Werder, Brandenburg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Werder, Brandenburg
Coat of arms Location
Coat of arms of Werder, Brandenburg
Werder, Brandenburg (Germany)
Werder, Brandenburg
Administration
Country Flag of Germany Germany
State Brandenburg
District Potsdam-Mittelmark
Town subdivisions 8 Ortsteile
Mayor Werner Große (CDU)
Basic statistics
Area 115.99 km² (44.8 sq mi)
Elevation 31 m  (102 ft)
Population 23,015  (31/12/2006)
 - Density 198 /km² (514 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate PM
Postal code 14542
Area code 03327
Website www.werder-havel.de
Location of the town of Werder, Brandenburg within Potsdam-Mittelmark district
Map

Coordinates: 52°22′41″N 12°56′06″E / 52.37806, 12.935

Werder, also called Werder (Havel) or Werder upon Havel, is a city in Germany, located in the Potsdam-Mittelmark Kreis (district) of Brandenburg, one of Germany's sixteen Bundesländer (federal states), just west of the region's capital city of Potsdam.

Werder has a long and rich history and is a nationally recognized Erholungsort—a government designation given to regions of Germany that have been recognized and must be continuously recertified as having air and climate qualities which provide a healthful environment to visitors. Werder is also famous for hosting one of Germany’s three largest festivals', the blossoming season', held annually in May

Contents

[edit] Etymology

Werder’s eastern border fronts on the Havel river, a tributary of the Elbe, and Werder’s oldest quarter is located on an island in the river. For this reason, the city is also referred to as Havel. In fact, Werder means "water surrounded country."

[edit] History

Werder has several different specific mentions in the ancient historical records of Berlin, which lies just 35 km northeast of Werder. The city "Werdere" is mentioned in 1317, "Wehrder" in 1450 and in its present spelling in 1580. The coin-shaped island city on the Havel river is mentioned in 1317 as being accessible via a bridge and as having been sold to the monastery of Lehnin. On its southwest end have been found pieces of ancient broken glass, and on its south end are remains of what some believe to be an ancient Slavic castle wall.

During the Second World War and prior thereto an airfield existed in the north of the city which, together with an adjacent park, was used during the war as an airplane pilot training area. Werder was the base of Luftwaffe general Karl Koller during the Battle of Berlin. After the end of the war, Soviet troops were stationed in this area of the city. The last Russian troops departed in 1993, three years after the reunification of Germany.

Street in bloom on Werder's river island at the end of April, during the blossom festival
Street in bloom on Werder's river island at the end of April, during the blossom festival

[edit] Politics

Since 1990, Werder’s mayor has been Werner Große of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), who had previously functioned as the city’s deputy. The 29-seat town council (SVV), meets every two months, to represent the interests of the citizenry. The council is composed of 17 CDU members, 4 Social Democratic Party members, 3 Action Free Citizens members and various other unaffiliated city delegates.

There are a number of committees with appointed citizens delegates who consult with the town council. The central committee, which exists under chairmanship of the mayor, deals with finances in consultation with an auditing board of examiners. The committee for social policy, education, culture and sport, oversees area schools. There is also a special committee responsible for town development, construction and living conditions, which has significant influence over the city’s infrastructure.

The Holy Spirit Church and "Goat's windmill" on the shore of the Havel
The Holy Spirit Church and "Goat's windmill" on the shore of the Havel

[edit] Economics

Although at one time known for its wine production and fishing industry, both pursuits declined during the 18th century. From early times the monks of the Cistercian monastery of Lehnin cultivated fruit in the region and Werder is still today particularly well-known for this endeavor, which is also the foundation for its famous blossoming season festival. The predominant fruits grown in the area are cherries, apples, and strawberries but raspberries, gooseberries, currants, blackberries, apricots, peaches, pears, and plums are also cultivated. Vegetables are also grown, especially tomatoes, the bulk of which are cultivated in local greenhouses.

Location of the wineyard in the town
Location of the wineyard in the town

[edit] Winegrowery

The wine cultivation is the second-oldest trade of the city after the fishing. More than 700 years ago monks of the Cistercian Order brought the wine cultivation to Havel. The wine of the Brandenburg March (Mark Brandenburg) counted at the end of the 13-th century to the most important export articles to East Europe and Northern Europe. The Hohenzollern, they came from Franconia to Brandenburg, made the wine of the Brandenburg March able of court. Up to the death of the Great Elector the wine was drunk in his board. The first Wine Master Order of the Brandenburg March was already remitted 1598 by the Elector Johann Georg and at that time it was reported which would be surrounded Havel by vineyards like the Moselle. However, the wine cultivation in this area was not trouble-free. The winters were so hard every now and then on which many vines got frostbite. Thus happen in winter, 1739/40, after the frost stopped till June. In 1-st half of the 18-th century it was grown in Werder wine on a surface of more than 100 hectares. The vines at that time were Weißer Elbling, Weißer and Roter Schönedel and Rotfranke. Nevertheless, more and more red wine than white wine was grown. The Quail's mountain of Werder (Werderaner Wachtelberg) counts to the oldest wine-growing places beyond the island Werder. On the island wine at the Mill Mountain and at the God's Mountain was grown. The wine foliage was used earlier to the envelopment by fruit, especially from apricots and peaches. The fruits could be transported so carefully in the Obsttienen (small transport container made from wood). In 1887 it was still reported about 2 vineyards. The wine cultivation period ended provisionally with getting frostbite the last vines in winter, 1955/56 in Werder. Only in 1985 began the Cooperative Society Fruit Production of Werder on the Quail's Mountain with putting on a vineyard on a surface of 4.8 hectares. Today grow there on a surface of nearly 7 hectares approx. 30,000 vines. If Dornfelder, Regent, Saphira and Müller-Thurgau belong to it among other things. Within the scope of the Federal Garden Show (Bundesgartenschau) in Potsdam Wine Teaching Paths on the Quail's Mountain were put on. Today here grow 38 red and 40 white wine kinds. The vineyard Quail's Mountain of Werder lies geographically with Latitude of 52 degree and 22 minutes north far to the north of the usual wine-growing areas of Europe. In 1991 this vineyard was taken up as a Großlagenfreie Einzellage in the Weinanbaugebiet Saale-Unstrut (winegrowing area at the rivers Saale and Unstrut) and was recognised by the EU. It is with it the most northern registered position for quality-tested wine cultivation (QbA) in Europe and the World.

[edit] References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
v • d • e
Towns and municipalities in Potsdam-Mittelmark
Coat of Arms of Potsdam-Mittelmark district