Kiedrich is first mentioned in a document of the Archbishopric of Mainz. Although the document is not dated, it is known to have originated during the time of Archbishop Frederick. About 1160 building work began on Scharfenstein Castle. Winegrowing in Kiedrich was first mentioned as early as 1131. Kiedrich belonged to Electoral Mainz, and passed, in 1806, to the Duchy of Nassau. In 1866 it was absorbed by Prussia. The community avoided amalgamation with other municipalities during Hesse's municipal restructuring.
Government
Through political activities in the three Kiedrich active parties, Kiedrichers have been involved with the framework of the localAgenda 21. The office of mayor in Kiedrich is currently held by Winfried Steinmacher, who was directly elected through the first vote system in November 2005, with 77.7% of the vote.
Election results
Results of the municipal election held on 26 March 2006:
Culture
Music
The organ in the parish church, with approximately 950 pipes, dates from the Late Gothic period, and is one of Germany’s oldest playable organs. The choir of boys and men, the Kiedricher Chorbuben, has, according to documents, been practicing a special Mainz choral dialect of liturgical Latin plainsong at services since 1333 dialect - the dialect is only preserved here. The choir performs a Latin mass most Sundays except during school vacations. Countertenor Andreas Scholl was a member of the choir, his sister Elisabeth Scholl was the first girl to be accepted. The oldest bell dates from 1389. The Gothic architecture of the building is accompanied by the sound of that period in music and bells.
Owing to its Gothic churches, Kiedrich is also called Schatzkästlein der Gotik. Landmarks are:
The Catholic pilgrimage church consecrated to Saint Valentine – completed in 1493 – and the neighbouring Saint Michael's Chapel from 1444 with its ossuary and large two-sided candlestick Madonna
at the churchyard wall is the oldest market well in the Rheingau, from 1541, with the coats of arms of Kiedrich and the old Mainz overlord, Elector and Cardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg.
Burg Scharfenstein was part of Archiepiscopal Mainz's border fortifications. The tower, which is still standing, with the Wheels of Mainz, has been borne as an emblem in the community seal from the time of the oldest known court seal of about 1420.
The house of benefactor and patron Sir John Sutton's, which today is the Weil wine estate.
Virchow-Quelle, a 24° lithium-laden beneficial salt spring.
High-grade wines are grown in Kiedrich. The vineyards Gräfenberg, Wasseros, Klosterberg, Sandgrub and Turmberg, and the larger winegrowing area Heiligenstock are said to be the Rheingau's top wines. The Kiedrich winemakers’ winegrowing tradition originates in the year 1480, when wine was already being grown by the winemaker's house that is still exists today, under the name 'Adelsgut Langenhof'. The local winemakers’ cooperative has existed since 1893, making it the oldest in the Rheingau.
Public institutions
St Valentinushaus, psychiatric hospital founded in 1884, today also a nursing home.
Education
Chorschule neben der Kirche, school endowed by Sir John Sutton in 1865 for vocal training and promotion of plainsong
John-Sutton-Schule, primary school of the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis: Jena plan school
Integrative Kindertagesstätten "Hickelhäusje" und "St. Valentin": "wood" group
