Vienenburg
Encyclopedia
Vienenburg is a town
in the district of Goslar
, in Lower Saxony
, Germany
. It is situated in the north of the Harz
mountain range on the river Oker
, approx. 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Goslar
. Other neighbouring municipalities are Bad Harzburg
in the south and Schladen
in the north.
The town consists of Vienenburg proper and the surrounding villages Immenrode, Lengde, Weddingen, Lochtum and Wiedelah. Situated in a mainly agricultural area, the town is known for the Harzer
cheese, although the production was transferred to Saxony
in 2004.
at the behest of the Hildesheim Prince-bishops
. The adjacent settlement received town privileges
in 1935.
monastery at their ancestral seat west of Vienenburg, which converted into a Cistercian nunnery a few years later, confirmed by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa
in 1188 and by Pope Honorius III
in a 1216 deed. The abbey affiliated to the Bishopric of Hildesheim
generated several filial monasteries and left a collection of notable manuscripts, now kept at the Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel
.
In 1523 the Prince-bishop of Hildesheim had to cede Wöltingerode to Duke Henry the Younger
of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
as a result of the Great Diocesan Feud. Henry's son Duke Julius turned Protestant
in 1568 and in consequence a Lutheran
abbess was installed as head of the monastery.
During the Thirty Years' War
the Hildesheim Prince-bishop Ferdinand of Bavaria, backed by the Catholic League
and his Wittelsbach relatives, took the occasion to regain the lost territories. Referring to the 1629 Edict of Restitution
issued by Emperor Ferdinand II
, he had the nuns expelled and put the abbey under Jesuit
rule. Nevertheless in 1632 the Catholic canons again had to abscond from the approaching Swedish
army and Wöltingerode, though it finally fell back to the Hildesheim Bishopric in 1643, remained Lutheran until the 1803 German Mediatisation
.
Today Wöltingerode is known for its abbey church, a Romanesque
basilica of the late 12th century with an attached cloister and a crypt, which serves for storage of the Wöltingerode Korn
, distilled here since 1682.
hill (256m/840ft) north of the town was the site of a castle built in 1203 by the Welf Emperor Otto IV
to threaten the trade route to Goslar
, as the town supported his Hohenstaufen rival Duke Philip of Swabia
. After Otto's death in 1218 the castle became a property of the Welf duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg
while the garrisons of the castle were notorious for permanently robbing bypassing merchants. Therefore the Hildesheim Prince-bishop Siegfried II declared war against Duke Henry the Admirable
and in 1291 took and slighted the castle. Some moats are still visible today. A modern observation tower stands nearby.
, is the oldest preserved one in Germany and a regional railway hub. From Vienenburg, railway lines run in four directions: north to Brunswick, southeast to Halberstadt–Halle, south to Bad Harzburg and southwest to Oker–Goslar
. The hourly Regionalbahn
trains from Brunswick continue to run alternately to Bad Harzburg and Oker–Goslar. Hourly services run to Halberstadt–Halle, alternating between the HarzElbeExpress (HEX) from Vienenburg to Halle and the Regionalexpress
from Hanover
via Bad Harzburg and Vienenburg to Halle. All these trains (apart from the HEX operated by Connex Group) are operated by DB Regio AG. In addition, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays the Harz-Berlin Express (Connex Group) works on the Vienenburg–Berlin Ostbahnhof route.
The old goods line to Langelsheim was a victim of the division of Germany and was never reactivated. From 2014 Vienenburg should also be served by the RegioStadtBahn Braunschweig from Brunswick.
Vienenburg lies on the B 82 (link to the A 7 Hannover/Kassel) and 241
(Goslar) federal highways as well as the 395
motorway (link to the A 2; Brunswick, Berlin/Dortmund) and the B 6
/B 6n
(links to the A 14
Halle/Leipzig
−Magdeburg
and to Goslar
and Bad Harzburg
).
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the district of Goslar
Goslar (district)
Goslar is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Osterode, Northeim, Hildesheim and Wolfenbüttel, the city of Salzgitter, and by the states of Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia .-History:The history of the district is linked with the city of Goslar.The district of Goslar...
, in Lower Saxony
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 situated in the north of the Harz
Harz
The Harz is the highest mountain range in northern Germany and its rugged terrain extends across parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The name Harz derives from the Middle High German word Hardt or Hart , latinized as Hercynia. The legendary Brocken is the highest summit in the Harz...
mountain range on the river Oker
Oker
The Oker is a river in Lower Saxony, Germany, that has historically formed an important political boundary. It is a left tributary of the River Aller, in length and runs in a generally northerly direction.- Course :...
, approx. 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Goslar
Goslar
Goslar is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and the Mines of Rammelsberg are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.-Geography:Goslar is situated at the...
. Other neighbouring municipalities are Bad Harzburg
Bad Harzburg
Bad Harzburg is a town in central Germany, in the Goslar district of Lower Saxony. It lies on the northern edge of the Harz mountains and is a recognised saltwater spa and climatic health resort.- Location :...
in the south and Schladen
Schladen
Schladen is a municipality in the district of Wolfenbüttel, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Oker, approx. 15 km south of Wolfenbüttel, and 25 km south of Braunschweig....
in the north.
The town consists of Vienenburg proper and the surrounding villages Immenrode, Lengde, Weddingen, Lochtum and Wiedelah. Situated in a mainly agricultural area, the town is known for the Harzer
Harzer
Harzer cheese is a German sour milk cheese made from low fat curd cheese, which contains only about one percent fat and originates in the Harz mountain region south of Braunschweig....
cheese, although the production was transferred to Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
in 2004.
History
Vienenburg Castle was first mentioned in a 1306 deed, it was erected by the Counts of WernigerodeCounty of Wernigerode
The County of Wernigerode was a county of the Holy Roman Empire, located in the Harzgau region of the former Duchy of Saxony, at the northern foot of the Harz mountain range...
at the behest of the Hildesheim Prince-bishops
Bishopric of Hildesheim
The Diocese of Hildesheim is a diocese or ecclesiastical territory of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in Germany. Founded in 815 as a missionary diocese by King Louis the Pious, his son Louis the German appointed the famous former archbishop of Rheims, Ebbo, as bishop...
. The adjacent settlement received town privileges
Town privileges
Town privileges or city rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium.Judicially, a town was distinguished from the surrounding land by means of a charter from the ruling monarch that defined its privileges and laws. Common privileges were related to trading...
in 1935.
Wöltingerode Abbey
In 1174 the Counts of Wohldenberg established a BenedictineOrder of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
monastery at their ancestral seat west of Vienenburg, which converted into a Cistercian nunnery a few years later, confirmed by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa
Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick I Barbarossa was a German Holy Roman Emperor. He was elected King of Germany at Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aachen on 9 March, crowned King of Italy in Pavia in 1155, and finally crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Adrian IV, on 18 June 1155, and two years later in 1157 the term...
in 1188 and by Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III , previously known as Cencio Savelli, was Pope from 1216 to 1227.-Early work:He was born in Rome as son of Aimerico...
in a 1216 deed. The abbey affiliated to the Bishopric of Hildesheim
Bishopric of Hildesheim
The Diocese of Hildesheim is a diocese or ecclesiastical territory of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in Germany. Founded in 815 as a missionary diocese by King Louis the Pious, his son Louis the German appointed the famous former archbishop of Rheims, Ebbo, as bishop...
generated several filial monasteries and left a collection of notable manuscripts, now kept at the Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, located on the Oker river about 13 kilometres south of Brunswick. It is the seat of the District of Wolfenbüttel and of the bishop of the Protestant Lutheran State Church of Brunswick...
.
Henry V, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Henry , Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, called the Younger, was Prince of Wolfenbüttel from 1514 until his death...
of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
The Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was a subdivision of the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, whose history was characterised by numerous divisions and reunifications. Various dynastic lines of the House of Welf ruled Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel until the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806...
as a result of the Great Diocesan Feud. Henry's son Duke Julius turned 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...
in 1568 and in consequence a Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
abbess was installed as head of the monastery.
During 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....
the Hildesheim Prince-bishop Ferdinand of Bavaria, backed by the Catholic League
Catholic League (German)
The German Catholic League was initially a loose confederation of Roman Catholic German states formed on July 10, 1609 to counteract the Protestant Union , whereby the participating states concluded an alliance "for the defence of the Catholic religion and peace within the Empire." Modeled...
and his Wittelsbach relatives, took the occasion to regain the lost territories. Referring to the 1629 Edict of Restitution
Edict of Restitution
The Edict of Restitution, passed eleven years into the Thirty Years' Wars on March 6, 1629 following Catholic successes at arms, was a belated attempt by Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor to impose and restore the religious and territorial situations reached in the Peace of Augsburg...
issued by Emperor Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
, he had the nuns expelled and put the abbey under Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
rule. Nevertheless in 1632 the Catholic canons again had to abscond from the approaching Swedish
Swedish Empire
The Swedish Empire refers to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721 . During this time, Sweden was one of the great European powers. In Swedish, the period is called Stormaktstiden, literally meaning "the Great Power Era"...
army and Wöltingerode, though it finally fell back to the Hildesheim Bishopric in 1643, remained Lutheran until the 1803 German Mediatisation
German Mediatisation
The German Mediatisation was the series of mediatisations and secularisations that occurred in Germany between 1795 and 1814, during the latter part of the era of the French Revolution and then the Napoleonic Era....
.
Today Wöltingerode is known for its abbey church, a 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,...
basilica of the late 12th century with an attached cloister and a crypt, which serves for storage of the Wöltingerode Korn
Korn (liquor)
Korn is a German colorless spirit that is usually made from fermented rye but may also be made from corn, barley, or wheat. Korn differs from vodka in that it is less rigorously filtered, which leaves more of the cereal taste in the finished spirit.Korn is the cheapest kind of spirit available in...
, distilled here since 1682.
Harlyburg
The HarlybergHarlyberg
The Harlyberg, at , is the highest hill of the Harly Forest, and rises in the district of Goslar in southeastern Lower Saxony, central Germany....
hill (256m/840ft) north of the town was the site of a castle built in 1203 by the Welf Emperor Otto IV
Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto IV of Brunswick was one of two rival kings of the Holy Roman Empire from 1198 on, sole king from 1208 on, and emperor from 1209 on. The only king of the Welf dynasty, he incurred the wrath of Pope Innocent III and was excommunicated in 1215.-Early life:Otto was the third son of Henry the...
to threaten the trade route to Goslar
History of Goslar
Goslar is one of the few world heritage sites in Germany. Its mediæval character makes it a rewarding object of living history.-Neolithic/Megalithic Settlements in and around the Harz:...
, as the town supported his Hohenstaufen rival Duke Philip of Swabia
Philip of Swabia
Philip of Swabia was king of Germany and duke of Swabia, the rival of the emperor Otto IV.-Biography:Philip was the fifth and youngest son of Emperor Frederick I and Beatrice I, Countess of Burgundy, daughter of Renaud III, count of Burgundy, and brother of the emperor Henry VI...
. After Otto's death in 1218 the castle became a property of the Welf duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Brunswick-Lüneburg
The Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , or more properly Duchy of Brunswick and Lüneburg, was an historical ducal state from the late Middle Ages until the late Early Modern era within the North-Western domains of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, in what is now northern Germany...
while the garrisons of the castle were notorious for permanently robbing bypassing merchants. Therefore the Hildesheim Prince-bishop Siegfried II declared war against Duke Henry the Admirable
Henry I, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Henry , Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, called the Admirable , was the first ruler of the Principality of Grubenhagen....
and in 1291 took and slighted the castle. Some moats are still visible today. A modern observation tower stands nearby.
Politics
Seats in the municipal assembly (Stadtrat) as of 2006 elections:- Social Democratic Party of GermanySocial Democratic Party of GermanyThe Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
(SPD): 14 (49.73 %) - Christian Democratic UnionChristian 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...
(CDU): 11 (39.45 %) - Green Alternative Voters (GAW): 2 (8.00 %)
- National Democratic Party of GermanyNational Democratic Party of GermanyThe National Democratic Party of Germany – The People's Union , is a far right German nationalist party. It was founded in 1964 a successor to the German Reich Party . Party statements self-identify as Germany's "only significant patriotic force"...
(NPD): 1 (2.82 %)
Transport
Vienenburg's railway station, opened in 1840 on the Brunswick–Bad Harzburg railway of the Duchy of Brunswick State RailwayDuchy of Brunswick State Railway
The Duchy of Brunswick State Railway was the first state railway in Germany. The first section of its Brunswick–Bad Harzburg railway line between Brunswick and Wolfenbüttel opened on 1 December 1838.-Opening:...
, is the oldest preserved one in Germany and a regional railway hub. From Vienenburg, railway lines run in four directions: north to Brunswick, southeast to Halberstadt–Halle, south to Bad Harzburg and southwest to Oker–Goslar
Vienenburg–Goslar railway
The Vienenburg–Goslar railway is a main line between Vienenburg and Goslar on the northern edge of the Harz mountains in Germany. It was opened in 1866.- Route :...
. The hourly Regionalbahn
RegionalBahn
The Regionalbahn is a type of local passenger train in Germany.-Service:Regionalbahn trains usually call at all stations on a given line, with the exception of RB trains within S-Bahn networks, these may only call at selected stations...
trains from Brunswick continue to run alternately to Bad Harzburg and Oker–Goslar. Hourly services run to Halberstadt–Halle, alternating between the HarzElbeExpress (HEX) from Vienenburg to Halle and the Regionalexpress
RegionalExpress
The term Regional-Express denotes a type of regional train in Germany and Austria .It is best compared to a semi-fast train, as it calls at fewer stations than Regionalbahn or S-Bahn trains, but stops more often than InterCity services...
from Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
via Bad Harzburg and Vienenburg to Halle. All these trains (apart from the HEX operated by Connex Group) are operated by DB Regio AG. In addition, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays the Harz-Berlin Express (Connex Group) works on the Vienenburg–Berlin Ostbahnhof route.
The old goods line to Langelsheim was a victim of the division of Germany and was never reactivated. From 2014 Vienenburg should also be served by the RegioStadtBahn Braunschweig from Brunswick.
Vienenburg lies on the B 82 (link to the A 7 Hannover/Kassel) and 241
Bundesstraße 241
The B 241 is a federal road in Germany. It runs from Hohenwepel to Vienenburg.- States and districts :* North Rhine-Westphalia** Höxter district*** Hohenwepel, Borgentreich, Dalhausen, Beverungen* Lower Saxony...
(Goslar) federal highways as well as the 395
Bundesautobahn 395
is an autobahn in Germany.The A 395 begins at an interchange with the A 39 and B 248 south of Brunswick . From there, the road heads in a general southerly direction, bypassing Wolfenbüttel, Schladen and other, smaller towns....
motorway (link to the A 2; Brunswick, Berlin/Dortmund) and the B 6
Bundesstraße 6
The Bundesstraße 6 runs from the North Sea coast in a southeasterly direction through the states of Lower Saxony, Bremen, Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony to the Polish border.- History :...
/B 6n
Bundesstraße 6n
The Bundesstraße 6n is a German federal road which was originally planned to be the A 36 motorway and is still currently under construction.It is intended to have four lanes running from the A 395 near Vienenburg through Wernigerode, Blankenburg, Quedlinburg, Aschersleben over the A 14 to...
(links to the A 14
Bundesautobahn 14
is an autobahn in eastern Germany.Currently, the route comprises two disconnected sections:* The old A 241. A North-South route in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern which runs from Wismar to Schwerin....
Halle/Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
−Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
and to Goslar
Goslar
Goslar is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz mountain range. The Old Town of Goslar and the Mines of Rammelsberg are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.-Geography:Goslar is situated at the...
and Bad Harzburg
Bad Harzburg
Bad Harzburg is a town in central Germany, in the Goslar district of Lower Saxony. It lies on the northern edge of the Harz mountains and is a recognised saltwater spa and climatic health resort.- Location :...
).
Notable people
- Christoph GudermannChristoph GudermannChristoph Gudermann was born in Vienenburg. He was the son of a school teacher and became a teacher himself after studying at the University of Göttingen, where his advisor was Karl Friedrich Gauss...
(March 25, 1798 - September 25, 1852), mathematician.