Ostritz

Ostritz

Coat of arms
Ostritz

Coordinates: 51°0′53″N 14°55′56″E / 51.01472°N 14.93222°E / 51.01472; 14.93222Coordinates: 51°0′53″N 14°55′56″E / 51.01472°N 14.93222°E / 51.01472; 14.93222
Country Germany
State Saxony
District Görlitz
Government
  Mayor Marion Prange
Area
  Total 23.39 km2 (9.03 sq mi)
Population (2015-12-31)[1]
  Total 2,382
  Density 100/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 02899
Dialling codes 035823
Vehicle registration GR
Website www.ostritz.de

Ostritz (Upper Sorbian: Wostrowc) is a town in the district Görlitz, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the border with Poland, on the left bank of the Lusatian Neisse, 16 km south of Görlitz.

It was the scene of a small battle in the Seven Years' War, described in a contemporary journal as follows: On 31st December 1756 a picket of Prince Heinrich's Regiment under the command of Major Heinrich von Blumenthal, which had been sent out from Zittau to Ostritz, was attacked by 500 Croats who, notwithstanding their numerical superiority were thoroughly beaten off. The Croats got right into the town and set fire to some houses, but the fires were put out. The most serious loss on the Prussian side was the brave Major von Blumenthal, who fell right at the beginning of the action.

In recent years, the town has become known for its efforts in recycling and ecological renewable energy.[2]

It is also located next to the thirteenth century Cistercian nunnery, St. Marienthal Abbey,[3] which is still functioning.

One curious fact about the town is that due to territorial changes after the Second World War its railway station lies in the Polish village of Krzewina. It is part of the Görlitz-Zittau train line.

References


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/27/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.