Neubrandenburg

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Neubrandenburg
Neubrandenburg skyline with Tollensesee
Neubrandenburg skyline with Tollensesee
Coat of arms of Neubrandenburg
Coat of arms
Neubrandenburg is located in Germany
Neubrandenburg
Neubrandenburg
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Location of Neubrandenburg within Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district
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Country Germany
State Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
District Mecklenburgische Seenplatte
Government
 • Lord Mayor Silvio Witt
Area
 • Total 85.65 km2 (33.07 sq mi)
Population (2013-12-31)[1]
 • Total 63,437
 • Density 740/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 17033, 17034, 17036, 17050[2]
Dialling codes 0395
Vehicle registration NB
Website www.neubrandenburg.de

Neubrandenburg ("New Brandenburg", IPA: [nɔʏˈbʁandənbʊʁk]) is a town in the southeast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is located on the shore of a lake called Tollensesee and forms the urban centre of the Mecklenburg Lakeland.

The town 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. The city got a nickname because of its four medieval city gates - "Stadt der Vier Tore" ("City of Four Gates").

Since 2011, it is the capital of the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district. Neubrandenburg is one of the main urban centres of Mecklenburg and an economical power node of northeastern Germany, featuring one of the highest national ranks in employment density and GDP per capita.[3] The closest greater urban areas are Rostock, Stettin, Berlin and Hamburg.

History

File:NB-Stadtmauer-und-Wiekhaus-02-06-2008-041.JPG
2 of the 56 typical timbered Wiek houses along the city wall

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 centre 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 the Second World War, a large prisoner-of-war camp Stalag II-A was located close to the town. In 1945, few days before the end of the Second World War, 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. Neubrandenburg was a bezirk centre between 1952 and 1990.

Sights and monuments

See also: Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. 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 defence 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.

  • NB-St-Marien-Kirche-26-VIII-2007-57.jpg

    St. Mary's Church (used for concerts)

  • NB-Treptower-Tor-11-IV-2007-060.jpg

    Treptower gate with Neubrandenburg Regional Museum

  • NB-Stargarder-Tor-11-IV-2007-109.jpg

    Stargarder gate

  • NB-Neues-Tor-26-VIII-2007-46.jpg

    New gate

  • Friedländer Tor Neubrandenburg Haupttor Stadtseite-Carschten.jpg

    Friedland gate

  • Tollensesee-02-06-2008-202.jpg

    Tollensesee

  • Broda's Belvedere.jpg

    Belvedere

Education

Sports

Neubrandenburg is known as city of sports (Sportstadt). The city is famous for being home to various Olympic medal winners and talents in sports, especially in canoeing (Andreas Dittmer, Martin Hollstein), discus throwing and shotputting (Astrid Kumbernuss, Ralf Bartels, Franka Dietzsch) and running (Katrin Krabbe). Neubrandenburg was the location of both of the world record throws in Discus, by Jürgen Schult in 1986 and by Gabriele Reinsch in 1988. The Jahnstadion, the Jahnsportforum stadium, the Stadthalle and adjacent sport parks offer vast options for large sport and culture events. The city is also home to a dedicated sports elite school, the Sportgymnasium Neubrandenburg.

Sister cities

References

Chronicles
  • (German) Gottlob von Hacke: Geschichte der Vorderstadt Neubrandenburg. Vol. I: Vom Jahr 1248 bis 1711 (no further volume did appear). Neubrandenburg 1783 (online)
  • (German) Franz Boll: Chronik der Vorderstadt Neubrandenburg. Neubrandenburg 1875. (Reprinted several times)
  • (German) Wilhelm Ahlers: Historisch-topographische Skizzen aus der Vorzeit der Vorderstadt Neubrandenburg. Neubrandenburg 1876. (Reprinted several times)
  • (German) Karl Wendt: Geschichte der Vorderstadt Neubrandenburg in Einzeldarstellungen. Neubrandenburg 1922. (Reprinted in 1984)
Notes
  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Agentur für Arbeit Neubrandenburg
  3. ↑ Facts & numbers about Neubrandenburg (neubrandenburg.de)
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Partner cities at www.neubrandenburg.de

External links

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