Weißenfels

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The title of this article contains the character ß. Where it is unavailable or not desired, the name may be represented as Weissenfels.

Coordinates: 51°12′N 11°58′E

Weißenfels
Coat of arms of Weißenfels Location of Weißenfels in Germany

Country Germany
State Saxony-Anhalt
District Weißenfels
Population 30,046 (2005)
Area 24.74 km²
Population density 1,214 /km²
Elevation 100 m
Coordinates 51°12′ N 11°58′ E
Postal code 06667
Area code 03443
Licence plate code WSF
Mayor Manfred Rauner (CDU)
Website www.weissenfels.de

Weißenfels is a town, capital of the district of Weißenfels, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the river Saale, approx. 30 km south of Halle (Saale).

Contents

[edit] History

The city received municipal rights in 1185. It was a royal residence city from 1656 to 1746.

[edit] Persons

[edit] Economy

Shoe manufacture was its primary industry until 1991 when the factory shut down. The buildings were torn off partially or for rent.

The local dairy company is the Frischli.

Not far from Weißenfels is a spring water Leißlinger Mineralwasser and Saskia-Quelle.

[edit] Sports

Basketball and Unihockey are the two most popular sports in town. Mitteldeutscher Basketballclub (MBC) was playing in the German national basketball league in between 1999 and 2003. Unihockey Club Kreissparkasse Weißenfels won the German Unihockey championship in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The Unihockey European Cup, organized every year in order to establish the best team in Europe, was held in Weißenfels and neighbouring cities Hohenmölsen and Merseburg in January 2004.

[edit] Verwaltungsgemeinschaft Weißenfelser Land

Weißenfels is the seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft Weißenfelser Land, which consists of the following municipalities (population in 2005 between brackets):

  • Markwerben (704)
  • Weißenfels, Stadt * (30.046)