Nysted

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Nysted is a municipality (Danish, kommune) in Storstrøm County on the southeastern coast of the island of Lolland in south Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 142 km², and has a total population of 5,417 (2005). Its mayor is Lennart Andersen, a member of the Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterne) political party.

The main town and the site of its municipal council is the town of Nysted.

Neighboring municipalities with land connection are Nykøbing Falster and Sakskøbing to the north, and Holeby to the west. Neighboring municipality Sydfalster to the east is separated from the municipality by the waters of Guldborg Strait (Guldbordsund), the strait that separates the islands of Lolland and Falster. The waters of Guldborg Strait also help to define the municipality's eastern border. To the south is the Baltic Sea.

By January 1, 2007 Nysted municipality will cease to exist as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007). It will be merged with existing Nykøbing Falster, Nørre Alslev, Sakskøbing, Stubbekøbing, and Sydfalster municipalities to form the new Guldborgsund municipality. This will create a municipality with an area of 907 km² and a total population of 63,533 (2005). The new municipality will belong to the new Region Sjælland ("Zealand Region").

1 The town of Nysted
- 1.1 History
- 1.2 Attractions
2 External links
3 References

[edit] The town of Nysted

The town of Nysted is located on the southern coast of Lolland, and has a population of 1,381 (2004).

[edit] History

The town and harbour originated during the Middle Ages near Aalholm Castle and a Franciscan cloister. The town was a natural crossroads for commerce and traffic on account of its having the only natural harbour on the south coast of Lolland.

During this time Lolland, and especially its southern coast, was vulnerable to attack by Wends, its neighbors on the opposite side of the Baltic Sea. Proximity to the castle was a great advantage to the people who lived there, but protection also meant that they belonged to the castle. In 1409 they were liberated when Eric of Pomerania gave Nysted merchant town status. This was re-established by King Christian II in 1513.

Like other merchant towns the citizens of Nysted joined in on Christian II's side in the Count's Feud, which resulted in the capture of Aalholm Castle in 1534 when Jørgen von der Wisch was absent. The castle then was overtaken by Count Christoffer, who held it for two years.

The town's coastal advantage as a natural harbour disappeared with the advent of the railroad.

[edit] Attractions

The massive Aalholm Castle (Aalholm Slot ), built ca. 1200, dominates the view from the harbour at Nysted. For over 1,000 years this stronghold has tried to protected the town's citizens. It is one of the oldest, preserved Middle Ages fortresses in Denmark.

The castle has been enlarged several times, most recently in 1989. The castle was sold to the Raben-Levetzau family in 1725, who owned the property until 1995 when it was sold privately. It is owned today by Stig Husted Andersen. There is no entrance to the castle itself, but access is available to the park and forest via a path from the town or the nearby Automobile Museum (Automobilmuseet).

[edit] External links

[edit] References

Municipal statistics: NetBorger Kommunefakta, delivered from KMD aka Kommunedata (Municipal Data)
Municipal mergers and neighbors: Eniro new municipalities map