Geyer
Encyclopedia
Geyer is a town in the district of Erzgebirgskreis
, in Saxony
, Germany
. It has a population of about 4000.
, and 23 km (14.29 mi) south of Chemnitz
, in the valley of the Geyersbach creek. The town is largely surrounded by forest, with the Geyersche Wald forest to the west being owned by the town.
Geyer borders to Ehrenfriedersdorf
in the north east, Tannenberg in the south east, Elterlein
in the south. The town of Zwönitz
is in the west, Hormersdorf
to the north west and the Greifensteine
area to the north.
in the Erzgebirge area had already existed a few decades before. In 1407 Geyer was granted town privileges
(Marktrecht), and 60 years later it already became a town
. In 1537 the town was introduced to the Protestant Reformation
. Famous Renaissance
builder Hieronymus Lotter settled in Geyer in 1566.
In the 16th century mining became harder to sustain, since most of the mines started to become depleted
, which produced more and more waste rock. This resulted in larger and larger cavities, which lead in 1704 and in 1803 to large cave-in
s in Geyer. The resulting Geyersche Binge cave-in can still be visited today.
With the decline in ore-mining in the area, Geyer (as in many other towns and villages in the Erzgebirge) turned to wooden toy manufacture - such as Schwibbogen
, Nutcracker
s and Christmas pyramid
s - as well as "klöppeln"
as a matter of economic survival. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the textile industry
was the main source of income for Geyer. In 1888, Geyer was connected to a narrow gauge railway that was to become part of the Thumer Netz, and in 1897, the town was connected to the electrical grid.
s in these days. In 1952 this tower was converted into a museum, which shows on seven levels historic items related to mining and the towns life through the centuries.
narrow gauge
steam locomotive
together with railroad cars on display, a reminder of the time when Geyer was part of the Thumer Netz within the narrow gauge railways in Saxony.
. The first cave-in
was caused in 1704, and was followed by several others over the years. The last collapse was on May 11, 1803 and lead to the termination of mining in Geyer. The area is ca. 60 m (197 ft) deep, 200 m (656 ft) wide and 250 m (820 ft) long. Since 1935 it is a nature reserve
.
Erzgebirgskreis
Erzgebirgskreis is a district in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is named after the Erzgebirge , a mountain range in the southern part of the district which forms part of the Germany–Czech Republic border...
, in 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....
, 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 has a population of about 4000.
Geography
Geyer is situated 8 km (4.97 mi) northwest of Annaberg-BuchholzAnnaberg-Buchholz
Annaberg-Buchholz is a town in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, in the Erzgebirge, capital of the district Erzgebirgskreis.The town is located in the Ore Mountains, at the side of the Pöhlberg . It has three Protestant churches, among them that of St...
, and 23 km (14.29 mi) south of Chemnitz
Chemnitz
Chemnitz is the third-largest city of the Free State of Saxony, Germany. Chemnitz is an independent city which is not part of any county and seat of the government region Direktionsbezirk Chemnitz. Located in the northern foothills of the Ore Mountains, it is a part of the Saxon triangle...
, in the valley of the Geyersbach creek. The town is largely surrounded by forest, with the Geyersche Wald forest to the west being owned by the town.
Geyer borders to Ehrenfriedersdorf
Ehrenfriedersdorf
Ehrenfriedersdorf is a town in the district of Erzgebirgskreis, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated 8 km northwest of Annaberg-Buchholz, and 21 km south of Chemnitz.- Theatre :...
in the north east, Tannenberg in the south east, Elterlein
Elterlein
Elterlein is a town in the district of Erzgebirgskreis, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the Ore Mountains, 10 km west of Annaberg-Buchholz.- References :...
in the south. The town of Zwönitz
Zwönitz
Zwönitz is a town in the district Erzgebirgskreis, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated 9 km south of Stollberg, and 24 km southwest of Chemnitz.- References :...
is in the west, Hormersdorf
Hormersdorf
Hormersdorf is a municipality in the district Erzgebirgskreis, inSaxony, Germany.-Dialect clock:In Hormersdorf a "" was installed that displays the time of day in the local Erzgebirgisch dialect which uses the word "Ziffer" for units of five minute intervals.The image of the clock at the left...
to the north west and the Greifensteine
Greifensteine
The Greifensteine is a rock formation in the Ore Mountains, Germany, between the towns of Geyer, Ehrenfriedersdorf and Jahnsbach. The highest of the seven granite rocks reaches 731 m.- Geology :...
area to the north.
History
Geyer was first mentioned in official documents in 1381, although miningMining
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...
in the Erzgebirge area had already existed a few decades before. In 1407 Geyer was granted 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...
(Marktrecht), and 60 years later it already became a town
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 1537 the town was introduced to the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
. Famous Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
builder Hieronymus Lotter settled in Geyer in 1566.
In the 16th century mining became harder to sustain, since most of the mines started to become depleted
Resource depletion
Resource depletion is an economic term referring to the exhaustion of raw materials within a region. Resources are commonly divided between renewable resources and non-renewable resources...
, which produced more and more waste rock. This resulted in larger and larger cavities, which lead in 1704 and in 1803 to large cave-in
Cave-in
A cave-in is a collapse of a geologic formation, mine or structure which typically occurs during mining or tunneling. Geologic structures prone to cave-ins include alvar, tsingy and other limestone formations, but can also include lava tubes and a variety of other subsurface rock formations.In...
s in Geyer. The resulting Geyersche Binge cave-in can still be visited today.
With the decline in ore-mining in the area, Geyer (as in many other towns and villages in the Erzgebirge) turned to wooden toy manufacture - such as Schwibbogen
Schwibbogen
A Schwibbogen is a decorative candle-holder from the Ore Mountains region of Saxony, Germany.The first metal Schwibbogen was made in 1740 in Johanngeorgenstadt. The early candle arches always consisted of black ore. They were made out of one single forged piece and could be painted. The number of...
, Nutcracker
Nutcracker
A nutcracker is a mechanical device for cracking nuts. Usually they work on the principle of moments as described in Archimedes' analysis of the lever...
s and Christmas pyramid
Christmas pyramid
A Christmas Pyramid is a Christmas decoration that has its roots in the Erzgebirge of Germany but has become popular throughout the country. It is suggested that the Christmas pyramid is a predecessor of the Christmas tree; These pyramids themselves are not limited to Christmas: in the Erzgebirge...
s - as well as "klöppeln"
Bobbin lace
Bobbin lace is a lace textile made by braiding and twisting lengths of thread, which are wound on bobbins to manage them. As the work progresses, the weaving is held in place with pins set in a lace pillow, the placement of the pins usually determined by a pattern or pricking pinned on the...
as a matter of economic survival. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the textile industry
Textile industry
The textile industry is primarily concerned with the production of yarn, and cloth and the subsequent design or manufacture of clothing and their distribution. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry....
was the main source of income for Geyer. In 1888, Geyer was connected to a narrow gauge railway that was to become part of the Thumer Netz, and in 1897, the town was connected to the electrical grid.
Tower museum
The 42 m (137.8 ft) high watch tower was built in 1395 as a wall tower, serving as refuge for citizens in times of war. Between 1561 and 1564 the tower was raised with the characteristic octagonal shape. This was done to create room for the Türmerfamilie, a fire guard (and his family), in order to provide warning from the devastating and frequent conflagrationConflagration
A conflagration or a blaze is an uncontrolled burning that threatens human life, health, or property. A conflagration can be accidentally begun, naturally caused , or intentionally created . Arson can be accomplished for the purpose of sabotage or diversion, and also can be the consequence of...
s in these days. In 1952 this tower was converted into a museum, which shows on seven levels historic items related to mining and the towns life through the centuries.
Old railroad station
At the former station site, there is a historic Saxon IV KSaxon IV K
The Saxon IV K were eight-wheeled, narrow gauge, Günther-Meyer type steam engines built for the Royal Saxon State Railways with a rail gauge of 750 mm. A total of 96 were built between 1892 and 1921, making the Saxon IV K the most numerous narrow gauge locomotive in Germany...
narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
together with railroad cars on display, a reminder of the time when Geyer was part of the Thumer Netz within the narrow gauge railways in Saxony.
Geyersche Binge
The Geyersche Binge is a collapsed ore mine caused by fire-settingFire-setting
Fire-setting is a method of mining used since prehistoric times up to the Middle Ages. Fires were set against a rock face to heat the stone, which was then doused with water...
. The first cave-in
Cave-in
A cave-in is a collapse of a geologic formation, mine or structure which typically occurs during mining or tunneling. Geologic structures prone to cave-ins include alvar, tsingy and other limestone formations, but can also include lava tubes and a variety of other subsurface rock formations.In...
was caused in 1704, and was followed by several others over the years. The last collapse was on May 11, 1803 and lead to the termination of mining in Geyer. The area is ca. 60 m (197 ft) deep, 200 m (656 ft) wide and 250 m (820 ft) long. Since 1935 it is a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
.
Notable persons
- Adam RiesAdam RiesAdam Ries was a German mathematician. He is also known by the name Adam Riese.- Life :Almost nothing is known about Ries' childhood, youth and education. It is not even possible to determine the year of his birth with certainty. The caption on the only known contemporary portrait of the...
, (1492 – March 30, 1559), mathematicianMathematicianA mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, worked as tithe collector (Zehentner) from 1533 to 1539 in Geyer - Hieronymus Lotter (1497–1580), Renaissance builder and architect, lived and died in Geyer
- Kuno KlötzerKuno KlötzerKuno Klötzer was a German former football coach who won the 1977 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with Hamburger SV.Born in Geyer, Germany, Klötzer managed included Arminia Hannover, Hannover 96, Fortuna Düsseldorf, 1. FC Nuremberg, Kickers Offenbach, Hamburger SV, Hertha BSC, MSV Duisburg and Werder Bremen...
, born 1922