Breitenbrunn, Saxony

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Breitenbrunn
Kirche Breitenbrunn Erzgeb.jpg
Church
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Location of Breitenbrunn within Erzgebirgskreis district
Breitenbrunn-Erzgeb. in ERZ.pngAuerbachBreitenbrunnNeukirchenNiederdorfOelsnitzSchneebergSchwarzenbergTannenbergThalheim
Germany adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Breitenbrunn
Saxony location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Breitenbrunn
Coordinates: 50°28′29″N12°46′0″E / 50.47472°N 12.76667°E / 50.47472; 12.76667
Country Germany
State Saxony
District Erzgebirgskreis
Subdivisions8
Government
   Mayor (202229) Lars Dsaak [1]
Area
  Total60.02 km2 (23.17 sq mi)
Highest elevation
950 m (3,120 ft)
Lowest elevation
550 m (1,800 ft)
Population
 (2022-12-31) [2]
  Total5,084
  Density85/km2 (220/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+01:00 (CET)
  Summer (DST) UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
08359
Dialling codes 037756
Vehicle registration ERZ, ANA, ASZ, AU, MAB, MEK, STL, SZB, ZP
Website www.breitenbrunn-erzgebirge.de

Breitenbrunn is a community in the Ore Mountains in the district of Erzgebirgskreis in the Free State of Saxony in Germany.

Contents

Geography

Constituent communities

The community consists of Breitenbrunn with Breitenhof, Carolathal, Halbemeile and Rabenberg, Antonsthal with Antonshöhe, Erlabrunn, Steinheidel and Fällbach as well as Rittersgrün and Tellerhäuser.

Neighbouring communities

Bordering on Breitenbrunn are Johanngeorgenstadt, the health resort of Oberwiesenthal and the town of Schwarzenberg, all in the Erzgebirgskreis.

Location

Breitenbrunn lies on a mountain ridge stretching from the Schwarzwasser Valley on east. It is surrounded by, among other mountains, the Rabenberg and the Sauberg.

History

Ruins of the former Electoral hunting lodge Schlossruine BB.jpg
Ruins of the former Electoral hunting lodge

As the highest village in the lordly domain of Schwarzenberg, Breitenbrunn was likely founded only in the 13th century. With the help of vast meadows and sites it can be ascertained that no more than ten families settled here at first. The village had its first documentary mention as “breitinprun” in 1380 in a chronicle of the mountain counts of Leisnig when the mining rights for a tin mine had just been granted. Even before Breitenbrunn’s founding there was over the site of the later settlement a wall with a watchtower, a moat and a small outer defence to defend the Schwarzenberg lordly domain at its southernmost point. Since a spring was found within the moat, the moat was called a “broad spring”, or breiten Brunnen in German, and soon this description was taken up as the place’s name.

Of special historic importance is the Breitenbrunn Papermill found in the town, from which, among others, Johann Sebastian Bach got his notepaper.

The church at Breitenbrunn about 1900 Kirche Breitenbrunn.jpg
The church at Breitenbrunn about 1900

Religion

In Catholic times, Breitenbrunn first belonged to the Parish of Schwarzenberg. Later, a chapel consecrated to Saint Peter was built, making Breitenbrunn into a Schwarzenberg branch parish. Even after the Reformation, a dependent relationship was maintained for the time being. Now, however, Breitenbrunn was a daughter community of the newly established parish of Grünstädtel.

The village at last got its ecclesiastical independence in 1559, in which same year St. Christopher’s Church (St.-Christophorus-Kirche) was built. Chosen as the location was the village’s upper end to make the walk for churchgoers from the neighbouring, parochially united community of Rittersgrün somewhat easier, especially in the winter months.

Today, alongside the Evangelical Lutheran community of St. Christopher is an Evangelical Methodist community.

Population development

  • 1533 – ca. 200
  • 1801 – 2250
  • 1834 – 2058
  • 1852 – 2943
  • 1890 – 2224
  • 1910 – 2167
  • 1925 – 2113
  • 1946 – 2467
  • 1956 – 5018
  • 1960 – 4259
  • 1971 – 3420
  • 1999 – 3909
  • 2002 – 3879
  • 2005 – 3751
Data from 1999 on: Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen

Politics

Mayor

The community’s mayor (Bürgermeister) Ralf Fischer, born in 1955, was re-elected in the latest mayoral election in June 2015.

Partnership

Culture and sightseeing

Breitenbrunn in winter Breitenbrunn-Erzgeb.jpg
Breitenbrunn in winter
Haus des Gastes and school Breitenbrunn-Haus-des-Gastes.jpg
Haus des Gastes and school

Natural memorials

Education

Breitenbrunn is also known for its Staatliche Studienakademie Breitenbrunn (Breitenbrunn State Academy). Here roughly 300 students are taught by the dual principle in the fields of tourism economics, industry and welfare.

Sport

Regular events

Famous people

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rittersgrün</span> A village of Rittersgrün in Saxony, for the village of the same name in Bohemia.

Rittersgrün is a district of the municipality of Breitenbrunn/Erzgeb. in the Saxon Erzgebirge district. The scattered settlement with around 1600 inhabitants grew up around several hammer mills, which operated on the course of the Pöhlwasser from the 15th to the 19th century and were supplied with ore from numerous surrounding mines. Due to its location on an important Erzgebirge pass, the settlement was repeatedly plundered by passing mercenaries during the Thirty Years' War. After the decline of the hammer mill industry in the middle of the 19th century, the village's economy was dominated by cardboard and sawmills. In 2007, Rittersgrün was incorporated into Breitenbrunn/Erzgeb. Today, Rittersgrün is primarily known as an excursion and winter sports resort. The main attractions include the Saxon Narrow Gauge Railway Museum and a well-developed network of hiking trails.

References

  1. Gewählte Bürgermeisterinnen und Bürgermeister im Freistaat Sachsen, Stand: 17. Juli 2022, Statistisches Landesamt des Freistaates Sachsen.
  2. "Einwohnerzahlen nach Gemeinden als Excel-Arbeitsmappe" (XLS) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt des Freistaates Sachsen. 2024.