Neubrandenburg
Neubrandenburg | |
---|---|
Country | Germany |
State | Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |
District | Mecklenburgische Seenplatte |
Subdivisions | 10 Stadtteile |
Government | |
• Lord mayor | Paul Krüger (CDU) |
Area | |
• Total | 85.65 km2 (33.07 sq mi) |
Elevation | 20 m (70 ft) |
Population (2022-12-31)[1] | |
• Total | 63,989 |
• Density | 750/km2 (1,900/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
Postal codes | 17033, 17034, 17036, 17050[2] |
Dialling codes | 0395 |
Vehicle registration | NB |
Website | www.neubrandenburg.de |
Neubrandenburg (New Brandenburg, IPA: [nɔʏˈbʁandənbʊʁk]) is a city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, on the shore of a lake called Tollensesee (18 km²).
The city is famous for its rich medieval heritage of Brick Gothic. It is part of the European Route of Brick Gothic, a route which leads through seven countries along the Baltic Sea coast.
A former district-free town, it is the capital of the new district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte since the September 2011 district reforms. Neubrandenburg is one of the main urban centers of its federal state and an economical power node of northeastern Germany, featuring one of the highest national ranks in employment density and GDP per capita.[3]
The city got a nickname because of the four medieval city gates - "Stadt der Vier Tore" ("City of Four Gates"). Neubrandenburg was the location of both of the world record throws in Discus, by Jürgen Schult in 1986 and by Gabriele Reinsch in 1988.
History
The first settlers at the place were Premonstratensian monks in Broda Abbey, a monastery at the shore (about 1240). The foundation of the town of Neubrandenburg took place in 1248, when the Margrave of Brandenburg decided to build a town in the northern part of his fief. In 1292 the town and the surrounding area became part of Mecklenburg.
The town flourished as a trade center until the Thirty Years' War (1618–48), when this position was lost. During the dramatic advance of the Swedish army of Gustavus Adolphus into Germany, the town was garrisoned by Swedes, but it was retaken by Imperial-Catholic League forces in 1631. During this operation it was widely reported that the Catholic forces killed many of the Swedish and Scottish soldiers while they were surrendering. Later, according to the Scottish soldier of fortune Robert Munro, 18th Baron of Foulis, when the Swedes themselves adopted a "no prisoners" policy, they would cut short any pleas for mercy with the cry of "New Brandenburg!". The town, therefore, played an unconscious role in the escalation of brutality of one of history's most brutal wars.
During World War II, a large prisoner-of-war camp Stalag II-A was located close to the town. In 1945, few days before the end of World War II, 80% of the old town was burned down by the Red Army in a great fire. In that course, about 600 people committed suicide.[4] Since then, most buildings of historical relevance have been rebuilt.
Sights and monuments
See also: Media related to Cultural heritage monuments in Neubrandenburg at Wikimedia Commons
Neubrandenburg has preserved its medieval city wall in its entirety. The wall, 7 m high and with a perimeter of 2.3 km has four Brick Gothic town gates, dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries.
Of these, one of the most impressive is the Stargarder Tor (pictured), with its characteristic gable-like shape and the filigree tracery and rosettes on the outer defense side.
Another place of interest is the Brick Gothic Marienkirche (Konzertkirche) (Church of the Virgin Mary or St. Mary's Church), completed 1298. The church was nearly destroyed in 1945, but it has been restored since 1975 to house a concert hall (opened 2001).
The tallest highrise in the city is the 56m Haus der Kultur und Bildung (HKB, House of Culture & Education), opened in 1965. Its slender appearance has earned it the nickname Kulturfinger ("culture finger").
Other attractions include Neubrandenburg Regional Museum.
Education
- Hochschule Neubrandenburg (University of Applied Sciences)
Sister cities
- Collegno, Italy - since 1965
- Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany - since 1987
- Gladsaxe, Denmark - since 1990
- Koszalin (German Köslin), Poland - since 1974
- Nazareth, Israel - since 1998
- Nevers, France - since 1973
- Petrozavodsk, Russia - since 1983
- Villejuif, France - since 1966
- Yangzhou, China - since 1999[5]
References
- Chronicles
- Template:De icon Gottlob von Hacke: Geschichte der Vorderstadt Neubrandenburg. Vol. I: Vom Jahr 1248 bis 1711 (no further volume did appear). Neubrandenburg 1783 (online)
- Template:De icon Franz Boll: Chronik der Vorderstadt Neubrandenburg. Neubrandenburg 1875. (Reprinted several times)
- Template:De icon Wilhelm Ahlers: Historisch-topographische Skizzen aus der Vorzeit der Vorderstadt Neubrandenburg. Neubrandenburg 1876. (Reprinted several times)
- Template:De icon Karl Wendt: Geschichte der Vorderstadt Neubrandenburg in Einzeldarstellungen. Neubrandenburg 1922. (Reprinted in 1984)
- Notes
- ^ "Bevölkerungsstand der Kreise, Ämter und Gemeinden 2022" (XLS) (in German). Statistisches Amt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. 2023.
- ^ Agentur für Arbeit Neubrandenburg
- ^ Facts & numbers about Neubrandenburg (neubrandenburg.de)
- ^ Lakotta, Beate (2005-03-05). "Tief vergraben, nicht dran rühren" (in German). SPON. Retrieved 2010-08-16.
- ^ Partner cities at www.neubrandenburg.de