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Aken (Elbe)
Encyclopedia
Aken (ˈaːkən) is a town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld
in Saxony-Anhalt
, Germany
. The town is located at the left bank of the Elbe
river
.
. Approx. 15 km west of Aken the Saale
river enters the Middle Elbe.
Gloworp was first mentioned in the 12th century. The town itself was first documented in 1219, naming the mayor Waltherus de Aken. In 1270 Aken received its town charter as Civitas. The name Aken is based on the Latin name Aqua (location at or near the water). Probably this was a foundation from lower rhenish settlers from Aachen
which is spelled Aken in the Dutch language.
Anhalt-Bitterfeld
Anhalt-Bitterfeld is a district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Its capital is Köthen . - History :This district was established by merging the former districts of Bitterfeld, Köthen and a large part of Anhalt-Zerbst as part of the reform of 2007....
in Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
, 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...
. The town is located at the left bank of the Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
river
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
.
Geography
Aken located at the Middle Elbe is approx. 8 km west of Dessau-Rosslau in extended lowlands within the Biosphere Reserve Middle ElbeBiosphere Reserve Middle Elbe
The Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve is a Biosphere Reserve in the German Federal state Saxony-Anhalt.The Middle Elbe reserve is a 430 square kilometre protected reserve, and is the largest protected region in Saxony-Anhalt . It extends along the Elbe river, between Wittenberg in the east, via...
. Approx. 15 km west of Aken the Saale
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...
river enters the Middle Elbe.
Growth of population
| year | citizen |
|---|---|
| 1970 | 12,154 |
| 2005 | 9,083 |
History
The castleCastle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
Gloworp was first mentioned in the 12th century. The town itself was first documented in 1219, naming the mayor Waltherus de Aken. In 1270 Aken received its town charter as Civitas. The name Aken is based on the Latin name Aqua (location at or near the water). Probably this was a foundation from lower rhenish settlers from Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
which is spelled Aken in the Dutch language.
Town twinning
- ErwitteErwitteErwitte is a town in the district of Soest, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Erwitte is situated approx. 8 km south of Lippstadt and 15 km east of Soest.- Neighbouring municipalities:* Lippstadt* Geseke* Rüthen* Anröchte...
(North Rhine-WestphaliaNorth Rhine-WestphaliaNorth Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
) since June 17, 1991 - AnorAnorAnor is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is about south-southeast of Maubeuge.-Heraldry:-References:*...
(FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) since April 24, 1993
Culture and sights
- historical town hall
- two medieval churches: St. Nicholas and St. Mary
- "Stone Kemenate" (heated residential building) from the 13th century with archesArches-Places:* Arches National Park in the U.S. state of Utah* Arches, Cantal, a commune of the Cantal département, in France* Arches, Vosges, a commune of the Vosges département, in France-Other:* Arches of the foot...
- town wall from the Middle Ages with 3 remaining towers
- passenger navigation on the river Elbe
- Biosphere Reserve Middle ElbeBiosphere Reserve Middle ElbeThe Middle Elbe Biosphere Reserve is a Biosphere Reserve in the German Federal state Saxony-Anhalt.The Middle Elbe reserve is a 430 square kilometre protected reserve, and is the largest protected region in Saxony-Anhalt . It extends along the Elbe river, between Wittenberg in the east, via...
Honorary Citizens
- Friedrich Wilhelm Steinbrecht, lieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in Lützow Free CorpsLützow Free CorpsLützow Free Corps was a voluntary force of the Prussian army during the Napoleonic Wars. It was named after its commander, Ludwig Adolf Wilhelm von Lützow. They were also widely known as "Lützower Jäger" or "Schwarze Jäger" .-Origins:... - 2001: Otto Benecke, head of museum of local history
Notable people born in Aken
- August Ludwig Hülsen, German philosopher of the early romance
- Theodor von SickelTheodor von SickelTheodor von Sickel was a German-Austrian historian who was born in Aken, Saxony-Anhalt. He specialized in early European medieval history, and is considered to be the founder of modern diplomatics ....
, German-Austrian historian - Bernd DießnerBernd DießnerBernd Dießner is a retired East German long-distance runner who specialized in the 5000 metres.He won the silver medal at the 1968 European Indoor Games , the bronze medal at the 1966 European Championships, finished fourth at the 1969 European Championships and fourteenth at the 1971 European...
, German athlete - Marilyn Rine, Comedian
- Diana Vellguth, Entertainer
- Christian Reike, Performer
Resident who influenced the history of the city
- Friedrich Ernst Arnold Werner Nolopp, teacher, conductor, composer