Kyritz

Saint Mary’s church

Kyritz
Town hall
Kyritz
Location of the town of Kyritz within Ostprignitz-Ruppin district
Coordinates	52°57′0″N 12°24′0″E
Administration
Country	Germany
State	Brandenburg
District	Ostprignitz-Ruppin
Town subdivisions	Kyritz and 12 town districts
Mayor	Hans-Joachim Winter (CDU)
Basic statistics
Area	156.09 km2 (60.27 sq mi)
Elevation	42 m  (138 ft)
Population	9,537 (31 December 2010)
- Density	61 /km2 (158 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate	OPR
Postal code	16866
Area codes	03 39 71
Website	www.kyritz.de

Kyritz (German pronunciation: [ˈkyːʁɪts]) is a town in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated 28 km west of Neuruppin and 28 km southeast of Pritzwalk.

There are 9,900 inhabitants (2007).

Overview

The town is situated near the Kyritzer Seenkette, a chain of lakes. The town is nicknamed "Kyritz an der Knatter" (Kyritz at the Rattle). The noise of lots of water mills at a channel parallel to the river Jäglitz was the reason for this nickname. This channel is not existing anymore.

In the Kyritz-Ruppiner Heathland the "Bombodrom" is situated, which is a former military training area. The Bundeswehr wants to use this training area for low level flights and bomb dropping trainings.

The town includes the districts Berlitt, Bork, Drewen, Gantikow, Ganz, Holzhausen, Kötzlin, Lellichow, Mechow, Rehfeld and Teetz.

History

• In the year 946 Kyritz was first mentioned in writing.
• In the year 1237 Kyritz (originally Chorizi) received the Stendal town right. The town is situated in the area Prignitz, slavic pregynica (means "inaccessible woods").
• In the 14th century Kyritz became a member of the Hanse. At this time the parish church St. Marien and the city wall were built. The church and rests of the city wall are still existing today.
• In the year 1488 the first Kyritzer Beer named "Mord und Totschlag" (Murder and Manslaughter) was brewed. The Beer is still brewed in the village Dessow.
• In the year 1626 800 Kyritzer people died due to the pest.
• In the 17th and 18th century half-timbered houses were built which still dominate the town center.
• From 1806 to 1814 French occupation. In 1814 the "Peace oak" was planted which ist still on the market place in front of the town hall.

Photogallery

• Fountain
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  Marketplace

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  Memorial stone

External links

Media related to Kyritz at Wikimedia Commons