Meissen

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For porcelain originating in Meissen, see Meissen porcelain.
Meissen
Coat of arms Location
Coat of arms of Meissen
Meissen (Germany)
Meissen
Administration
Country Flag of Germany Germany
State Saxony
Admin. region Dresden
District Meißen
Town subdivisions 12 Stadtteile/Stadtbezirke
Mayor Olaf Raschke
Basic statistics
Area 30.90 km² (11.9 sq mi)
Elevation 106 m  (348 ft)
Population 28,544  (30/09/2005)
 - Density 924 /km² (2,393 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate MEI
Postal codes 01654–01662
Area code 03521
Website www.stadt-meissen.de

Coordinates: 51°9′49″N 13°28′39″E / 51.16361, 13.4775

Meissen (in German orthography: Meißen; Sorbian: Mišno; Latin: Misena, Misnia, Misnensium) is a town of approximately 30,000 near Dresden on both banks of the Elbe in the Free State of Saxony, in eastern Germany. Meissen is the home of Meissen porcelain, the Albrechtsburg castle, the Gothic Meissen Cathedral and the Meissen Frauenkirche.

Contents

[edit] History

The Cathedral and Castle in Meissen
The Cathedral and Castle in Meissen

Meissen is sometimes known as the "cradle of Saxony". The city grew out of the early Slavic settlement of Misni and was founded as a German town by King Henry the Fowler in 929. In 968, the Diocese of Meissen was founded, and Meissen became the episcopal see of a bishop. The Catholic bishopric was suppressed in 1581 after the diocese accepted the Protestant Reformation (1559), but re-created in 1921 with its seat first at Bautzen and now in Dresden.

The Margraviate of Meissen was founded in 968 as well, with the city as the capital of the Margraves of Meissen. A market town by 1000, Meissen passed to Poland in 1018 by Boleslaw I, to hands of Conrad II in 1032 and the House of Wettin in 1089. The city was at the forefront of the Ostsiedlung, or German colonization of the Slavic lands east of the Elbe, and its reception of city rights dates to 1332.

The construction of the Meissen Cathedral was started in 1260 on the same hill as the Albrechtsburg castle. The resulting lack of space led to the cathedral being one of the smallest cathedrals in Europe. The cathedral is also known as being one of the most pure examples of Gothic architecture.

During World War II, a subcamp of Flossenburg concentration camp was located in Meissen.[1] Along with porcelain, other ceramics are also manufactured, and wine is produced.

[edit] Porcelain

Porcelain bells in Meissen
Porcelain bells in Meissen

Meissen is famous for the manufacture of porcelain, based on extensive local deposits of china clay (kaolin) and potter's clay (potter's earth). Meissen porcelain was the first high quality porcelain to be produced outside of China.

The first European porcelain was manufactured in Meissen in 1710, when the Royal Porcelain Factory was opened in the Albrechtsburg. In 1861, it was moved to the Triebisch valley of Meissen, where the Meissen porcelain factory can still be found today.

[edit] Main sights

The Albrechtsburg, the former residence of the House of Wettin, is regarded as being the first castle to be used as a royal residence in the German-speaking world.[citation needed] Built between 1472 and 1525, it is a fine example of late Gothic style. It was redecorated in the 19th century with a range of murals depicting Saxon history. Today the castle is a museum which is just as popular with visitors as the cathedral, whose architecture is Gothic and whose chapel is one of the most famous burial places of the Wettin family. Near the castle is Meissen Cathedral (Meißner Dom), built in the 13th century in the Gothic style. The hill on which the castle and the cathedral are built offers a view over the roofs of the old town.

Meissen's historical district is located mostly around the market at the foot of the castle's hill. It contains many buildings of Renaissance architecture. Also imposing is the view from the 57 metre high tower of the Meissen Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), situated in the old market-place. Another popular tourist sight is the world-famous Meissen porcelain factory.

From spring to autumn, several festivals take place in Meissen, such as the pottery market or the Weinfest, which celebrates the wine harvest. Meissen wine is produced at the vineyards in the river valley around the town.

[edit] Notable residents

Meissen Cathedral
Meissen Cathedral

[edit] See also

[edit] Sources and external links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[edit] References

  1. ^ Christine O'Keefe.Concentration Camps.www.tartanplace.com/tartanhistory/concentrationcamps.html
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Towns and municipalities in Meißen (district)
Coat of arms