Woltersdorf, Brandenburg
Encyclopedia
Woltersdorf is a municipality
in the Oder-Spree
district in Brandenburg
. It is often referred to as "near Berlin
" (German: "bei Berlin") or "near Erkner
" (German: "bei Erkner") as there are a number of other places bearing the same name in Germany.
, the Berlin
forest and Erkner
. Beside its touristic relevance, Woltesdorf is also known for its "unique educational conception" (newspaper "Neue Zürcher Zeitung
", 2006-08-07).
, Erkner
, Berlin
and Schöneiche
.
4,790 people lived in Woltersdorf. Since. the population of Woltersdorf has risen from 6,800 (2001) to 8,000 (2010). Today, Woltersdorf is the youngest commune in the Oder-Spree district: More than 12% of the population is younger than 15 years.
(Election 2008)
Municipalities of Germany
Municipalities are the lowest level of territorial division in Germany. This may be the fourth level of territorial division in Germany, apart from those states which include Regierungsbezirke , where municipalities then become the fifth level.-Overview:With more than 3,400,000 inhabitants, the...
in the Oder-Spree
Oder-Spree
Oder-Spree is a Kreis in the eastern part of Brandenburg, Germany. Neighboring are the district Märkisch-Oderland, the district-free city Frankfurt , Poland, the district Spree-Neiße and Dahme-Spreewald, and the Bundesland Berlin.-Geography:The district is named after the two major rivers in the...
district in Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
. It is often referred to as "near Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
" (German: "bei Berlin") or "near Erkner
Erkner
-Geography:It is situated on the river Spree, 23 km west of Fürstenwalde, and directly on the border to Berlin-Rahnsdorf....
" (German: "bei Erkner") as there are a number of other places bearing the same name in Germany.
Geography
The municipality is located at the three lakes Flakensee, Kalksee and the Bauernsee, between SchöneicheSchöneiche
Schöneiche is a municipality in the Oder-Spree District of Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated directly at the edge to Berlin/Köpenick.-External links:...
, the Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
forest and Erkner
Erkner
-Geography:It is situated on the river Spree, 23 km west of Fürstenwalde, and directly on the border to Berlin-Rahnsdorf....
. Beside its touristic relevance, Woltesdorf is also known for its "unique educational conception" (newspaper "Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
The Neue Zürcher Zeitung is a major German language Swiss daily newspaper based in Zurich.One of the oldest newspapers still published, it originally appeared as Zürcher Zeitung, edited by Salomon Gessner, from January 12, 1780, and was renamed to Neue Zürcher Zeitung in 1821...
", 2006-08-07).
Bordering municipalities
Woltersdorf borders (in clockwise direction, starting in north) on RüdersdorfRüdersdorf
Rüdersdorf is a municipality in the district Märkisch-Oderland, in Brandenburg, Germany.-Overview:It is situated 26 km east of Berlin . Rüdersdorf is famous for its limestone-open-pit mining. Today some parts of the mine are used as a museum...
, Erkner
Erkner
-Geography:It is situated on the river Spree, 23 km west of Fürstenwalde, and directly on the border to Berlin-Rahnsdorf....
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Schöneiche
Schöneiche
Schöneiche is a municipality in the Oder-Spree District of Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated directly at the edge to Berlin/Köpenick.-External links:...
.
History
- About 1240 14 farmer families settled on a bank. Today the church, the city hallCity hallIn local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
and the "old schoolSchoolA school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
" (German "alte Schule") are located here, representing the Woltersdorf "downtown". The first residents were farmers and mariners. - In 1319 Woltersdorf was documented first as Waltersdorf slawika. Waltersdorf means "the village from Walter".
- For the first time Woltersdorf was noted 1375 in the "Landbuch". Together with RahnsdorfRahnsdorfRahnsdorf is a German locality within the Berlin borough of Treptow-Köpenick. Until 2001 it was part of the former borough of Köpenick.-History:...
, it had to pay taxes for the castle of KöpenickKöpenickKöpenick is a historic town and locality that is situated at the confluence of the rivers Dahme and Spree in the south-east of the German capital city of Berlin. It was formerly known as Copanic and then Cöpenick, only officially adopting the current spelling in 1931...
. - In 1487 Berlin acquires Woltersdorf.
- In 1550 a lockLock (water transport)A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
was built between the Flakensee and the Kalksee. - In 1550 the first church of Woltersdorf was built up.
- From 1618 till 1648 Woltesdorf was desolated (Thirty Years' WarThirty Years' WarThe 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....
) and temporarily uninhabitated. - About 1886 a touristic observation towerObservation towerAn observation tower is a structure used to view events from a long distance and to create a full 360 degree range of vision. They are usually at least tall and made from stone, iron, and wood. Many modern towers are also used as TV towers, restaurants, or churches...
is built on top of the Kranichsberge. Its grants a great perspective from a height of 105 meters. At clear days you are able to see the Berliner Fernsehturm. In the inside of the tower you can visit the exhibition "When Woltersdorf still was Hollywood" (German "Als Woltersdorf noch Hollywood war"). It recalls the 1920s, where Joe MayJoe MayJoe May , born Julius Otto Mandl, was a film director and film producer born in Austria and one of the pioneers of German cinema....
shoot famous movies (Das indische Grabmal (1920), Herrin der Welt (1919) and Der Tiger von Eschnapur). Today you are able to find leavings of the movie scenery near the see. - At the end of the 19th century the rail from Berlin to the east was finished. In the bordering commune of Woltersdorf, ErknerErkner-Geography:It is situated on the river Spree, 23 km west of Fürstenwalde, and directly on the border to Berlin-Rahnsdorf....
, a train station was built. Many Berlin people had their summer residence in Woltersdorf. - Since 1913 a tramway between the lock and the S-BahnBerlin S-BahnThe Berlin S-Bahn is a rapid transit system in and around Berlin, the capital city of Germany. It consists of 15 lines and is integrated with the mostly underground U-Bahn to form the backbone of Berlin's rapid transport system...
station of RahnsdorfRahnsdorfRahnsdorf is a German locality within the Berlin borough of Treptow-Köpenick. Until 2001 it was part of the former borough of Köpenick.-History:...
was built.
Population
At the time of the German reunificationGerman reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
4,790 people lived in Woltersdorf. Since. the population of Woltersdorf has risen from 6,800 (2001) to 8,000 (2010). Today, Woltersdorf is the youngest commune in the Oder-Spree district: More than 12% of the population is younger than 15 years.
Politics
The City Council has 18 members, one however has not accepted his seat which remains vacant.- 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...
: 4 - SPDSocial Democratic Party of GermanyThe Social Democratic Party of Germany is a social-democratic political party in Germany...
: 3 - Linkspartei: 4
- GrüneGruneGrune may refer to:* Dick Grune, computer scientist* A character in the role-playing game Tales of Legendia...
: 1 - FDP: 1
- WBF (Woltersdorf Citizens' Forum): 3
- NPD: 1
(Election 2008)
Famous Persons
- Politician Regine HildebrandtRegine HildebrandtRegine Hildebrandt , born as Regine Radischewski in Berlin, Germany, was a German biologist and politician . From 1959 to 1964, she studied biology at the Humboldt-Universität in Berlin.In 1978 she was awarded a doctorate for research on medicines...
- Painter und Illustrator FidusFidusFidus was the pseudonym used by German illustrator, painter and publisher Hugo Reinhold Karl Johann Höppener . He was a symbolist artist, whose work directly influenced the psychedelic style of graphic design of the late 1960s.Born the son of a confectioner in Lübeck, Höppener demonstrated...
- Footballer Bodo RudwaleitBodo RudwaleitBodo Rudwaleit is a former German former football goalkeeper who played in East Germany. He played during most of his career for the football club Dynamo Berlin where he was East German champion ten times in a row from 1979 to 1988...
- Entertainer Dagmar Frederic
- Founder of the Wilhelmsbad Woltersdorf, Dr.med. Alfred Pritzel
- Musician Chris CornerChris CornerChris Corner is an English musician and songwriter. He was a founding member of the band Sneaker Pimps and is now active with the IAMX solo project.He has been living in Berlin since 2006, where he has set up his new IAMX studio for music and visual work....
(founding member and former lead singer of Sneaker PimpsSneaker PimpsSneaker Pimps were a British trip-hop band formed in Hartlepool, England in 1994. They are best known for their first album Becoming X and particularly the singles "6 Underground", "Spin Spin Sugar", and "Tesko Suicide" from the same album...
, currently involved in the IAMX project) - Architect Friedrich Heinrich StöckhardtFriedrich Heinrich StöckhardtFriedrich Heinrich Stöckhardt was a German architect.- Life and artwork:Heinrich Stöckhardt was born in Sankt Petersburg. His father, Robert Stöckhardt, had been appointed there as professor of Roman law. After the father's early death in 1848 his widow, Emilie née Voigt, returned with her...