View source for Merseburg

{{short description|Town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox German location
|type              = Stadt
|image_coa         = Wappen Merseburg.png
|image_photo        = {{Multiple image
 |caption_align = center
 |border = infobox
 |total_width = 290
 |perrow = 1/2/1
 |image1 = MerseburgDomschloßblick.JPG
 |caption1 = Merseburg Castle and Cathedral
 |image2 = Merseburg Ständehaus Front.JPG
 |caption2 = Ständehaus
 |image3 = Krummes Tor in Merseburg (3).jpg
 |caption3 = Krummes Tor
 |image4 = Merseburg Orangerie.jpg
 |caption4 = Orangerie in the Castle garden
  }}
|coordinates       = {{coord|51|21|16|N|11|59|34|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|image_plan        = Merseburg in SK.svg
|state             = Sachsen-Anhalt
|district          = Saalekreis
|elevation         = 88
|area              = 53.76
|postal_code       = 06217
|area_code         = 03461
|licence           = SK, MER, MQ
|Gemeindeschlüssel = 15 0 88 220
|website           = [https://www.merseburg.de/ www.merseburg.de]
|mayor             = Sebastian Müller-Bahr<ref>[https://wahlergebnisse.sachsen-anhalt.de/wahlen/bmbm/index.html Bürgermeisterwahlen in den Gemeinden, Endgültige Ergebnisse], [[Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen-Anhalt]], accessed 10 November 2022.</ref>
|leader_term       = 2022&ndash;29
|Bürgermeistertitel = Oberbürgermeister
|party             = 
}}
'''Merseburg''' ({{IPA|de|ˈmɛʁzəbʊʁk|-|De-Merseburg.ogg}}) is a [[town]] in central [[Germany]] in southern [[Saxony-Anhalt]], situated on the river [[Saale]], and approximately 14&nbsp;km south of [[Halle (Saale)]] and 30&nbsp;km west of [[Leipzig]]. It is the capital of the [[Saalekreis]] district. It had a [[diocese]] founded by Archbishop [[Adalbert of Magdeburg]].
The [[University of Merseburg]] is located within the town. Merseburg has around 35,000 inhabitants. 

==Names==
* {{langx|cs|Merseburk, Meziboř}}
* {{langx|fr|Mersebourg}}
* {{langx|de|Merseburg}}
* {{langx|la|Merseburga}}
* {{langx|pl|Międzybórz}}
* {{langx|wen|Mjezybor}}

==Geography==

The town Merseburg consists of Merseburg proper and the following four ''Ortschaften'' or municipal divisions:<ref name=Hauptsatzung>[https://www.merseburg.de/de/datei/anzeigen/id/69620,1055/hauptsatzung_korrektur_11.06.2019_stand_15.04.2019.pdf Hauptsatzung der Stadt Merseburg], § 15, April 2019.</ref>
*[[Beuna (Geiseltal)]]
*[[Geusa]]
*Meuschau
*Trebnitz

=== Administrative reforms ===
Venenien was incorporated into Merseburg on 1 January 1949. The parish Kötzschen followed on 1 July 1950.<ref>''Gemeinden 1994 und ihre Veränderungen seit 01.01.1948 in den neuen Ländern'', Verlag Metzler-Poeschel, Stuttgart, 1995, {{ISBN|3-8246-0321-7}}, Herausgeber: Statistisches Bundesamt</ref> Since 30 May 1994, Meuschau is part of Merseburg.<ref>[https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Laender-Regionen/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Namens-Grenz-Aenderung/1994.html Gebietsänderungen vom 01.01. bis 31.12.1994], [[Statistisches Bundesamt]]</ref> Trebnitz, previously part of [[Kreypau]], followed in 2003.<ref>[https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Laender-Regionen/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Namens-Grenz-Aenderung/2003.html Gebietsänderungen vom 01.01. bis 31.12.2003], [[Statistisches Bundesamt]]</ref> [[Beuna]] was annexed on 1 January 2009.<ref>[https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Laender-Regionen/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Namens-Grenz-Aenderung/2009-inklusive-umstellung-januar.html Gebietsänderungen am 01.01.2009], [[Statistisches Bundesamt]]</ref> [[Geusa]] is a part of Merseburg since 1 January 2010.<ref>[https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Laender-Regionen/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Namens-Grenz-Aenderung/2010.html Gebietsänderungen vom 01. Januar bis 31. Dezember 2010], [[Statistisches Bundesamt]]</ref>

==History==
{{Quote box |width=19em |align=right|bgcolor=#B0C4DE
|title=Historical affiliations
|fontsize=90% |quote={{flagicon image|Wappen Bistum Merseburg.png|border=no|size=x30px}} [[Bishopric of Merseburg]] 1004-1565<br>
{{flag|Electorate of Saxony}} 1565-1657<br>
{{flagicon image|Banner of Saxony (1^1).svg|size=19px}} [[Duchy of Saxe-Merseburg]] 1657-1738<br>
{{flagicon image|Polish Royal Banner of The House of Wettin.svg|border=no|size=25px}} [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Poland]]-[[Electorate of Saxony|Saxony]] 1738-1763<br>
{{flag|Electorate of Saxony}} 1763-1806<br>
{{flagicon image|State flag of Saxony before 1815.svg}} [[Kingdom of Saxony]] 1806-1815<br>
{{flag|Kingdom of Prussia|1803}} 1815-1871<br>
{{flag|German Empire}} 1871-1918<br>
{{flag|Weimar Republic}} 1918-1933<br>
{{flag|Nazi Germany}} 1933-1945<br>
{{flag|Allied-occupied Germany}} 1945-1949<br>
{{flag|East Germany}} 1949-1990<br>
{{flag|Germany}} 1990-present
}}

===Middle Ages===
Merseburg was first mentioned in 850. King [[Henry the Fowler]] built a royal palace at Merseburg; in the 933 [[Battle of Riade]], he gained his great victory over the [[Hungarians]] in the vicinity.

[[Dětmar|Thietmar]], appointed in 973, became the first bishop of the newly created [[bishopric of Prague]] in [[Bohemia]]. Prague had been part of the [[archbishopric of Mainz]] for a hundred years before that. From 968 until the [[Protestant Reformation]], Merseburg was the seat of the [[Bishop of Merseburg]], and in addition to being for a time the residence of the [[Margraviate of Meissen|margraves of Meissen]], it was a favorite residence of the German kings during the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Fifteen [[Reichstag (Holy Roman Empire)|diets]] were held here during the Middle Ages, during which time its fairs enjoyed the importance which was afterwards transferred to those of [[Leipzig]]. After Ekkehard's treacherous death on 3 April 1002, [[Bolesław I Chrobry]] took Merseburg and Meissen, and then Milsko with Bautzen and Strehla, with the help of the local Slavic population. The German princes accepted the sovereignty of the Polish prince in these areas. Some historians believe that since the convention in Gniezno, the Brave might have had certain rights to the German throne after Otto III, guaranteed by some succession document. Merseburg was later the site of a failed assassination attempt on Polish ruler [[Bolesław I Chrobry]] in 1002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.konflikty.pl/historia/sredniowiecze/konflikty-boleslawa-chrobrego-z-henrykiem-ii-od-roku-1002-do-pokoju-poznanskiego/|title=Konflikty Bolesława Chrobrego z Henrykiem II od roku 1002 do pokoju poznańskiego|first=O. autorze Paweł Kubiak Rekonstruktor X. w Hevding drużyny słowian i wikingów Vergild Student|last=UAM|date=20 May 2013|access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref> The town suffered severely during the [[German Peasants' War]] and also during the [[Thirty Years' War]].
[[File:Merseburg-1650-Merian.jpg|thumb|center|450px|Merseburg in 1650]]

===17th century to 20th century===
From 1657 to 1738 Merseburg was the residence of the Dukes of [[Duchy of Saxe-Merseburg|Saxe-Merseburg]], after which it fell to the [[Electorate of Saxony]]. In 1815 following the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the town became part of the [[Prussia]]n [[Province of Saxony]].

Merseburg is where the [[Merseburg Incantations]] were rediscovered in 1841. Written down in [[Old High German]], they are hitherto the only preserved German documents with a heathen theme. One of them is a charm to release warriors caught during battle, and the other is a charm to heal a horse's sprained foot.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Merseburg was transformed into an industrial town, largely due to the pioneering work done by [[Carl Bosch]] and [[Friedrich Bergius]], who laid down the scientific fundamentals of the catalytic high-pressure [[ammonia]] synthesis from 1909 to 1913. The nearby [[Leuna works]] continue this tradition of chemical industry.<ref>{{cite web |title=InfraLeuna Producers |url=http://www.infraleuna.de/en/companies-on-site/producers/ |website=infraleuna.de/ |publisher=InfraLeuna GmbH |access-date=15 May 2020}}</ref> The ''Merseburger Tageblatt'' was published as a local newspaper in Merseburg.

Merseburg was badly damaged in [[World War II]]. In 23 air raids, 6,200 dwellings were completely or partly destroyed.<ref>Eckardt Götz (1980) ''Schicksale deutscher Baudenkmale im zweiten Weltkrieg, Band 2'', p. 332, Henschelverlag, Berlin</ref> The historic town centre was almost completely destroyed.

Briefly part of [[Saxony-Anhalt]] after the war, it was then administered within the [[Bezirk Halle|''Bezirk'' Halle]] in [[East Germany]]. It became part of Saxony-Anhalt again after the [[reunification of Germany]].

==Demographics==
Like many towns in the former East Germany, Merseburg has had a general decline in population since German Reunification despite annexing and merging with a number of smaller nearby villages.

Population of Merseburg ''(from 1960, population on 31 December, unless otherwise indicated)'':
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
| valign="top" width="20%" |
'''1834 to 1933'''
* 1834: {{0}}8,830
* 1875: 13,664
* 1880: 15,205
* 1890: 17,669
* 1925: 25,630
* 1933: 31,576
| valign="top" width="20%" |
'''1939 to 1984'''
* 1939: 38,058
* 1946: 33,978 <sup>1</sup>
* 1950: 38,441 <sup>2</sup>
* 1960: 47,199
* 1981: 50,932
* 1984: 48,399
| valign="top" width="20%" |
'''1990 to 2007'''
* 1990: 43,815 <sup>3</sup>
* 1995: 41,576
* 2000: 37,127
* 2005: 34,581
* 2006: 34,411
* 2007: 34,039 <sup>4</sup>
| valign="top" width="20%" |
'''from 2008'''
* 2008: 34,623
* 2009: 34,313
* 2010: 35,419
* 2012 	33,520
* 2015 	34,052 
| valign="top" width="20%" |
'''from 2016'''
* 2016 	33,931
* 2017 	34,197 
* 2021: 34,785
* 2022: 35,815
|}
<small>Data source from 1990: Statistical Office of Saxony Anhalt<br />
1 29 October<br />
2 31 August<br />
3 3 October<br />
4 14 July 2008</small>

==Sights==
Among the notable buildings of Merseburg are the [[Merseburg Cathedral]] of St [[John the Baptist]] (founded 1015, rebuilt in the 13th and 16th centuries) and the episcopal palace (15th century). The cathedral-and-palace ensemble also features a palace garden.

Other sights include the Merseburg House of Trades with a cultural stage and the German Museum of Chemistry, Merseburg.

<gallery widths="100px" heights="100px">
MerseburgDomschloßsaale.JPG|Merseburg Castle
Dom Merseburg 01.jpg|[[Merseburg Cathedral|Cathedral]]
Merseburg, Germany - panoramio (30).jpg|Ständehaus
Merseburg, Kirchenruine Sankt Sixti, 001.jpg|St. Sixti
Merseburg, the church St. Maximi.jpg|St. Maximi Church
AltesRathausMerseburg.jpg|Old Town Hall
Merseburg, Stadtbefestigung, Eulenturm, 001.jpg|Eulenturm
</gallery>

==Arts and culture==
The Merseburg Palace Festival with the Historical Pageant, the International Palace-Moat Concerts, Merseburg Organ Days and the Puppet Show Festival Week are events celebrated every year.

==Transport==
[[Merseburg station]] is located on the [[Halle–Bebra railway]]. [[Leipzig/Halle Airport]] is 25 kilometers away.
Merseburg is connected with the [[Trams in Halle (Saale)|Halle (Saale) tramway network]]. A tram ride from Halle's city centre to Merseburg takes about 50 minutes.

<gallery widths="100px" heights="100px">
MerseburgBf.JPG|Merseburg station
Leipzig-Halle Airport Check-in.jpg|Leipzig/Halle Airport, 25 kilometres away from Merseburg
Schkopau Strassenbahn.jpg|Tram in Schkopau, near Merseburg
</gallery>

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}}
Merseburg is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Partnerstädte|url=https://www.merseburg.de/de/partnerstaedte.html|website=merseburg.de|publisher=Merseburg|language=de|access-date=2021-02-25}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Châtillon, Hauts-de-Seine|Châtillon]], France
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Genzano di Roma]], Italy
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Bottrop]], Germany

==Notable people==
[[File:ErnstHaeckel.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|Ernst Haeckel in 1906]]
*[[Thietmar of Merseburg]] (975–1018), bishop and chronist
*[[Menahem of Merseburg]] (first half of 15th century), rabbi and author
*[[Johannes Knolleisen]] (1450–1513), theological professor
*[[Szymon Bogumił Zug]] (1733–1807), Polish-German architect and designer of gardens
*[[Karl Adolph von Basedow]] (1799–1854), physician
*[[Ernst Haeckel]] (1834–1919), biologist, philosopher, physician
*[[Lucian Müller]] (1836–1898), classical scholar
*[[Oskar Herrfurth]] (1862-1934), painter and illustrator
*[[Elisabeth Schumann]] (1888–1952), operatic soprano
*[[Klaus Tennstedt]] (1926–1998), conductor
*[[Uwe Nolte]] (born 1969), poet, musician and graphic artist
*[[Jawed Karim]] (born 1979), American software engineer, [[YouTube]] co-founder, creator of the first video uploaded to YouTube "[[Me at the zoo]]"
*[[Dave Grunewald]] (born 1986), metalcore singer for [[Annisokay]] (2011-2019), fitness expert, and podcaster

==References==
*{{EB1911|wstitle=Merseburg|volume=18|pages=173–174}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Official|https://www.merseburg.de/}} {{in lang|de}}

{{Cities and towns in Saalekreis (district)}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Merseburg| ]]
[[Category:Saalekreis]]
[[Category:Members of the Hanseatic League]]