Sylt-Ost
Encyclopedia
Sylt-Ost is a village, former municipality and seaside resort
on the island of Sylt
, in the district of Nordfriesland
, in Schleswig-Holstein
, Germany
. The place is the seat of the Amt Landschaft Sylt
. A public referendum in May 2008 decided for the merger of Sylt-Ost with the town of Westerland in 2009. Since 1 January 2009, it is part of the municipality Sylt
.
. In 1634 the sea dikes were destroyed by the Burchardi flood
. Only in 1938, due to the construction of the neighbouring Rantum Basin seaplane
port, Archsum was again completely protected by dikes.
on a 1.8 kilometres long cliff shore, which reaches up to 21 m of height.
The late Romanesque
church of St. Martin
was built in the 13th century from granite blocks and cobblestones. Instead of a proper tower, it features a small separate wooden bell tower. In the 15th and 16th century, this village was also frequently struck by the plague. Since 1958, Morsum is recognised as a climatic health resort.
The original village of Tinnum, which used to be the seat of the island's bailiff
from 1547 to 1868 and hosted the local prison and courthouse, was first mentioned in 1440. The bailiff's house of 1649 is one of the oldest remaining buildings on Sylt.
Near Tinnum there is also the so-called Tinnumburg, an eight metres tall ring wall with a diameter of 120 m which was built around the time of Christ's birth.
: Per fess low or and azure. Above a sun rising in his splendour gules, accompanied by five eight-pointed mullets azure. Below a herring argent swimming to the left.
The coat of arms was designed by a Sylt artist and granted in 2002. The five mullets (stars) in it symbolise the villages of the municipality. The herring is meant to depict the former importance of fishery for the area, it was already used as the seal of the Sylt bailiffs in the 17th century. The colours are the traditional North Frisian colours which are also reflected in the island's national costume.
, which nowadays influences almost any business on Sylt. While being most important prior to the arrival of the tourist business, agriculture
meanwhile plays a minor role.
Seaside resort
A seaside resort is a resort, or resort town, located on the coast. Where a beach is the primary focus for tourists, it may be called a beach resort.- Overview :...
on the island of Sylt
Sylt
Sylt is an island in northern Germany, part of Nordfriesland district, Schleswig-Holstein, and well known for the distinctive shape of its shoreline. It belongs to the North Frisian Islands and is the largest island in North Frisia...
, in the district of Nordfriesland
Nordfriesland
Nordfriesland, English "Northern Friesland" or "North Frisia", is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It includes almost all of traditional North Frisia along with adjacent areas to the east and south and is bounded by the districts of Schleswig-Flensburg and Dithmarschen, the North Sea and...
, in Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
, 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...
. The place is the seat of the Amt Landschaft Sylt
Landschaft Sylt
Landschaft Sylt is an Amt in the district of Nordfriesland, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It covers the island of Sylt , in the North Sea, approx. 65 km northwest of Husum...
. A public referendum in May 2008 decided for the merger of Sylt-Ost with the town of Westerland in 2009. Since 1 January 2009, it is part of the municipality Sylt
Sylt (municipality)
Sylt is a municipality on the island of Sylt in the district of Nordfriesland, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It was formed on 1 January 2009 by the merger of the former municipalities Rantum and Sylt-Ost with the town Westerland....
.
Districts
The municipality is divided into the five formerly independent villages of Archsum, Keitum, Morsum, Munkmarsch and Tinnum. The current municipality was created in 1970.Archsum
A prehistoric settlement in this area is proven by archaeological research. According to old lore, all inhabitants of Archsum fell victim to the plague in 1350. Afterwards the village is said to be re-settled by people from RantumRantum
Rantum is a village and a former municipality on the island of Sylt in the district of Nordfriesland, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany...
. In 1634 the sea dikes were destroyed by the Burchardi flood
Burchardi flood
The Burchardi Flood was a storm tide that struck the North Sea coast of North Frisia and Dithmarschen on the night between 11 and 12 October 1634. Overrunning dikes, it shattered the coastline and caused thousands of deaths and catastrophic material damage...
. Only in 1938, due to the construction of the neighbouring Rantum Basin seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
port, Archsum was again completely protected by dikes.
Keitum
Due to its numerous alleys and the high content of old trees, Keitum is today regarded as the island's "green village". Already in the late 12th century the church of St. Severinus was built there.Morsum
Morsum is located in a heathHeath (habitat)
A heath or heathland is a dwarf-shrub habitat found on mainly low quality acidic soils, characterised by open, low growing woody vegetation, often dominated by plants of the Ericaceae. There are some clear differences between heath and moorland...
on a 1.8 kilometres long cliff shore, which reaches up to 21 m of height.
The late Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
church of St. Martin
Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours was a Bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Around his name much legendary material accrued, and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints...
was built in the 13th century from granite blocks and cobblestones. Instead of a proper tower, it features a small separate wooden bell tower. In the 15th and 16th century, this village was also frequently struck by the plague. Since 1958, Morsum is recognised as a climatic health resort.
Munkmarsch
The village is first recorded in 1422. In 1859, a port was constructed which featured a ferry link to the mainland harbour of Hoyer.Tinnum
Tinnum is the municipality's biggest settlement and forms a structural unit with Westerland to the west. Not least because of the central location on Sylt, a number of business parks can be found here, which are of import for all tourism-related enterprises on Sylt. Moreover, several great discount shops are situated here, thus Tinnum, in addition to Westerland, plays a central role in provisioning local citizens and guests.The original village of Tinnum, which used to be the seat of the island's bailiff
Bailiff
A bailiff is a governor or custodian ; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed...
from 1547 to 1868 and hosted the local prison and courthouse, was first mentioned in 1440. The bailiff's house of 1649 is one of the oldest remaining buildings on Sylt.
Near Tinnum there is also the so-called Tinnumburg, an eight metres tall ring wall with a diameter of 120 m which was built around the time of Christ's birth.
Mayors
- 1986-1996: Heinz Maurus, CDUChristian Democratic Union (Germany)The Christian Democratic Union of Germany is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Germany. It is regarded as on the centre-right of the German political spectrum...
- 1996-2005: Ingbert Liebing, CDU
- 2005-2008: Christoph Schmatloch, CDU
- 2008: Erik Kennel
Arms
BlazonBlazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
: Per fess low or and azure. Above a sun rising in his splendour gules, accompanied by five eight-pointed mullets azure. Below a herring argent swimming to the left.
The coat of arms was designed by a Sylt artist and granted in 2002. The five mullets (stars) in it symbolise the villages of the municipality. The herring is meant to depict the former importance of fishery for the area, it was already used as the seal of the Sylt bailiffs in the 17th century. The colours are the traditional North Frisian colours which are also reflected in the island's national costume.
Economy
The most important factor of income is tourismTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, which nowadays influences almost any business on Sylt. While being most important prior to the arrival of the tourist business, 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...
meanwhile plays a minor role.