Christ at Rest, a wrought-iron pulpit from around 1650, and a Late Gothic Madonna. The nearby New Parish Church, in Gothic Revival style, was completed in 1872 and features paintings from 1912. The churchyard is the resting place of art collector Peter Ludwig (died 1996). Nearby stands a Bundeswehr earth-science information facility.

Economy and character:
Sankt Aldegund is a winegrowing center and a popular place for holidays, offering picturesque Moselle views and historical sites.