Gittelde

Gittelde
Ortsteil of Bad Grund

Coat of arms
Gittelde
Coordinates: 51°48′01″N 10°11′15″E / 51.80028°N 10.18750°ECoordinates: 51°48′01″N 10°11′15″E / 51.80028°N 10.18750°E
Country Germany
State Lower Saxony
District Osterode am Harz
Municipality Bad Grund
Area
  Total 12.55 km2 (4.85 sq mi)
Population (2011-12-31)
  Total 1,926
  Density 150/km2 (400/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 37534
Dialling codes 05327
Vehicle registration OHA
Website www.gittelde.de

Gittelde is a village and a former municipality in the district of Osterode, in Lower Saxony, Germany. Since 1 March 2013, it is part of the municipality Bad Grund.

History

Gittelde was founded in the 10th century. In a document dating from 953 the place was mentioned for the first time, and a few years later market and mint rights were awarded in 965.[1]

Sights

There are many well-preserved half-timbered houses in the center of the town, e.g. in Breite Strasse street, a comparatively broad street which might have been an oblong market as the town has never had a rectangular market place like other market towns. Lange Straße is another historic street with traditional half-timbered houses. Some houses have doors with colourful wood carvings.

St. Mauritius Church, which was founded in the Middle Ages, has a neoromanic nave dating from the 19th century. Its spire was built in a baroque style around 1700. Inside the church a gothic altar with wood carvings can be seen.[2] St. Johannes Church which was possibly founded in the 10th century has a spire dating from 1660.[3]

The railway station of Gittelde on the Herzberg–Seesen railway line is a historic wooden building in the southeast of the town.

The ruins of Stauffenburg Castle are worth a visit as well. The castle was founded shortly after 1050. It was used as a prison until 1778 and as a quarry afterwards.[4]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gittelde.

References

  1. Josef Walz: Der Harz, p. 304. Köln 1995
  2. G. Ulrich Großmann: Hannover und Südniedersachsen, p. 189. Köln 1999
  3. Josef Walz: Der Harz, p. 305. Köln 1995
  4. G. Ulrich Großmann: Hannover und Südniedersachsen, p. 190. Köln 1999