Schleswig, Schleswig-Holstein

Schleswig (UK: /ˈʃlɛsvɪɡ/, US: /-wɪɡ, -wɪk, -vɪk, ˈʃlsvɪk/,[2][3][4][5] German: [ˈʃleːsvɪç] ; Danish: Slesvig; South Jutlandic: Sljasvig; Low German: Sleswig) is a town in the northeastern part of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the capital of the Kreis (district) Schleswig-Flensburg. It has a population of about 27,000, the main industries being leather and food processing. It takes its name from the Schlei (Slien), an inlet of the Baltic Sea at the end of which it sits, and vik or vig which means "bay" in Old Norse and Danish. Schleswig or Slesvig therefore means "bay of the Schlei".

Schleswig
Slesvig (Danish)
St. Peter's Cathedral
St. Peter's Cathedral
Flag of Schleswig
Coat of arms of Schleswig
Location of Schleswig within Schleswig-Flensburg district
Schleswig is located in Germany
Schleswig
Schleswig
Schleswig is located in Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig
Schleswig
Coordinates: 54°31′07″N 9°33′55″E / 54.51861°N 9.56528°E / 54.51861; 9.56528
CountryGermany
StateSchleswig-Holstein
DistrictSchleswig-Flensburg
Government
 • MayorStephan Dose
Area
 • Total24.3 km2 (9.4 sq mi)
Elevation
1 m (3 ft)
Population
 (2022-12-31)[1]
 • Total25,832
 • Density1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
24837
Dialling codes04621
Vehicle registrationSL
Websitewww.schleswig.de

History

Schleswig in 1600

The Viking settlement of Hedeby, located south of the modern town, was first mentioned in 804. It was a powerful settlement in the Baltic region, dominating the area for more than 200 years. In 1050, following several destructions, the population was moved to the opposite shore of the Schlei, becoming the city of Schleswig. In 1066 Hedeby was finally destroyed, and Schleswig remained a part of the Danish kingdom.[citation needed]

In 1544, Gottorf Castle became the residence of the local rulers. The dukes of Gottorf were vassals of the Danish kings and ruled over much of present-day Schleswig-Holstein. In 1721, when the Great Northern War ended, the dukes of Gottorf lost their power and their land became Danish crown land. After the Second Schleswig War (1864), Schleswig was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia.[citation needed]

Geography

Map of Schleswig

Schleswig lies at the western end of the Schlei Förde, which separates the two peninsulas of Angeln and Schwansen, and is on the western edge of the Schleswig-Holstein Uplands on the transition to the Geest country. The urban area ranges from 0 to 20 m (66 ft) above sea level. Brautsee (lake) is in the town.

The nearest major cities are Flensburg, Husum and Kiel. Autobahn 7 runs immediately west of the city. Highways 76 and 77 end in Schleswig and B 201 runs to the north of the town. Schleswig station is a stop for InterCity and Intercity-Express trains and is on the Hamburg–Neumünster–Flensburg and Husum–Kiel lines.

Climate

The climate is oceanic (Köppen: Cfb), humid and mild with a slight continental influence.[6] The annual mean temperature is 8 °C and precipitation averages 925 mm.[7]

Climate data for Schleswig (1991–2020 normals)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)11.7
(53.1)
14.3
(57.7)
20.2
(68.4)
25.7
(78.3)
27.6
(81.7)
30.5
(86.9)
31.1
(88.0)
32.0
(89.6)
29.3
(84.7)
23.9
(75.0)
17.8
(64.0)
13.7
(56.7)
32.0
(89.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)3.7
(38.7)
4.3
(39.7)
7.6
(45.7)
12.6
(54.7)
16.8
(62.2)
19.7
(67.5)
22.1
(71.8)
21.9
(71.4)
18.0
(64.4)
12.8
(55.0)
7.7
(45.9)
4.6
(40.3)
12.6
(54.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)1.7
(35.1)
1.9
(35.4)
4.0
(39.2)
7.9
(46.2)
11.9
(53.4)
15.0
(59.0)
17.3
(63.1)
17.1
(62.8)
13.8
(56.8)
9.6
(49.3)
5.4
(41.7)
2.7
(36.9)
9.0
(48.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)−0.5
(31.1)
−0.5
(31.1)
1.0
(33.8)
3.8
(38.8)
7.2
(45.0)
10.5
(50.9)
12.9
(55.2)
13.0
(55.4)
10.3
(50.5)
6.7
(44.1)
3.1
(37.6)
0.6
(33.1)
5.6
(42.1)
Record low °C (°F)−16.6
(2.1)
−18.0
(−0.4)
−13.7
(7.3)
−4.4
(24.1)
−1.1
(30.0)
2.2
(36.0)
5.6
(42.1)
6.0
(42.8)
2.3
(36.1)
−2.4
(27.7)
−11.5
(11.3)
−18.1
(−0.6)
−18.1
(−0.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches)81.3
(3.20)
61.4
(2.42)
58.4
(2.30)
41.7
(1.64)
56.1
(2.21)
76.3
(3.00)
92.9
(3.66)
90.4
(3.56)
81.0
(3.19)
89.8
(3.54)
75.0
(2.95)
86.1
(3.39)
890.4
(35.06)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)19.116.616.613.013.815.115.616.516.318.119.119.8199.6
Average snowy days (≥ 1.0 cm)7.47.54.10.20000000.84.524.5
Average relative humidity (%)89.987.382.776.474.876.076.979.083.386.590.091.282.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours43.762.8119.7186.0234.7220.9226.6207.8148.5101.754.437.21,646.4
Source: World Meteorological Organization[8][7]

Sights

Neuwerk garden with the Globushaus and Gottorf Castle in the background

Twin towns – sister cities

Schleswig is twinned with:[9]

Notable people

Princess Louise Caroline
Herman Wilhelm Bissen
Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke

Sport

References