Bethau

Infobox Ort in Deutschland
image_photo =
Wappen = kein
lat_deg = 51 |lat_min = 40
lon_deg = 13 |lon_min = 00
Lageplan =
Bundesland = Sachsen-Anhalt
Landkreis = Wittenberg
Verwaltungsgemeinschaft = Annaburg-Prettin
Höhe = 77
Fläche = 5.67
Einwohner = 182
Stand = 2006-12-31
PLZ = 06925
Vorwahl = 035386
Kfz = WB
Gemeindeschlüssel = 15 0 91 025
Adresse-Verband = Torgauer Straße 52
06925 Annaburg
Website = [http://www.verwaltungsgemeinschaft-annaburg-prettin.de/ www.vgm-annaburg-prettin.de]
Bürgermeister = Silke Noack

Bethau is a municipality in the Wittenberg district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It lies right on the boundary with Saxony about 35 km southeast of the district seat at Wittenberg and 12 km north of Torgau. Bethau is part of the administrative municipality ("Verwaltungsgemeinschaft") of Annaburg-Prettin.

Geography and transport

Bethau lies in the lowlands on the east bank of the Elbe west of the Annaburg Heath. This is, however, to a great extent a Bundeswehr troop drilling ground, and is therefore off limits. West of the municipality runs the Federal Highway ("Bundesstraße") B 182, and to the north is the B 187. In the south, the municipality borders on Saxony.

History

Bethau is believed to have been founded in 1159 by Flemish migrants. They were settled in the area by Wichmann von Seeburg, Archbishop of Magdeburg, and Albert the Bear.