Schleswig, Schleswig-Holstein

Schleswig
St. Peter's Cathedral
Schleswig
Location of the town of Schleswig within Schleswig-Flensburg district
Coordinates	54°31′5″N 9°34′13″E / 54.51806°N 9.57028°E / 54.51806; 9.57028Coordinates: 54°31′5″N 9°34′13″E / 54.51806°N 9.57028°E / 54.51806; 9.57028
Administration
Country	Germany
State	Schleswig-Holstein
District	Schleswig-Flensburg
Mayor	Thorsten Dahl
Basic statistics
Area	24.3 km2 (9.4 sq mi)
Elevation	1 m  (3 ft)
Population	24,058 (31 December 2010)[1]
- Density	990 /km2 (2,564 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate	SL
Postal code	24837
Area code	04621
Website	www.schleswig.de

Schleswig (Danish: Slesvig; South Jutlandic: Sljasvig, archaic English: Sleswick; Low German: Sleswig) is a town in the northeastern part of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the capital of the Kreis (district) Schleswig-Flensburg. It has a population of about 27,000, the main industries being leather and food processing. It takes its name from the Schlei, an inlet of the Baltic sea at the end of which it sits, and "vik" or "vig" which means bay in the old Viking language and modern Danish language. Schleswig or Slesvig therefore means bay of the Schlei. (There is also a suggestion that the state's namesake and the term Slesvig originated from a tribe of West Slavs who lived in "Slavsvick" between the 5th century and 10th century AD.)^{[citation needed]}

Geography

The city lies at the western end of the Schlei Förde, which separates the two peninsulas of Angeln and Schwansen and is on the western edge of the Schleswig-Holstein Uplands on the transition to the Geest country. The urban area ranges from 0 to 20 m above sea level. Brautsee (lake) is in the town.

The nearest major cities are Flensburg, Husum and Kiel. Autobahn 7 runs immediately west of the city. Highways 76 and 77 end in Schleswig and B 201 runs to the north of the town. Schleswig station is a stop for InterCity and Intercity-Express trains and is on the Hamburg–Neumünster–Flensburg and Husum–Kiel lines.

Climate

The climate is humid and maritime. The annual mean temperature is 8°C and rainfall averages 814 mm.

History

Schleswig in 1600

The Viking settlement of Hedeby, located south of the modern town, was first mentioned in 804. It was a powerful settlement in the Baltic region, dominating the area for more than 200 years. In 1050, following several destructions, the population was moved to the opposite shore of the Schlei, becoming the city of Schleswig. In 1066 Hedeby was finally destroyed, and Schleswig remained as a part of the Danish kingdom.^{[citation needed]}

In 1544 Gottorf Castle became the residence of the local rulers. The dukes of Gottorf were vassals of the Danish kings and ruled over much of present day Schleswig-Holstein. In 1721, when the Great Northern War ended, the dukes of Gottorf lost their power and their land became Danish crown land. After the Second Schleswig War (1864), Schleswig was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia.

Sights

Neuwerk garden with the Globushaus and Gottorf Castle in the background

• Schleswig Cathedral (1134), with the tomb of King Frederick I of Denmark
• Gottorf Castle (built 1161), former residence of the dukes, with the baroque Neuwerk garden, containing a replica of the Globe of Gottorf
• Holm: old fishing village at the Schlei shore
• Hedeby, Viking settlement

Notable residents

• Herman Wilhelm Bissen (1798–1868), sculptor
• Ulrich von Brockdorff-Rantzau (1869–1928), politician
• Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker (b. 1984), footballer
• Asmus Jakob Carstens (1754–1798), painter
• Jobst Hirscht (b. 1948), athlete
• Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke (1889–1968), General
• Ralf Rothmann (b. 1953), novelist
• Edward Selig Salomon (1836–1913), General in the American Civil War and Governor of Washington Territory (1870–1872)
• Hans von Seeckt (1866–1936), General

References

1. ^ "Statistikamt Nord: Bevölkerung in Schleswig-Holstein am 31. Dezember 2010 nach Kreisen, Ämtern, amtsfreien Gemeinden und Städten" (in German). Statistisches Amt für Hamburg und Schleswig-Holstein. 31 December 2010. http://www.statistik-nord.de/uploads/tx_standocuments/A_I_2_vj104_S.pdf. 

External links

• Municipal website (German) Media related to Schleswig at Wikimedia Commons
•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). "Schleswig". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 
•  "Schleswig". Encyclopedia Americana. 1920. 
•  "Schleswig (seaport)". Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.