Kerpen (; Ripuarian: Kerpe) is the most populated town in the Rhein-Erft-Kreis (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany). It is located about 20 kilometres southwest from Cologne. As of 2025, Kerpen has a total population of 66,377.

Division of the town

The town of Kerpen was created in 1975, when the previously independent municipalities Balkhausen, Blatzheim, Brüggen, Buir, Horrem, Kerpen, Manheim, Mödrath, Sindorf and Türnich were merged.

Population

Monuments

• Burg Bergerhausen

• Burg Loersfeld

• Schloss Türnich

Notable people

• Adolph Kolping (1813–1865), Catholic priest and social reformer

• Wolfgang von Trips (1928–1961), Formula One motor racing driver

• Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928–2007), pioneer of electronic music composition

• Franz-Peter Hofmeister, Olympic medalist in the 4 × 400 m relay

• Michael Schumacher, 7-time Formula One world champion

• Ralf Schumacher, brother of Michael, both have emulated von Trips in achieving success in Formula One

• Patrice Bart-Williams is an acclaimed reggae artist

• Eko Fresh is an acclaimed hip hop artist

Education

In 2008, Gymnasium der Stadt Kerpen was considered the largest school in Germany.

Twin towns – sister cities

Kerpen is twinned with:

• St. Vith, Belgium (1975)

• Oświęcim, Poland (1997)

References

External links