Steinhöfel

Steinhöfel
Steinhöfel

Coordinates: 52°23′59″N 14°10′00″E / 52.39972°N 14.16667°ECoordinates: 52°23′59″N 14°10′00″E / 52.39972°N 14.16667°E
Country Germany
State Brandenburg
District Oder-Spree
Government
  Mayor Wolfgang Funke (CDU)
Area
  Total 159.84 km2 (61.71 sq mi)
Population (2012-12-31)[1]
  Total 4,322
  Density 27/km2 (70/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 15518
Dialling codes 033636
Vehicle registration LOS
Website www.gemeinde-steinhoefel.de

Steinhöfel is a municipality in the Oder-Spree district, in Brandenburg, Germany.

In 1774, the Prussian Minister of War and Treasury[2] Joachim von Blumenthal purchased the estate of Steinhöfel, including a manor that was later expanded into a castle. When von Blumenthal died, the estate was inherited by his daughter Charlotte von Massow, whose husband the Court Marshal Valentin von Massow commissioned a rebuilding of the manor by the architect David Gilly. The property was inherited in turn by the couple's son Valentin von Massow who had served with Wellington in Spain and as one of his adjutants at Waterloo.

During the Seven Years' War, the castle's surroundings saw a brief visit by Frederick the Great resting his troops prior to the Battle of Kunersdorf. Later recreational visitors included Frederick William III of Prussia and Theodor Fontane who expressed considerable enthusiasm about the place.

The castle (de:Schloß Steinhöfel) today hosts a hotel and commercial venue under Cultural heritage regulations.

The contemporary municipality of Steinhöfel comprises a total of twelve physical villages including Steinhöfel, Demnitz and Neuendorf im Sande.[3]

Demography

References

  1. "Bevölkerung im Land Brandenburg nach amtsfreien Gemeinden, Ämtern und Gemeinden 31. Dezember 2012 (XLS-Datei; 83 KB) (Einwohnerzahlen auf Grundlage des Zensus 2011)". Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg (in German). 31 December 2012.
  2. more precisely, President of the General War and Finance Directory of Prussia - hence effectively Minister of War and Finance
  3. municipal information on parts of Steinhöfel on the Web, 02 Aug 2013