Zeitz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zeitz
Schloss Moritzburg
Coat of arms
Country	Germany
State	Saxony-Anhalt
District	Burgenlandkreis
Elevation	160 m (520 ft)
Population  (2022-12-31)
• Total	27,976
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	06711, 06712
Dialling codes	03441, 034423, 034426
Vehicle registration	BLK, HHM, NEB, NMB, WSF, ZZ
Website	German: Stadt Zeitz

Zeitz (which is called Žič in the Sorbian language) is a town in Germany. It is located in the Burgenlandkreis district, which is part of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.

The town sits by the White Elster river. It is in a special area where three German states meet: Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Saxony.

A Look at Zeitz's Past

Zeitz has a very long history! It was first mentioned in records way back in 967. At that time, it was known as Cici.

For a while, from 965 to 982, Zeitz was the main fortress of the March of Zeitz. This was an important border area. It was also home to a bishop from 968 to 1028. The bishops later moved to Naumburg. But by the end of the 1200s, they came back to live in their castle in Zeitz.

Zeitz became an important industrial town. In 1889, the Herrmannsschacht factory was built. It is one of the oldest factories in the world that made brown coal briquettes. These briquettes are like fuel blocks made from coal.

During the Thirty Years' War, Swedish soldiers took over the city. In 1644, it became part of the Electorate of Saxony. This was a powerful region in Germany. Zeitz was even the center of its own small state, Saxe-Zeitz, from 1657 to 1718. After that, it went back to being part of Saxony.

In 1815, Zeitz became part of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was an important center for the Merseburg region until 1944.

During World War II, Zeitz was a target for bombings. This was because of its factories, like the Brabag plant. This plant made fuel from lignite coal. After the war, American troops took over Zeitz in April 1945. Then, in July 1945, it was handed over to Soviet control.

In the 1960s and 1980s, new housing areas were built in Zeitz. One of these was called "Völkerfreundschaft," which means "International Friendship."

After German Reunification in 1990, many companies in eastern Germany faced challenges. About 20,000 people in Zeitz lost their jobs or found new ones. However, Zeitz still has a large sugar factory. Nearby, there are also lignite mines and a power station. These places together employ about 2,000 people from Zeitz.

In recent years, Zeitz has grown by including nearby towns. On July 1, 2009, it welcomed Döbris, Geußnitz, Kayna, Nonnewitz, and Würchwitz. Then, on January 1, 2010, Luckenau and Theißen also joined Zeitz.

Zeitz's Location

The town of Zeitz includes the main town area and several smaller parts called Ortschaften or municipal divisions. These are like smaller villages or communities that are part of the larger town.

Places to See in Zeitz

Many of Zeitz's interesting sights are found along the Romanesque Road. This is a special route that connects many historic buildings.

• Schloss Moritzburg: This is a beautiful castle built in the baroque style. Inside the castle, you can find the cathedral of St. Peter and Paul. The cathedral has a very old crypt from the 900s. In this crypt, you can see 17th-century tin coffins, including one belonging to Maurice, Duke of Saxe-Zeitz.

• Michaeliskirche: This church was built in 1154. It was originally a Romanesque church, which is a style of building from the Middle Ages. Inside, you can find an original copy of Martin Luther's 95 Theses from 1517.

• Town Hall: The Town Hall was built in 1509 and rebuilt in 1909. It is a Gothic building, known for its tall, pointed arches. This building, along with other old houses and three market squares, helps give Zeitz its medieval look.

• Herrmannsschacht: This is a special place that used to be a brick factory. Now, it is a technical monument. This means it is preserved to show how technology worked in the past.

Zeitz's Sister Cities

Zeitz has "sister city" relationships with other cities around the world. This means they have special friendships and often share culture and ideas.

Zeitz is twinned with:

• Darkhan, Mongolia (since 1989)
• Detmold, Germany (since 1990)
• Kaliningrad, Russia (since 1995)
• Tosu, Japan (since 1998)
• Prescott, United States (since 2014)

Famous People from Zeitz

Many notable people were born or lived in Zeitz. Here are a few:

See also

• Geußnitz