Helmstedt

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Helmstedt
Juleum Novum, building of the former University of Helmstedt
Juleum Novum, building of the former University of Helmstedt
Coat of arms Location
Coat of arms of Helmstedt
Helmstedt (Germany)
Helmstedt
Administration
Country Flag of Germany Germany
State Lower Saxony
District Helmstedt
Town subdivisions 4 Boroughs
Mayor Heinz-Dieter Eisermann (Ind.)
Basic statistics
Area 46.97 km² (18.1 sq mi)
Elevation 123 m  (404 ft)
Population  25,389  (31/12/2005)[1]
 - Density 541 /km² (1,400 /sq mi)
Founded 952
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate HE
Postal code 38350
Area code 05351
Website www.stadt-helmstedt.de

Coordinates: 52°13′41″N 11°00′38″E / 52.22806, 11.01056

Helmstedt [ˈhɛlmˌʃtɛt] is a city located at the eastern edge of the German state of Lower Saxony. It is the capital of the District of Helmstedt. Helmstedt has 26,000 inhabitants (2004). In former times the city was also called Helmstädt.

Helmstedt developed in the vicinity of the Benedictine St. Ludger's Abbey that was founded around 800 by Saint Liudger as a missionary station. Helmstedt was first mentioned in 952; it became a city in 1247. It belonged to the Abbacy of Werden until 1490, when it was bought by the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg. From 1576 to 1810, the University of Helmstedt was located here.

From the late 1940s to 1990, the town was the site of a major border crossing between the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic. The main rail and autobahn route between West Germany and Berlin, across the GDR, began at Helmstedt (Checkpoint Alpha). Official military traffic from NATO countries to West Berlin was allowed to use only this route.

Contents

[edit] See also

Helmstedt-Marienborn border crossing

[edit] Twinnings

[edit] External links

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[edit] References

  1. ^ Population data