Osterode am Harz

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For the town in East Prussia formerly called Osterode, see Ostróda.

Osterode am Harz
Coat of arms of Osterode am Harz
Osterode am Harz is located in Germany
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Osterode am Harz
Coordinates 51°43′43″N 10°15′8″E / 51.72861°N 10.25222°E / 51.72861; 10.25222Coordinates: 51°43′43″N 10°15′8″E / 51.72861°N 10.25222°E / 51.72861; 10.25222
Administration
Country Germany
State Lower Saxony
District Osterode am Harz
Mayor Klaus Becker (Ind.)
Basic statistics
Area 102.46 km2 (39.56 sq mi)
Elevation 220 m  (722 ft)
Population 23,444 (31 December 2010)[1]
 - Density 229 /km2 (593 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate OHA
Postal code 37520
Area code 05522
Website www.osterode.de

Osterode am Harz often simply called Osterode, is a town in south-eastern Niedersachsen on the south-western edge of the Harz mountains. It is the seat of government of the district of Osterode. The town is twinned with Scarborough, in the United Kingdom. Osterode is located on the German Timber-Frame Road.

Altes Rathaus, side view
Kornmarkt (grain market)
St Aegidien church
St Jacobi church
castle ruins

Contents

[edit] Geography

Altes Rathaus (former city hall), front view

[edit] Water

The Söse river flows through the town from the Sösetalsperre reservoir lake about 5 km upstream. The dam was built in 1931 and has a capacity of 25.5 million m³. The Harzwasserwerke water company pipes drinking water as far away as Bremen.

[edit] Districts

The following districts (mainly surrounding villages) are part of the borough of Osterode am Harz, with populations in brackets:

  • Dorste (1,650)
  • Düna (140)
  • Förste (2,000)
  • Freiheit (2,100)
  • Kazenstein (1,200)
  • Lasfelde (1,300)
  • Lerbach (1,200)
  • Marke (150)
  • Nienstedt am Harz (440)
  • Osterode am Harz (11,500)
  • Petershütte (800)
  • Riefensbeek-Kamschlacken (350)
  • Schwiegershausen (1,800)
  • Ührde (100)

[edit] Political

[edit] Local council

The Gemeinderat or council of Osterode has 34 members:

and one Bürgermeister (mayor). (local election on 10 September 2006)

[edit] Mayor

Klaus Becker has been Bürgermeister (mayor) of Osterode since 1 June 2004 He has no party affiliation.

[edit] Twinned towns

  • France Armentières, France (one of the bridges over the Söse is called "Armentieres Bridge").
  • Poland Ostróda, Poland, formerly had the same name "Osterode" and formerly in the German territory of Ostpreußen (in the of the town is a stone with the inscription: "Noch 826 Kilometer bis Osterode/ Ostpreußen" – "826 km to Osterode, East Prussia")
  • England Scarborough, England

[edit] Culture and attractions

[edit] Museums

The Museum im Ritterhaus displays documents from Osterode's history from the Middle Ages to the recent past, as well as occasional temporary exhibitions.

[edit] Architecture

In the environs of Osterode there are several castle ruins, and Lichtenstein Castle between Dorste and Förste.

The town granary built between 1719 and 1722 is one of the most imposing buildings, built to supply the mining villages in the Upper Harz with grain. Today after a comprehensive renovation it has become the town hall.


[edit] Recreation

Osterode is the starting point of the 100 km long Harzer Hexenstieg, a hiking trail to Thale.

[edit] Transport

The B 243 federal route, built as a divided highway, is the main western link between the northern and southern Harz area. B 241 and B 498 link Solling to the eastern Harz.

Osterode lies on the Herzberg–Seesen railway, with services to Brunswick. In November 2004 the city gained two new stations at a cost of about 1 million Euro, replacing two previous halts and providing a more central access to public transport.[citation needed]

[edit] Educational institutions

  • Tilman-Riemenschneider-Gymnasium (high school), Osterode am Harz
  • Berufsbildende Schulen I des Landkreises Osterode am Harz
  • Berufsbildende Schulen II
  • Realschule Osterode
  • Hauptschule Neustädter Tor

[edit] Notable natives

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Bevölkerungsdichte der kreisfreien Städte und Landkreise - Stand 31.12.2010" (in German). Landesbetrieb für Statistik und Kommunikationstechnologie Niedersachsen. July 2011. http://www.lskn.niedersachsen.de/download/59963. 

[edit] External links


Towns and municipalities in Osterode (district)
Coat of arms
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