Eisleben facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eisleben
Coat of arms
Country	Germany
State	Saxony-Anhalt
District	Mansfeld-Südharz
Elevation	114 m (374 ft)
Population  (2022-12-31)
• Total	22,639
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	06295
Dialling codes	03475, 034773, 034776
Vehicle registration	MSH, EIL, HET, ML, SGH

Eisleben is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It's super famous because it's the hometown of Martin Luther, a very important religious leader. It's also where he passed away. That's why its official name is Lutherstadt Eisleben, which means "Luther Town Eisleben."

The town was first mentioned way back in the late 900s. Eisleben is split into two main parts: the old town, called Altstadt, and the new town, Neustadt. Neustadt was built in the 1300s especially for the miners who worked in the area. In 2020, about 22,668 people lived in Eisleben. The town is also connected by the Halle–Kassel railway.

Eisleben's History

Eisleben first appeared in records in 997 as a market town named Islebia. By 1180, it was officially recognized as a town. The Counts of Mansfeld were in charge of this area for many centuries, until the 1700s.

During the time of the Protestant Reformation, when Martin Luther was sharing his new ideas, the Mansfeld family had different opinions. Some members stayed loyal to the Catholic Church, while others supported Luther's new Protestant faith.

The region faced tough times during the German Peasants' War and later the Thirty Years War. These were periods of conflict and change. In 1530, Count Albert VII of Mansfeld-Hinterort signed the Protestant Augsburg Confession. This was an important document that helped establish Lutheranism as an official religion in the Holy Roman Empire. It meant that local rulers could choose the main religion for their lands.

After the Napoleonic Wars ended, Eisleben became part of the Kingdom of Prussia. This happened after the Vienna Congress in 1815.

The 1900s in Eisleben

After World War I, the Prussian Province of Saxony became part of the Free State of Prussia. Eisleben saw some fighting during the March Action in 1921.

A cool event happened on June 6, 1927! An American pilot named Clarence D. Chamberlin landed his plane in a wheat field near Eisleben. He had just completed the first-ever transatlantic flight with a passenger. He also broke Charles Lindbergh's distance record, which had been set just two weeks earlier!

After World War II in 1947, Eisleben became part of the new state of Saxony-Anhalt. This state was within East Germany (the German Democratic Republic). When Germany reunited in 1990, Eisleben once again became part of the re-created state of Saxony-Anhalt.

Eisleben in the 2000s

Between 2004 and 2010, Eisleben grew bigger by joining with ten nearby villages. This helped the town expand its area.

How Eisleben's Population Changed

The number of people living in Eisleben has slowly gone down since the mid-1960s. This happened even though the town's area grew by merging with nearby villages.

* The number of people living there on December 31st, except for 1964–1981, which were census counts.

Eisleben's Geography

The town of Eisleben includes the main town area and 11 smaller villages, which are called Ortschaften or municipal divisions.

Helfta Monastery

Convent of Our Lady, Helfta

In 1229, the Counts of Mansfeld started a nunnery (a place where nuns live) near their castle. Later, in 1258, they built another monastery at Helfta, close to Eisleben. This monastery became famous for its wise and spiritual abbesses (leaders of the nuns), like Gertrude the Great.

Over the years, the monastery faced many challenges. It was destroyed in 1342 but rebuilt the next year. It closed in 1524 during religious conflicts but reopened for a while. Eventually, it became a farm. In 1950, during the time of East Germany, it was turned into a fruit farm.

After Germany reunited, the Catholic Diocese of Magdeburg bought the property in 1994. With donations from all over the world, they began to restore it. Cistercian nuns moved back into the cloister around 1999. Since 2006, Helfta has been part of the Romanesque Road, a special cultural route in Europe.

Martin Luther's Connection to Eisleben

The famous Protestant reformer Martin Luther was born in Eisleben on November 10, 1483. His father, Hans Luther, was a miner, just like many other people in Eisleben. Luther's family moved to Mansfeld when he was only one year old. He spent most of his life in Wittenberg.

Interestingly, Luther returned to Eisleben later in his life. He preached his very last sermon and then passed away there in 1546.

Eisleben started taking care of its Luther memorials a long time ago, back in 1689. They were pioneers in "heritage tourism," meaning people would visit to see historical sites. Even the famous Danish poet Hans Christian Andersen visited Eisleben in 1831 while exploring places connected to Luther.

In 1997, Martin Luther's "Birth House" and "Death House" in Eisleben were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They share this honor with other Luther sites in Wittenberg. These places are important because they show the lasting impact of Luther's religious and political changes around the world. Also, Luther was baptized in Eisleben's St. Peter and Paul Church, and he preached his last sermons at St. Andreas Church. Both churches are still used today!

Famous People from Eisleben

Martin Luther as a monk in 1520

Friedrich August von Quenstedt in 1868

Many interesting people have come from Eisleben:

• Johannes Agricola (1494–1566), a Protestant reformer.
• Jana Bach (born 1979), an actress and TV host.
• Gertrude the Great (1256–1301), a mystic and Catholic saint.
• Ludwig Geyer (1779–1833), a painter, writer, and actor.
• Egbert Hayessen (1913–1944), a major and resistance fighter.
• Timo Hoffmann (born 1974), a boxer.
• Friedrich Koenig (1774–1821), an inventor in printing.
• Thomas Lange (born 1964), a rower and two-time Olympic champion.
• Martin Luther (1483–1546), the famous Protestant reformer.
• Friedrich August von Quenstedt (1809–1889), a geologist and paleontologist.
• Ute Starke (born 1939), a gymnast.

Sister Cities

Eisleben has special friendships with other towns, called "sister cities":

• Herne, Germany
• Memmingen, Germany
• Raismes, France
• Weinheim, Germany

See also

In Spanish: Lutherstadt Eisleben para niños