Hamelin

From Free net encyclopedia

For the town in France , see Hamelin, Manche.

For the Canadian pianist , see Marc-André Hamelin.

Coat of arms	Map


Image:Hameln.jpg	Image:Lage Hameln in Deutschland.png
Statistics
State:	Lower Saxony
District:	Hamelin-Pyrmont
Area:	102.3 km²
Population:	58,676 (31 December 2004)
Population density:	576/km²
Elevation:	68 m
Postal code:	31785 - 89 (until 1994: 3250)
Area/distance code:	51-51 (051-51)
Location:	52.1/52°6' N lat. 9.35/9°21' W long.
Municipal code:	03252006
Car designation:	`HM`
Arrangement of the city:	13 districts
Address of the city administration:	1 Rathausplatz Hamelin 31785
Website:	www.hameln.de
Politics
Mayor:	Klaus Arnecke (Independent)

Hamelin (German: Hameln) is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Hamelin-Pyrmont. The Weser river runs through the town. Population: 59,156 (as of 2002).

The town is famous for the folk tale of The Pied Piper of Hamelin (German: Rattenfänger). The version written down by the Brothers Grimm made it extremely popular throughout the world; it is also the subject of a well-known poem by Robert Browning. Although Hamelin has a fine medieval old town with some remarkable buildings, the main attraction is the Pied Piper tale. In the summer every Sunday the tale is played by actors in the authentic places.

There was a monastery at the place, which was founded as early as 851. A village grew in the neighbourhood and became a town in the 12th century. The incident with the Pied Piper is said to have happened in 1284 and may be based on a true event, although somewhat different from the tale. In the 15th and 16th century Hamelin was a minor member of the Hanseatic League.

In June 1634, during the Thirty Years' War, Lothar Dietrich Freiherr von Bönninghausen, a General with the Imperial Army, lost a battle near Hamelin to Swedish General von Kniphausen.

The era of greatest wealth began in 1664, when Hamelin became a fortified border town of the Duchy of Brunswick-Calenberg. In 1867 the town became a part of Prussia.

Hamelin is also the gateway to the surrounding Weserbergland mountains, which can be visited by hikers and bikers.