Brandenburg an der Havel is a town in the state of Brandenburg, Germany. It is located on the banks of the Havel river. Population: 74,875 (December 31, 2004).

Although the town of Brandenburg is less known than the state of Brandenburg, the state was named after the town and not vice versa. Today it is a small town compared to nearby Berlin, but once it was the origin of the realms of Brandenburg and Prussia.

History

The castle of Brandenburg, which had been a fortress of the Slavic tribe Stodoranie caled Brenna, was conquered in 929 by King Henry the Fowler. The town remained German only until 983, when a Slavic rebellion was successful. In the next 170 years the area was ruled by Slavic princes of the Hevelles tribe. The last of them, Pribislav, died in 1150. Afterwards Albert I settled here and became the first margrave of Brandenburg. The town was restricted to the western bank of the Havel until 1196, when it was extended to the eastern side. The parts on either side of the river were regarded as two different towns (Old and New Brandenburg) for centuries.

In 1314 (resp. 1315) the two towns joined the Hanseatic League. In the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) the towns suffered plundering and destruction which led to a loss of power; Potsdam became the new capital, and the court left the town of Brandenburg. In 1715 the two halves of the town were merged to form a single town.

The concentration camp Brandenburg-Görden was located in Görden, a suburb of Brandenburg, during the years of Nazi Germany.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall the population declined from over 100,000 in 1989 down to roughly 75,000 in 2005 through emigration. The migration mainly affects the young people and thus the future of the city is uncertain.

Historical populations

Sights

The Dominsel (Cathedral Island) is the historic heart of the town. Here stands its oldest edifice: the Dom St Peter und Paul (Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul). Although construction began in the Romanesque style in 1165, it was completed as a Gothic cathedral during the 14th century. While the exterior is rather austere, the cathedral surprises the visitor with its sumptuous interior, especially the painted vault of the Bunte Kapelle (Coloured Chapel)

The Katharinenkirche (St. Catherine's church) built in 1401 in the Neustadt is an impressive example of northern German brick Gothic architecture. The Gotthardkirche (St. Gotthard's church) was built of the same material just a few years later.

Another interesting building is the Altstädtische Rathaus (Old Town Hall), a late Gothic brick building with stepped gables and an ornate portal. In front of it stands a 5.35m high statue of the knight Roland. Made in sandstone, the statue was erected in 1474 as the sign of the town's independence.

There is also a part of Brandenburg's medieval city wall, with four preserved watchtowers: the Steintorturm and the Mühlentorturm (in Neustadt), and the Rathenower Torturm and the Plauer Torturm (in Altstadt).

See also

• Albert I of Brandenburg
• Brandenburg
• Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

External links

• Municipal website
• Cathedral of Brandenburg
• City map
• Inner City Brandenburg guide
• Concentration camp Brandenburg-Görden

Towns in Brandenburg

Brandenburg | Brandenburg an der Havel | Brandenburg an der Havel | Brandenburg (linn) | Brandeburgo (ciudad) | Brandenburg an der Havel | Brandebourg-sur-la-Havel | Brandeburgo sull'Havel | ברנדנבורג על נהר האבל | ბრანდენბურგი | Brandenburg un der Havel | Brandenburgas (miestas) | Brandenburg an der Havel | Brannenborg an de Havel | Brandenburg | Brandenburg an der Havel | Brandenburg (oraş)