Markranstädt

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Markranstädt is a town in the Leipziger Land district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated 11 km southwest of Leipzig.

1 Geography and transport
2 Administrative structure
3 History
4 Cultural
5 Worth seeing
6 Sport

[edit] Geography and transport

Markranstädt can be found about 10 km (6 miles) south-west of Leipzig city centre, between the Saxony-Anhalt and the Leipzig housing estate Grünau, on the west bank of the Kulkwitzer See.

Through the proximity to the city Leipzig and to the Leipzig-Halle Airport (12 km), two connections to the Motorway A 9, two connections to the A 38 and the the Trainstation feeding in to the MDV Transport network of Middle Germany seems to give the town a very good transport infrastructure. The National Roads B 87 and B 186 also intersect in the area of the town.

[edit] Administrative structure

Markranstädt is an administrative area consisting of the town itself plus the districts Albersdorf, Altranstädt, Döhlen, Göhrenz, Großlehna, Kleinlehna, Meyen, Quesitz, Räpitz, Schkeitbar, Schkölen, Thronitz, Kulkwitz, Gärnitz, Seebenisch, Lindennaundorf, Frankenheim und Priesteblich.

[edit] History

The first documentary mention of Markranstädt was in 1285 as the seat of a court. Probably founded as a subsidiary settlement of the neighbouring monastic settlement Altranstädt, it was mentioned as a marketplace in 1287 and as a small town in 1354. The name is also derived from its foundation: it was founded as Ranstädt (ran = „Place on cleared land“ “erodetem Boden“) , while meanwhile Ranstädt became known as Altranstädt (Old Ranstadt). Ranstädt then obtained the right to hold markets, hence the current name „Markranstädt“. In the year 1633, during the Thirty Years War, the town was burned by the Holk'schen Reitern. The fire destroyed, amongst other buildings, the town hall and all its records. The plague epidemic of 1634 and the famine of 1639 led to a drastic population decline. In the year 1650 Markranstädt numbered fewer than 150 inhabitants. The next local catastrophe happened in 1671, as 31 houses were destroyed by a large fire. At the beginning of the 18th century the town began to recover again. Markranstädt had its brush with world history on the 23rd July 1807, as Napoléon Bonaparte, together with his entourage, stayed overnight in the guesthouse „Zum Rosenkranz“. In the course of the Battle of the Nations in 1813 the town was once again adversely affected. Markranstädt experienced an economic blooming toward the end of the 19th Century. Mainly the Kürschnergewerbe, but machine-building flourished also. A car factory came also, but above all the Markranstädter Brewery. The town was well renowned until the Second World War for her „Markranstädter Pilsener“.

Stadtkirche St. Laurentius, gebaut 1518–1525

[edit] Cultural

Markranstädt is also known locally as Lallendorf. This inspired the motto of the Markranstädter Carneval Club e.V. (“Lallendorf -oho-, Markranstädt -oho-, MCC -oho-“). Kultur anderer Art stellt der seit dem Jahr 2000 jährlich stattfindende Markranstädter Musiksommer in der Stadtkirche St. Laurentius dar, der sich inzwischen zu einer festen Größe in der Stadt Markranstädt aber auch darüberhinaus gemausert hat. Neben regionalen "Jungmusikern" traten auch international renommierte Künstler auf. Für Abwechslung im Programm sorgten neben weiteren bekannten Musikern auch die exzellenten Jazzer David Timm (Universitätsmusikdirektor, Leipzig) und Reiko Brockelt. Tradition sind jeweils das Eröffnungs- und Abschlusskonzert mit dem Orchester des Sinfonischen Musikvereins Leipzig e. V., welches neben Profimusikern auch aus Laien besteht.

[edit] Worth seeing

· Kulkwitzer Lake, with 160 hectares (400 acres) surface water and 200 hectares (500 acres) surrounding area, which are enjoyed especially by watersports enthusiasts, holidaymakers and walkers- · St. Laurentius Town Church · Altranstädter Castle

[edit] Sport

Markranstädt describes itself as a "Sportstown". The women’s handball team of SC Markranstad plays successfully in the 2nd division of the German League. The men of Markrandstadt Volleyball Club reached in 2006 the quarterfinal of the 1st division of the German League. In the same year, the club merged with VV Leipzig to become VC Leipzig. Markranstadt „Sportstown“ club offers a large number of sports. The largest section is football. The first team plays in the Saxonian State League. The Junior-A team also plays in the State League.