Eckernförde

Infobox German Location
Art = Stadt
image_photo = Eckernförde Hafen Holzbrücke.jpg
Wappen = WappenEckernfoerde.pnglat_deg = 54 |lat_min = 28 |lat_sec = 27
lon_deg = 9 |lon_min = 50 |lon_sec = 16
Lageplan = Eckernfoerde in RD.pngBundesland = Schleswig-Holstein
Kreis = Rendsburg-Eckernförde
Höhe = 0 - 42
Fläche = 17.97
Einwohner = 23144
Stand = 2005-12-31
PLZ = 24340
PLZ-alt = 2330
Vorwahl = 04351
Kfz = RD
Gemeindeschlüssel = 01 0 58 043
Straße = Rathausmarkt 4 - 6
Website = [http://www.eckernfoerde.de/ www.eckernfoerde.de]
Bürgermeister = Jörg Sibbel

Eckernförde (Danish: "Egernførde", sometimes also "Egernfjord", Low German: "Eckernför", sometimes also Eckernföör) is a German city in Schleswig-Holstein, Kreis Rendsburg-Eckernförde at the Baltic Sea near Kiel. The population is about 23,000.

All 14 German submarines are stationed in Eckernförde.

Eckernförde is a popular tourist destination in Northern Germany.

Name

The name of Eckernförde is of mixed origin, but derived from the name of a Danish castle formerly located near the current town, which is also reflected in the name of the town district of "Borby." This fortification is listed in the 13th century Liber Census Daniæ as "Ykærnæburgh." [Politikens Nudansk Ordbog, 1994 edition, entry "Eckernförde"] In 1441, the town used an official seal listing its name as "Eherneborgh". [Poul Bredo Grandjean (1953), "Slesvigske Købstæders og Herreders Segl indtil 1660, J.H. Schultz Forlag, p. 13-14.] The first syllable corresponds to the modern Danish word "egern" meaning "squirrel" while "-förde" is Low German meaning "fjord." [Politikens Nudansk Ordbog, 1994 edition, entry "Eckernförde"] The "-förde" ending is documented in Latinized form on two official seals used by the town in the 1602 and 1624. [Poul Bredo Grandjean (1953), "Slesvigske Købstæders og Herreders Segl indtil 1660, J.H. Schultz Forlag, p. 13-14.] The entymology of the town's name is reflected in the presence of a squirrel in the town's coat of arms, a feature first documented by the 1441 seal.

History

* In 1197 Eckernförde was mentioned for the first time.
* Eckernförde was mentioned in the year 1302 for the first time free of doubts as a city, but in 1288 the inhabitants were already called "oppidani" (city citizen).
* During the First War of Schleswig two Danish ships, the Christian VIII and the frigate SMS Gefion tried to land in Eckernförde in April 1849. They were cannonaded from the shore. The Christian VIII exploded, while the SMS Gefion surrendered and was captured. Theodor Preusse, the commander in chief of the southern troops, died while rescuing Danish troops from the Christian VIII.
* The great storm tide on 13 November 1872 hit the Coast of the Baltic Sea from Denmark to Pomerania and flooded Eckernförde for days
* The Count Saint-Germain is supposed to be buried in Eckernförde near the St.-Nicolai-Church. His grave was destroyed by the great storm tide on 13 November 1872.
* In 1934 the seaside resort Borby was incorporated.

Sister cities

* Macclesfield, England, United Kingdom (since 1953)
* Hässleholm, Scania, Sweden (since 1958)
* Tanga, Tanzania (since 1963)
* Nakskov, Region Sjælland, Denmark (since 1969)
* Brzeg, Opole Voivodeship, Poland (since 1989)
* Bützow, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany (since 1990)

References

External links

* [http://www.eckernfoerde.de/ Official homepage of Eckernförde "(German)"]
* [http://www.ostseebad-eckernfoerde.de/ Official tourist information "(German)"]
* [http://www.eckernfoerder-zeitung.de/ Eckernförder Zeitung "(local newspaper, German)"]