.gif)
Saalfeld (town)
Encyclopedia
Saalfeld is a town
in Germany
, capital of the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt
district of Thuringia
. It is situated by the Saale River
, 48 km (29.8 mi) south of German cultural capital Weimar
, between Nuremburg and Leipzig. The population of the district is 120,000, that of the tri-city area is 70,000 and Saalfeld town proper is 28,000. It is best known internationally as the former capital of the branch of the House of Wettin (known amongst English-speakers as the Windsors) that is today's British royal family.
, founded by the 7th century. Between 1699 and 1826, it was one of two capitals of the Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
duchy. Like Coburg
, its sister town to the south, Saalfeld is linked to many of Europe's royal families.
For example, Queen Victoria's mother was the Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
, while Queen Victoria's husband Albert was also born into the house of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. At about the same period, the royal family of Belgium was founded by Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
and the Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld married the crown prince of Russia.
The 1st Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld built Saalfeld Castle in 1677 to be the capital of his duchy. Saalfeld Castle, which has been renovated and is today the town administrative building, was home to four generations of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld dukes. The 4th Duke Ernst Frederick, was the last duke to be born in Saalfeld. His heirs, the 5th Duke Franz Frederick and the 6th Duke Ernst III Anton were the last dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
Ernst III Anton would go on to found the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha while Franz Frederick, in an unprecedented display of conquest through marriage, would put his children and grandchildren into the ruling houses in many European countries. The first was Leopold Friedrich
; born Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and the youngest son of Franz Frederick; becoming King of the Belgians in 1831.
But most famous of all is the House of Windsor
, as Franz Frederick was the grandfather of both Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
and her husband, Albert, Prince Consort. This bloodline continues unbroken from Queen Victoria through to Queen Elizabeth today. Other descendents of Franz Frederick include Wilhelm II, German Emperor, Alexandra, Empress consort of Russia, Victoria, Queen consort of Spain, Ferdinand II, King consort of Portugal
, Carlota, Empress consort of Mexico
, Ferdinand I, King of Bulgaria
, Sofía, Queen consort of Spain, Princess of Greece and Denmark
, Maud, Queen consort of Norway
, and Marie, Queen consort of Romania
.
In 1764, Ernst Frederick's moved the capital from Saalfeld to Coburg
and in 1805, his son and heir the 5th Duke Franz Frederick
would buy castle Rosenau as the new seat of the duchy. During the time of Ernst III Anton, the neighbouring royal line of Saxe-Gotha and Altenburg
became extinct. Ernst Anton III received the duchy of Gotha but in exchange had to give up Saalfeld.
The city is still partly surrounded by old walls and bastion
s, and contains some interesting medieval buildings, among them being a palace
, built at the start of the early modern era
in 1679 on the site of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter, which was destroyed during the German Peasants' War
(1525). Other notable edifices are the Gothic Church of St. John, dating from the beginning of the 13th century; the Gothic
town hall, completed in 1537; and, standing on an eminence above the river, the Kitzerstein, a palace said to have been originally erected by the German King Henry I, although the present building is not older than the 16th century. But perhaps the most interesting relic of the past in Saalfeld is the ruin of the Hoher Schwarm, called later the Sorbenburg, said to have been erected in the 7th century.
The Battle of Saalfeld
, part of the Napoleonic Wars
, took place on October 10, 1806.
After the division of Germany, Saalfeld station
became a border station on the Halle–Bamberg railway
—one of two routes that could be taken by trains between Leipzig/Halle and Nuremberg. As a border station its steam locomotive shed assumed extra importance as Saalfeld essentially became the southern terminus of DDR train services. Due to the continued use of steam locomotives in East Germany after the end of steam working in West Germany
, the area became a mecca for railway enthusiasts for some years. However, despite being very close to the Inner German border to the south, it was only accessible by a very roundabout route.
. As such, there is a wealth of outdoor options including hiking, skiing, fishing, hunting, rock climbing, sailing and many other sports.
Thuringia
, despite being one of the smaller states in Germany, is well known for its winter sports. Within about an hour's drive of Saalfeld, there are multiple options for skiing, nordic skiing, skating and indoor winter sports. In the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, more than half the gold medals taken by overall medal table winner Germany came from Thuringia athletes. In the Winter Olympics 2010 in Vancouver, Germany placed second in the overall medal tally and again, half the gold medals came from Thuringia athletes. Over the last decade, Thuringia have won as many Winter Olympic gold medals as Switzerland and Russia, and more than France or China.
Saalfeld is also a popular base for hikers taking on the mountainous 168 km Rennsteig, Germany's most famous hiking trail.
, including the manufacture of machinery, brick
s, paint
, malt
, cigar
s, hosiery
and vinegar
. Tourism and recreation-related activities make up a significant part of the local economy.
Other industries are brewing
, printing
and iron-founding
, and there are ochre
and iron
mines in the area.
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 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...
, capital of the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt
Saalfeld-Rudolstadt
Saalfeld-Rudolstadt is a Kreis in the south of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are the districts Weimarer Land, Saale-Holzland, Saale-Orla, the district Kronach in Bavaria, and the districts Sonneberg, Hildburghausen and Ilm-Kreis.-History:The district dates back to the Landratsamt...
district of Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
. It is situated by the Saale River
Saale
The Saale, also known as the Saxon Saale and Thuringian Saale , is a river in Germany and a left-bank tributary of the Elbe. It is not to be confused with the smaller Franconian Saale, a right-bank tributary of the Main, or the Saale in Lower Saxony, a tributary of the Leine.-Course:The Saale...
, 48 km (29.8 mi) south of German cultural capital Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
, between Nuremburg and Leipzig. The population of the district is 120,000, that of the tri-city area is 70,000 and Saalfeld town proper is 28,000. It is best known internationally as the former capital of the branch of the House of Wettin (known amongst English-speakers as the Windsors) that is today's British royal family.
History
Saalfeld is one of the ancient towns of ThuringiaThuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
, founded by the 7th century. Between 1699 and 1826, it was one of two capitals of the Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
The Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld was one of the Saxon Duchies held by the Ernestine line of the Wettin Dynasty. Established in the 17th century, the Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield line lasted until the reshuffle of Ernestine territories that occurred following the extinction of the Saxe-Gotha line in...
duchy. Like Coburg
Coburg
Coburg is a town located on the Itz River in Bavaria, Germany. Its 2005 population was 42,015. Long one of the Thuringian states of the Wettin line, it joined with Bavaria by popular vote in 1920...
, its sister town to the south, Saalfeld is linked to many of Europe's royal families.
For example, Queen Victoria's mother was the Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld was the mother of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.-Early life:...
, while Queen Victoria's husband Albert was also born into the house of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. At about the same period, the royal family of Belgium was founded by Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Leopold I of Belgium
Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
and the Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld married the crown prince of Russia.
The 1st Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld built Saalfeld Castle in 1677 to be the capital of his duchy. Saalfeld Castle, which has been renovated and is today the town administrative building, was home to four generations of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld dukes. The 4th Duke Ernst Frederick, was the last duke to be born in Saalfeld. His heirs, the 5th Duke Franz Frederick and the 6th Duke Ernst III Anton were the last dukes of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.
Ernst III Anton would go on to found the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha while Franz Frederick, in an unprecedented display of conquest through marriage, would put his children and grandchildren into the ruling houses in many European countries. The first was Leopold Friedrich
Leopold I of Belgium
Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
; born Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and the youngest son of Franz Frederick; becoming King of the Belgians in 1831.
But most famous of all is the House of Windsor
House of Windsor
The House of Windsor is the royal house of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V by royal proclamation on the 17 July 1917, when he changed the name of his family from the German Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the English Windsor, due to the anti-German sentiment in the United Kingdom...
, as Franz Frederick was the grandfather of both Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and her husband, Albert, Prince Consort. This bloodline continues unbroken from Queen Victoria through to Queen Elizabeth today. Other descendents of Franz Frederick include Wilhelm II, German Emperor, Alexandra, Empress consort of Russia, Victoria, Queen consort of Spain, Ferdinand II, King consort of Portugal
Ferdinand II of Portugal
Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha , named Prince Ferdinand Augustus Francis Anthony of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Koháry, was King of Portugal as husband of Queen Maria II of Portugal from the birth of their son in 1837 to her death in 1853.In keeping with Portuguese law, only after the birth of his son in...
, Carlota, Empress consort of Mexico
Charlotte of Belgium
Charlotte of Belgium is remembered today as Carlota of Mexico as empress consort of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, ex-Archduke of Austria.-Princess of Belgium:The only daughter of Leopold I, King of the Belgians by his second wife,...
, Ferdinand I, King of Bulgaria
Ferdinand I of Bulgaria
Ferdinand , born Ferdinand Maximilian Karl Leopold Maria of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry, was the ruler of Bulgaria from 1887 to 1918, first as knyaz and later as tsar...
, Sofía, Queen consort of Spain, Princess of Greece and Denmark
Queen Sofía of Spain
Queen Sofía of Spain is the wife of King Juan Carlos I of Spain.-Early life and family:Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark was born in Psychiko, Athens, Greece on 2 November 1938, the eldest child of the King Paul of Greece and his wife, Queen Frederika , a former princess of Hanover...
, Maud, Queen consort of Norway
Maud of Wales
Princess Maud of Wales was Queen of Norway as spouse of King Haakon VII. She was a member of the British Royal Family as the youngest daughter of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark and granddaughter of Queen Victoria and also of Christian IX of Denmark. She was the younger sister of George V...
, and Marie, Queen consort of Romania
Marie of Romania
Marie of Romania was Queen consort of Romania from 1914 to 1927, as the wife of Ferdinand I of Romania.-Early life:...
.
In 1764, Ernst Frederick's moved the capital from Saalfeld to Coburg
Coburg
Coburg is a town located on the Itz River in Bavaria, Germany. Its 2005 population was 42,015. Long one of the Thuringian states of the Wettin line, it joined with Bavaria by popular vote in 1920...
and in 1805, his son and heir the 5th Duke Franz Frederick
Franz Frederick Anton, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld
Franz Frederick Anton, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld , was a duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. He is a patrilineal ancestor of Elizabeth II, Albert II of Belgium and Simeon B...
would buy castle Rosenau as the new seat of the duchy. During the time of Ernst III Anton, the neighbouring royal line of Saxe-Gotha and Altenburg
Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg was a duchy ruled by the Ernestine branch of the House of Wettin in today's Thuringia, Germany.It was nominally created in 1672 when Frederick William III, the last duke of Saxe-Altenburg, died and Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha , inherited the major part of his possessions...
became extinct. Ernst Anton III received the duchy of Gotha but in exchange had to give up Saalfeld.
The city is still partly surrounded by old walls and bastion
Bastion
A bastion, or a bulwark, is a structure projecting outward from the main enclosure of a fortification, situated in both corners of a straight wall , facilitating active defence against assaulting troops...
s, and contains some interesting medieval buildings, among them being a palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
, built at the start of the early modern era
Early modern Europe
Early modern Europe is the term used by historians to refer to a period in the history of Europe which spanned the centuries between the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, roughly the late 15th century to the late 18th century...
in 1679 on the site of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter, which was destroyed during the German Peasants' War
German Peasants' War
The German Peasants' War or Great Peasants' Revolt was a widespread popular revolt in the German-speaking areas of Central Europe, 1524–1526. At its height in the spring and summer of 1525, the conflict involved an estimated 300,000 peasants: contemporary estimates put the dead at 100,000...
(1525). Other notable edifices are the Gothic Church of St. John, dating from the beginning of the 13th century; the Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
town hall, completed in 1537; and, standing on an eminence above the river, the Kitzerstein, a palace said to have been originally erected by the German King Henry I, although the present building is not older than the 16th century. But perhaps the most interesting relic of the past in Saalfeld is the ruin of the Hoher Schwarm, called later the Sorbenburg, said to have been erected in the 7th century.
The Battle of Saalfeld
Battle of Saalfeld
The Battle of Saalfeld saw Marshal Lannes and a division of his V Corps defeat 8,300 Prussians under Prince Louis Ferdinand.-Battle:Prince Louis Ferdinand was one of the principal advocates of resuming war against the French....
, part of the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, took place on October 10, 1806.
After the division of Germany, Saalfeld station
Saalfeld station
Saalfeld station is the station of the city of Saalfeld in the southeast of the German state of Thuringia...
became a border station on the Halle–Bamberg railway
Saal Railway
The Saal Railway is a 153 kilometre-long double-track main line in the German state of Thuringia. It connects the Thuringian Railway at Großheringen with the Franconian Forest Railway at at Saalfeld and is part of the north-south main line, Munich–Nuremberg–Halle / Leipzig–Berlin...
—one of two routes that could be taken by trains between Leipzig/Halle and Nuremberg. As a border station its steam locomotive shed assumed extra importance as Saalfeld essentially became the southern terminus of DDR train services. Due to the continued use of steam locomotives in East Germany after the end of steam working in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, the area became a mecca for railway enthusiasts for some years. However, despite being very close to the Inner German border to the south, it was only accessible by a very roundabout route.
Recreation
Saalfeld is situated between the mountains and lakes of the Thuringian ForestThuringian Forest
The Thuringian Forest running northwest to southeast, forms a continuous stretch of ancient rounded mountains posing ample difficulties in transit routing save through a few navigable passes in the southern reaches of the German state of Thuringia. It is about long and wide...
. As such, there is a wealth of outdoor options including hiking, skiing, fishing, hunting, rock climbing, sailing and many other sports.
Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
, despite being one of the smaller states in Germany, is well known for its winter sports. Within about an hour's drive of Saalfeld, there are multiple options for skiing, nordic skiing, skating and indoor winter sports. In the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, more than half the gold medals taken by overall medal table winner Germany came from Thuringia athletes. In the Winter Olympics 2010 in Vancouver, Germany placed second in the overall medal tally and again, half the gold medals came from Thuringia athletes. Over the last decade, Thuringia have won as many Winter Olympic gold medals as Switzerland and Russia, and more than France or China.
Saalfeld is also a popular base for hikers taking on the mountainous 168 km Rennsteig, Germany's most famous hiking trail.
Industry
Traditionally, Saalfeld was known for its silver mines. Today, Saalfeld has a number of prosperous industriesIndustry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
, including the manufacture of machinery, brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
s, paint
Paint
Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film. One may also consider the digital mimicry thereof...
, malt
Malt
Malt is germinated cereal grains that have been dried in a process known as "malting". The grains are made to germinate by soaking in water, and are then halted from germinating further by drying with hot air...
, cigar
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
s, hosiery
Hosiery
Hosiery, also referred to as legwear, describes garments worn directly on the feet and legs. The term originated as the collective term for products of which a maker or seller is termed a hosier; and those products are also known generically as hose...
and vinegar
Vinegar
Vinegar is a liquid substance consisting mainly of acetic acid and water, the acetic acid being produced through the fermentation of ethanol by acetic acid bacteria. Commercial vinegar is produced either by fast or slow fermentation processes. Slow methods generally are used with traditional...
. Tourism and recreation-related activities make up a significant part of the local economy.
Other industries are brewing
Brewing
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source in water and then fermenting with yeast. Brewing has taken place since around the 6th millennium BCE, and archeological evidence suggests that this technique was used in ancient Egypt...
, printing
Printing
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
and iron-founding
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
, and there are ochre
Ochre
Ochre is the term for both a golden-yellow or light yellow brown color and for a form of earth pigment which produces the color. The pigment can also be used to create a reddish tint known as "red ochre". The more rarely used terms "purple ochre" and "brown ochre" also exist for variant hues...
and iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
mines in the area.
Famous People from Saalfeld
- Erasmus ReinholdErasmus ReinholdErasmus Reinhold was a German astronomer and mathematician, considered to be the most influential astronomical pedagogue of his generation. He was born and died in Saalfeld, Saxony....
, mathematician and the most influential astronomer in 16th century Germany
- Ernst Frederick, 4th Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Great-grandfather of Queen Victoria of England and great-grandfather of the Prince Consort, Albert of Saxe-Gotha
- Franz Frederick Anton, 5th Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Son of Ernst Frederick and grandfather of Queen Victoria and Prince Consort, Albert of Saxe-Gotha
- Johann Semler, 18th century theologian and father of German rationalism
- Johann KirnbergerJohann KirnbergerJohann Philipp Kirnberger was a musician, composer , and music theorist. A pupil of Johann Sebastian Bach, he became a violinist at the court of Frederick II of Prussia in 1751. He was the music director to the Prussian Princess Anna Amalia from 1758 until his death. Kirnberger greatly admired J.S...
, 18th century composer and royal music director, student of Bach
- Karl Friedrich GeldnerKarl Friedrich GeldnerKarl Friedrich Geldner was a German linguist best known for his analysis and synthesis of Avestan and Vedic Sanskrit texts.-Biography:...
, professor of linguistics and noted Sanskrit scholar
- Paul OßwaldPaul OßwaldPaul Oßwald was a German former football player and manager. As manager of Eintracht Frankfurt he won the German championship in 1959.-Early career, 1918-28:...
, football manager of Eintracht Franfurt, German champions and European Cup runner up
- Britta BilacBritta BilacBritta Bilač is a retired high jumper who competed internationally for Germany and Slovenia from 1992 onwards...
, high jumper. Gold medal in the 1994 European championships
- Olaf Hess, shooter. Silver medal in the World championships
- Petra FelkePetra FelkePetra Meier, nee Felke is a former German track and field athlete and Olympic champion who represented East Germany....
, track and field. Gold medal in the Olympics
- Wolfram GrandezkaWolfram GrandezkaWolfram Grandezka is a German actor.He landed the role of Roman Klingenberg in the Daytime soap opera Unter uns. He played the role from January 5, 1998 to April 26, 2000. Wolfram came to another soap, Verbotene Liebe, four years later...
, actor and husband of supermodel Nadja Auermann
External links
- http://www.saalfeld-urlaub.de/