Neubrandenburg

Neubrandenburg is a city in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district of Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, Germany. It is next to a lake called Tollensesee and is the main city of the Mecklenburg Lakeland.

The city is famous for its old buildings made of brick. It has a special wall that is one of the best examples of this style. There is also a Concert Church named Saint Mary, where people can hear the Neubrandenburg Philharmonic play music.

Neubrandenburg is called the “City of Four Gates” because it has four old city gates. Since 2011, it has been the capital of the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district and is the third-largest city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The city helps bring jobs and money to the area, with a strong GDP per capita. Big cities nearby include Rostock, Szczecin, Berlin, and Hamburg.

Since 1991, Neubrandenburg has had a University of Applied Sciences. Students from many countries can study there. The city is also on the European Route of Brick Gothic, a path that goes through seven countries along the Baltic Sea coast.

History

The area around Neubrandenburg was mostly empty during a time called the Migration Period. Later, Slavs settled there and formed a group called the Veleti in the 7th century. German influence grew after 1200, and the city of Neubrandenburg was founded in 1248 by the Margrave of Brandenburg. He named it after another city farther south.

Neubrandenburg became an important trade center until the Thirty Years' War caused problems. Later, it was part of Mecklenburg and experienced many changes, including times under Swedish and German rule. During the Second World War, the city was affected by the conflict. After the war, it became part of East Germany and was rebuilt. Following Germany’s reunification in 1990, the city faced economic challenges but has since improved. Today, it is the capital of the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte.

Sights and monuments

Neubrandenburg has kept its old medieval city wall completely intact. This wall is 7 meters high and goes around the city for 2.3 kilometers. It has four beautiful Brick Gothic city gates from the 1300s and 1400s. One of these is the Stargarder Tor, which has a special shape and detailed designs.

Another important site is the Brick Gothic Marienkirche, finished in 1298. It was damaged in 1945 but was repaired and is now used as a concert hall. The tallest building in the city is the 56-meter tower of the Haus der Kultur und Bildung, called Kulturfinger. Other interesting places include the Neubrandenburg Regional Museum, several old gates, and the pretty Tollensesee lake.

Education

Neubrandenburg has a Hochschule Neubrandenburg, which is a University of Applied Sciences. The city also has three large secondary schools. These schools help students get ready for more studies or jobs after primary school.

Sports

Neubrandenburg is known as a city for sports and is often called Sportstadt. The city has produced many Olympic medal winners and talented athletes, especially in canoeing, discus throwing, shot putting, and running. Famous athletes from Neubrandenburg include Andreas Dittmer, Martin Hollstein, Astrid Kumbernuss, Ralf Bartels, Franka Dietzsch, Katrin Krabbe, Jürgen Schult, and Gabriele Reinsch. The city has special stadiums and sports parks where big sporting and cultural events can take place, including the Jahnstadion, the Jahnsportforum, and the Stadthalle. There is also a special school for talented athletes called the Sportgymnasium Neubrandenburg.

Notable people

Neubrandenburg has been home to many famous people in different areas. Some of them are Wenceslaus Johann Gustav Karsten, a mathematician, and Fritz Reuter, a well-known writer. Other famous people from the city include Luise Mühlbach, a writer, and Theodor Leipart, a leader in German labor unions.

In sports, the city has produced athletes like Hans-Jürgen Wallbrecht, a rower who won a silver medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics, and Rüdiger Helm, a canoeist who won Olympic medals. Other well-known sports people are Ulf Hielscher, a bobsledder who won a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics, and Jana Sorgers, a rower who won gold at the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Governance

The mayor of Neubrandenburg is independent politician Silvio Witt. He has been mayor since 2015. The last mayoral election was on January 16, 2022. In October 2024, Mr. Witt said he will leave his job as mayor in May 2025. The last city council election was on June 9, 2024.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Neubrandenburg has several twin towns and sister cities around the world. These partnerships help people from different places share ideas and experiences.

Neubrandenburg is twinned with:

• Collegno, Italy (since 1965)
• Flensburg, Germany (since 1987)
• Gladsaxe, Denmark (since 1990)
• Koszalin, Poland (since 1974)
• Nazareth, Israel (since 1998)
• Nevers, France (since 1973)
• Petrozavodsk, Russia (since 1983)
• Villejuif, France (since 1966)
• Yangzhou, China (since 1999)