Neuruppin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Neuruppin
Coat of arms Location
Coat of arms of Neuruppin
Neuruppin (Germany)
Neuruppin
Administration
Country Flag of Germany Germany
State Brandenburg
District Ostprignitz-Ruppin
Mayor Jens-Peter Golde (Pro Ruppin)
Basic statistics
Area 303.32 km² (117.1 sq mi)
Elevation 44 m  (144 ft)
Population 31,939  (31/12/2006)
 - Density 105 /km² (273 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate OPR
Postal codes 16816, 16818, 16827
Area codes 03391, 033925, 033929, 033932, 033933
Website www.neuruppin.de
Location of the town of Neuruppin within Ostprignitz-Ruppin district
Map

Coordinates: 52°55′59″N 12°48′00″E / 52.93306, 12.8

Neuruppin (IPA[nɔʏʁʊˈpiːn]) is a town in Brandenburg, Germany. Located on the shore of the Ruppiner See (a lake), it is the capital of the district of Ostprignitz-Ruppin. Population: 32,800 (1999).

Neuruppin has the reputation of being the most Prussian of all Prussian towns, due to its former status as a Prussian garrison town. The novelist Theodor Fontane, the general Hermann Hoth, and the architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel were born in Neuruppin. Frederick the Great lived in Neuruppin in his years as crown prince of Prussia.

The name Neuruppin means "New Ruppin"; the original settlement of Ruppin (later Alt Ruppin, "Old Ruppin") was located on north-eastern shore of the Ruppiner See. It was founded about 1150. Some hundred years later, when the settlement became too small for the growing population, Neuruppin on the western shore of the lake was established. The first settlers built the church of St. Trinitatis (1246), which still stands today.

In 1688 Neuruppin became a Prussian garrison town. After a disastrous fire in 1787 the Classicism of the rebuilt town's buildings characterise its townscape to the present day. It remained a garrison town until the late 20th century, since Soviet (resp. Russian) troops were stationed here until 1993; during this time there were as many Soviet soldiers as inhabitants in Neuruppin. This town was also mentioned by the German hiphop band K.I.Z. in their song "Neuruppin".

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: