Perleberg
Encyclopedia
Perleberg is the capital of the district of Prignitz
, located in the northwest of the German
state of Brandenburg
. The town received city rights
in 1239 and today has about 12,400 inhabitants. Located in a mostly agricultural area, the town has a long history of troops being stationed here (most notably Prussia
n) and as an administrational center for local government.
The Stepenitz
flows from northeast to southwest through Perleberg. The town's historic center is build on an island between two arms of the river.
, it is called the Jakobikirche, and therefore sometimes mistakenly called St Jacob's in English.
In the 14th century the town was on its height as part of the Hanseatic League
. In 1523 it was the muster-point for an army assembled by Elector Joachim I in support of his brother-in-law Christian II of Denmark
's attempt to recover his throne. The Thirty Years' War
caused serious damage to the town: of 3,500 inhabitants, only 300 survived. The mayor responsible for rebuilding the city after this period was Georg Krusemarck.
On November 25, 1809, Lord Benjamin Bathurst disappeared in Perleberg. Later accounts of the incident exaggerated the circumstances to such an extent that the disappearance is sometimes claimed to have been caused by paranormal phenomena.
Prignitz
Prignitz is a Kreis in the northwestern part of Brandenburg, Germany. Neighboring are the district Ludwigslust-Parchim in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the district Ostprignitz-Ruppin in Brandenburg, the district Stendal in Saxony-Anhalt and the district Lüchow-Dannenberg in Lower...
, located in the northwest of the German
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...
state of Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
. The town received city rights
German town law
German town law or German municipal concerns concerns town privileges used by many cities, towns, and villages throughout Central and Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages.- Town law in Germany :...
in 1239 and today has about 12,400 inhabitants. Located in a mostly agricultural area, the town has a long history of troops being stationed here (most notably Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n) and as an administrational center for local government.
Geography
Perleberg is located in the heart of the district of Prignitz, about halfway between the two largest German cities Berlin and Hamburg.The Stepenitz
Stepenitz (Brandenburg)
The Stepenitz is a river in Brandenburg, Germany. It is a right tributary of the Elbe and runs for approximately 84 kilometers. The Dömnitz is a left tributary of the Stepenitz....
flows from northeast to southwest through Perleberg. The town's historic center is build on an island between two arms of the river.
History
One of the city's oldest buildings is St James's church. First mentioned in 1294, it was frequently altered and extensively remodelled in the 1850s. In GermanGerman language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, it is called the Jakobikirche, and therefore sometimes mistakenly called St Jacob's in English.
In the 14th century the town was on its height as part of the Hanseatic League
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
. In 1523 it was the muster-point for an army assembled by Elector Joachim I in support of his brother-in-law Christian II of Denmark
Christian II of Denmark
Christian II was King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden , during the Kalmar Union.-Background:...
's attempt to recover his throne. The Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
caused serious damage to the town: of 3,500 inhabitants, only 300 survived. The mayor responsible for rebuilding the city after this period was Georg Krusemarck.
On November 25, 1809, Lord Benjamin Bathurst disappeared in Perleberg. Later accounts of the incident exaggerated the circumstances to such an extent that the disappearance is sometimes claimed to have been caused by paranormal phenomena.
People
- Ernst EhrenbaumErnst EhrenbaumErnst M. E. Ehrenbaum was a German biologist and oceanographer.Ehrenbaum was born in Perleberg, Province of Brandenburg, Prussia. He died in Marburg an der Lahn.- Literary works :...
, born here - Lotte LehmannLotte LehmannCharlotte "Lotte" Lehmann was a German soprano who was especially associated with German repertory. She gave memorable performances in the operas of Richard Strauss, Richard Wagner, Ludwig van Beethoven, Puccini, Mozart and Massenet. The Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier was considered her greatest...
, born here - Dörte von WesternhagenDörte von WesternhagenDörte von Westernhagen is a German writer.Von Westernhagen was born in Perleberg, now in Prignitz, in 1943. She is descended from a Prussian Junker family. She studied in Berlin, and earned a doctorate of law. She worked in the administration of Baden-Württemberg, until she decided to write her...
, born here