Unna
Encyclopedia
Unna is a town of around 67,000 people in North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
, the seat of the Unna district
.
road. Trade on this route and during the period of the Hansa Trade Route came from as far as London. It is located at the eastern extremity of the Ruhr
area, about 15 km or 8 miles east of the centre of Dortmund.
Massen and Königsborn are industrial and mining areas; the other districts have a more rural character.
There were neolithic settlements here but Unna gained significance as a way station on the Hellweg. Its name is first recorded in an ecclesiastical document of 1032. Around 1200, Count Friedrich von Altena-Isenberg was invested with the fiefdom of Unna, among other estates, by the Archbishop of Cologne. Over the next few hundred years the town was repeatedly fought over, and burned down several times. In the 14th century the town became wealthy: a mint was established and in 1952 a selection of coins numbering around 70 were discovered during excavation works. The coins originated from various countries and are thought to have been buried around 1375. From the mid 15th century the town was a notable trade centre and Hanse town. In 1597 more than half the population died of the plague. In the early 17th century the town changed hands several times in religious wars, and in 1666 fell under the control of Prussia. In the early 19th century the primary character of the town started to change from agricultural to industrial, with improved communications by road, rail and waterways. Coal mining started in 1870, together with industries dependent on it. The population rose from around 2,500 at the start of the 19th century to 15,000 in 1900. In 1943-45 there were major air attacks directed at the significant barracks and other military installations in the town.
In the older part of town are many half-timbered buildings built between the 16th and 19th centuries. Unna was an agriculturally based town until the 19th century, when it became industrially based. After World War II the artisan district which had survived bombing was largely torn down to make way for modern development; however many of the buildings have been restored.
The Lindenbrauerei once produced Lindenbier, and restarted small-scale production a few years ago. The brewery is also home to the town library and night school (Volkshochschule). It is characterised by its large chimney stack which boasts a light installation, not surprising considering the brewery houses the centre for International Light/Illumination Art (Zentrum für Internationale Lichtkunst).
In February, 1946 a coal mine near the city suffered a dust explosion that killed 418 miners. This was the worse mining accident in German history.
every two years, when buildings are decorated with light installations by artists from Bari
in Italy.
In common with other German towns, Unna produces its own traditional herbal liquor, 'Herting Pörter', named after the town's Herting gate or 'port'. Parts of the town wall remain intact and in good condition, and include towers near the artisan quarter. The liquor is produced near where the gate used to be, and is sold locally.
In the market place is a fountain with a man pulling a stubborn donkey, which is the town mascot, perhaps because the locals consider themselves stubborn. The market place hosts the Stadtfest every September and the Italian light festival mentioned above. There is also a grocers' market. The square hosts the Christmas market which goes from the square down the Bahnhofstraße to the Rathaus (Town Hall).
The newly refurbished station has trains to all major cities in North Rhine Westphalia including Dortmund
, Köln (Cologne
), Münster
, Hamm
, Düsseldorf
and Wuppertal
. There is also the Regional Express 4 (RE4) which goes via Köln to Venlo just over the Dutch border.
The recreational district of Sauerland
is nearby. The River Ruhr
runs just south of Unna through Fröndenberg
before heading through the main section of the Ruhr District (Ruhrgebiet).
Local dialects of German include Westfälisch and Ruhrpott.
More pictures of Unna are in the German Wikipedia page about Unna.
with:
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, 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 seat of the Unna district
Unna (district)
The Unna district is a Kreis in central North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring authorities are the district of Coesfeld, the city of Hamm, the districts of Soest and Märkischer Kreis, the cities of Hagen and Dortmund, and the district of Recklinghausen.-History:The area of the present...
.
Geography
Unna is situated on an ancient salt-trading route, the HellwegHellweg
In the Middle Ages the Hellweg was an ancient east-west route through Germany, the main corridor from the Rhine east to the mountains of the Teutoburger Wald, reaching from Duisburg, at the confluence of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers, to Paderborn, with the slopes of the Sauerland to its south.In the...
road. Trade on this route and during the period of the Hansa Trade Route came from as far as London. It is located at the eastern extremity of the Ruhr
Ruhr
The Ruhr is a medium-size river in western Germany , a right tributary of the Rhine.-Description:The source of the Ruhr is near the town of Winterberg in the mountainous Sauerland region, at an elevation of approximately 2,200 feet...
area, about 15 km or 8 miles east of the centre of Dortmund.
Division of the town
Unna consists of the following districts:
|
|
Massen and Königsborn are industrial and mining areas; the other districts have a more rural character.
History
The history of Unna is a long series of wars, plagues, and fires.There were neolithic settlements here but Unna gained significance as a way station on the Hellweg. Its name is first recorded in an ecclesiastical document of 1032. Around 1200, Count Friedrich von Altena-Isenberg was invested with the fiefdom of Unna, among other estates, by the Archbishop of Cologne. Over the next few hundred years the town was repeatedly fought over, and burned down several times. In the 14th century the town became wealthy: a mint was established and in 1952 a selection of coins numbering around 70 were discovered during excavation works. The coins originated from various countries and are thought to have been buried around 1375. From the mid 15th century the town was a notable trade centre and Hanse town. In 1597 more than half the population died of the plague. In the early 17th century the town changed hands several times in religious wars, and in 1666 fell under the control of Prussia. In the early 19th century the primary character of the town started to change from agricultural to industrial, with improved communications by road, rail and waterways. Coal mining started in 1870, together with industries dependent on it. The population rose from around 2,500 at the start of the 19th century to 15,000 in 1900. In 1943-45 there were major air attacks directed at the significant barracks and other military installations in the town.
In the older part of town are many half-timbered buildings built between the 16th and 19th centuries. Unna was an agriculturally based town until the 19th century, when it became industrially based. After World War II the artisan district which had survived bombing was largely torn down to make way for modern development; however many of the buildings have been restored.
The Lindenbrauerei once produced Lindenbier, and restarted small-scale production a few years ago. The brewery is also home to the town library and night school (Volkshochschule). It is characterised by its large chimney stack which boasts a light installation, not surprising considering the brewery houses the centre for International Light/Illumination Art (Zentrum für Internationale Lichtkunst).
In February, 1946 a coal mine near the city suffered a dust explosion that killed 418 miners. This was the worse mining accident in German history.
Culture
Unna holds the largest Italian festival north of ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
every two years, when buildings are decorated with light installations by artists from Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
in Italy.
In common with other German towns, Unna produces its own traditional herbal liquor, 'Herting Pörter', named after the town's Herting gate or 'port'. Parts of the town wall remain intact and in good condition, and include towers near the artisan quarter. The liquor is produced near where the gate used to be, and is sold locally.
In the market place is a fountain with a man pulling a stubborn donkey, which is the town mascot, perhaps because the locals consider themselves stubborn. The market place hosts the Stadtfest every September and the Italian light festival mentioned above. There is also a grocers' market. The square hosts the Christmas market which goes from the square down the Bahnhofstraße to the Rathaus (Town Hall).
The newly refurbished station has trains to all major cities in North Rhine Westphalia including Dortmund
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
, Köln (Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
), Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
, Hamm
Hamm
Hamm is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany. It is located in the northeastern part of the Ruhr area. As of December 2003 its population was 180,849. The city is situated between the A1 motorway and A2 motorway...
, Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
and Wuppertal
Wuppertal
Wuppertal is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in and around the Wupper river valley, and is situated east of the city of Düsseldorf and south of the Ruhr area. With a population of approximately 350,000, it is the largest city in the Bergisches Land...
. There is also the Regional Express 4 (RE4) which goes via Köln to Venlo just over the Dutch border.
The recreational district of Sauerland
Sauerland
The Sauerland is a rural, hilly area spreading across most of the south-eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, in parts heavily forested and, apart from the major valleys, sparsely inhabited...
is nearby. The River Ruhr
Ruhr
The Ruhr is a medium-size river in western Germany , a right tributary of the Rhine.-Description:The source of the Ruhr is near the town of Winterberg in the mountainous Sauerland region, at an elevation of approximately 2,200 feet...
runs just south of Unna through Fröndenberg
Fröndenberg
Fröndenberg is a town in the district of Unna, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Fröndenberg is situated in the Ruhr valley, approx...
before heading through the main section of the Ruhr District (Ruhrgebiet).
Local dialects of German include Westfälisch and Ruhrpott.
More pictures of Unna are in the German Wikipedia page about Unna.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Unna is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
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