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Helmstedt (district)
Encyclopedia
Helmstedt is a district in Lower Saxony
, Germany
. It is bounded by (from the west and clockwise) the district of Wolfenbüttel
, the City of Braunschweig, the District of Gifhorn
, the City of Wolfsburg
and the State of Saxony-Anhalt
(districts of Börde
and Harz
).
(a riparian forest) in the east. Large parts of the district are part of the Elm-Lappwald Nature Park.
was mined in medieval times; limestone from the region was used for the tomb of Henry the Lion
as well as for the imperial cathedral of Königslutter
. In the Middle Ages Königslutter was among the most wealthy cities of the Holy Roman Empire
. In 1576 the University of Helmstedt
was founded, which was the largest university of protestant
Germany.
The Duchy of Brunswick (deriving from Brunswick-Lüneburg) created administrative districts (Kreise) in 1833; the District of Helmstedt was one of those districts. It was subdivided into the Ämter of Calvörde
, Königslutter, Helmstedt, Schöningen, and Vorsfelde.
In 1944, the Amt of Calvörde, which formed an exclave, was moved to the District of Haldensleben, Province of Saxony
. During the administrative reforms of the 1970s, northern areas of the district were moved to the District of Gifhorn
and to the City of Wolfsburg
; the district gained areas in the west from the District of Gifhorn and the District of Brunswick (see List of territorial changes to the District of Helmstedt).
During the 20th century, the area between Helmstedt and Schöningen
was used for lignite
mining by the Braunschweigische Kohlenbergwerke AG. Several villages (Alversdorf, Büddenstedt
and Runstedt) were destroyed by surface mining
; their inhabitants moved to Helmstedt, Schöningen and to the newly built village of Neu Büddenstedt, later on renamed Büddenstedt
.
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is bounded by (from the west and clockwise) the district of Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel (district)
Wolfenbüttel is a district in southeastern Lower Saxony, Germany. Neighboring districts are the district-free City of Braunschweig, the district of Helmstedt, the district of Harz in Saxony-Anhalt, and the districts of Goslar, Hildesheim and Peine...
, the City of Braunschweig, the District of Gifhorn
Gifhorn (district)
-Geography:The district is located at the border of Saxony-Anhalt and extends from the southern edge of the Lüneburg Heath in the north to the suburbs of Braunschweig and Wolfsburg in the south. The Aller River enters the district in the southeast, runs through the town of Gifhorn, is joined by...
, the City of Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located on the River Aller northeast of Braunschweig , and is mainly notable as the headquarters of Volkswagen AG...
and the State of Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
(districts of Börde
Börde
Börde, a district in Saxony-Anhalt in Germany, is arguably best known as the area of the former repository for radioactive waste Morsleben. The disposal of waste into the facility ended in 1998.- History :...
and Harz
Harz (district)
- History :The district was established by merging the former districts of Halberstadt, Wernigerode and Quedlinburg as well as the city of Falkenstein as part of the reform of 2007.-Towns and municipalities:...
).
Geography
The district is bounded by the Elm (a hill chain) in the west and the LappwaldLappwald
The Lappwald is a heavily wooded range of hills, 20 km long and up to 5 km wide, in central Germany. It stretches northwards from the town of Helmstedt. The border between Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt runs through the woods, of which about three quarters is on Lower Saxon terrain...
(a riparian forest) in the east. Large parts of the district are part of the Elm-Lappwald Nature Park.
History
In the Elm limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
was mined in medieval times; limestone from the region was used for the tomb of Henry the Lion
Henry the Lion
Henry the Lion was a member of the Welf dynasty and Duke of Saxony, as Henry III, from 1142, and Duke of Bavaria, as Henry XII, from 1156, which duchies he held until 1180....
as well as for the imperial cathedral of Königslutter
Königslutter
-External links:*...
. In the Middle Ages Königslutter was among the most wealthy cities of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. In 1576 the University of Helmstedt
University of Helmstedt
The University of Helmstedt, official Latin name: Academia Julia , was a university in Helmstedt in the Duchy of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel that existed from 1576 until 1810....
was founded, which was the largest university of protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
Germany.
The Duchy of Brunswick (deriving from Brunswick-Lüneburg) created administrative districts (Kreise) in 1833; the District of Helmstedt was one of those districts. It was subdivided into the Ämter of Calvörde
Calvörde (Amt)
The Amt of Calvörde is a historical Amt in the District of Helmstedt, Brunswick, in today's Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It formed an exclave that was surrounded by the Province of Saxony, Prussia, and in 1944 it was moved to the District of Haldensleben, Province of Saxony...
, Königslutter, Helmstedt, Schöningen, and Vorsfelde.
In 1944, the Amt of Calvörde, which formed an exclave, was moved to the District of Haldensleben, Province of Saxony
Province of Saxony
The Province of Saxony was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia and later the Free State of Prussia from 1816 until 1945. Its capital was Magdeburg.-History:The province was created in 1816 out of the following territories:...
. During the administrative reforms of the 1970s, northern areas of the district were moved to the District of Gifhorn
Gifhorn (district)
-Geography:The district is located at the border of Saxony-Anhalt and extends from the southern edge of the Lüneburg Heath in the north to the suburbs of Braunschweig and Wolfsburg in the south. The Aller River enters the district in the southeast, runs through the town of Gifhorn, is joined by...
and to the City of Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located on the River Aller northeast of Braunschweig , and is mainly notable as the headquarters of Volkswagen AG...
; the district gained areas in the west from the District of Gifhorn and the District of Brunswick (see List of territorial changes to the District of Helmstedt).
During the 20th century, the area between Helmstedt and Schöningen
Schöningen
Schöningen is a town of about 13,000 inhabitants in the district of Helmstedt, Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located near the border with Saxony-Anhalt, on the southeastern rim of the Elm hill range...
was used for lignite
Lignite
Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, or Rosebud coal by Northern Pacific Railroad,is a soft brown fuel with characteristics that put it somewhere between coal and peat...
mining by the Braunschweigische Kohlenbergwerke AG. Several villages (Alversdorf, Büddenstedt
Büddenstedt
Büddenstedt is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 6 km south of Helmstedt....
and Runstedt) were destroyed by surface mining
Surface mining
Surface mining , is a type of mining in which soil and rock overlying the mineral deposit are removed...
; their inhabitants moved to Helmstedt, Schöningen and to the newly built village of Neu Büddenstedt, later on renamed Büddenstedt
Büddenstedt
Büddenstedt is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 6 km south of Helmstedt....
.
Coat of arms
 |
In the upper part the heraldical horse of Lower Saxony is displayed. In the bottom there are symbols for mining Mining Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock... and agriculture Agriculture Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the... . |
Towns and municipalities
| Towns | Samtgemeinden | |
|---|---|---|
Free municipalities
|
Grasleben Grasleben is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 10 km north of Helmstedt, and 20 km southeast of Wolfsburg.Grasleben is also the seat of the Samtgemeinde Grasleben.... 1 Mariental, Germany Mariental is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Querenhorst Querenhorst is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Rennau Rennau is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
Beierstedt Beierstedt is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Gevensleben Gevensleben is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Ingeleben Ingeleben is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Jerxheim Jerxheim is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... 1 Söllingen Söllingen is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Twieflingen Twieflingen is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... |
Frellstedt Frellstedt is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Räbke Räbke is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is part of the collective municipality of Nord-Elm. The village is situated north of the wooded Elm hill range at the Schunter river.... Süpplingen Süpplingen is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... 1 Süpplingenburg Süpplingenburg is a municipality of 700 inhabitants in the district of Helmstedt, Lower Saxony, Germany. It is part of the collective municipality of Nord-Elm.... Warberg Warberg is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Wolsdorf Wolsdorf is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
Bahrdorf Bahrdorf is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.The municipality consists of four villages:* Bahrdorf * Mackendorf* Rickensdorf* Saalsdorf-Famous citizens:... Danndorf Danndorf is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Grafhorst, Germany Grafhorst is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Groß Twülpstedt Groß Twülpstedt is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany.... Velpke Velpke is a municipality in the district of Helmstedt, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 20 km north of Helmstedt, and 10 km east of Wolfsburg.Velpke is also the seat of the Samtgemeinde Velpke.... 1 |
| |colspan=2 align=center|1seat of the Samtgemeinde |
External links
- Official website (German)