Prenzlau (German: [ˈpʁɛnt͡slaʊ] , formerly also Prenzlow) is a town in Brandenburg, Germany, the administrative seat of Uckermark District. It is also the centre of the historic Uckermark region.

Prenzlau
Medieval town gate Mitteltor and St Mary Church
Medieval town gate Mitteltor and St Mary Church
Coat of arms of Prenzlau
Location of Prenzlau within Uckermark district
AngermündeBoitzenburger LandBrüssowCarmzow-WallmowCasekowFlieth-StegelitzGartzGerswaldeGöritzGramzowGrünowHohenselchow-Groß PinnowLychenMescherinMilmersdorfMittenwaldeNordwestuckermarkOberuckerseePinnowPrenzlauRandowtalSchenkenbergSchönfeldSchwedtTantowTemmen-RingenwaldeTemplinUckerfeldeUckerlandZichowBrandenburg
Prenzlau is located in Germany
Prenzlau
Prenzlau
Prenzlau is located in Brandenburg
Prenzlau
Prenzlau
Coordinates: 53°19′N 13°52′E / 53.317°N 13.867°E / 53.317; 13.867
CountryGermany
StateBrandenburg
DistrictUckermark
Subdivisions24 Ortsteile
Government
 • Mayor (2017–25) Hendrik Sommer[1]
Area
 • Total142.18 km2 (54.90 sq mi)
Elevation
30 m (100 ft)
Population
 (2022-12-31)[2]
 • Total18,909
 • Density130/km2 (340/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
17291
Dialling codes03984
Vehicle registrationUM
Websitewww.prenzlau.info

Geography

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The town is located on the Ucker river, about 100 km (62 mi) north of Berlin. Prenzlau station—which opened in 1863—is a stop on the Angermünde–Stralsund railway line.

History

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Settled since Neolithic times, the Prenzlau area from the 7th century AD was the site of several gords erected by the Polabian Slavs called Ukrani. In the late 12th century, the Dukes of Pomerania had the region colonized by Low German settlers.

Prenzlau itself, named after Slavic Premyslaw, was first mentioned in 1187. It received town privileges by Duke Barnim I of Pomerania in 1234. When Duke Barnim signed the Treaty of Landin with the Ascanian margraves of Brandenburg in 1250, Prenzlau was already a fortified town with walls and moats, four parish churches and a monastery. Together with Berlin-Cölln, Frankfurt and Stendal, it ranked among the largest towns in the margraviate.

The Prenzlau and the Uckermark region were devastated during the Thirty Years' War. From the late 17th century onwards French Huguenot refugees settled here and an economic recovery started. Also a garrison town, Prenzlau was again ravaged by passing troops during the Seven Years' War and the Napoleonic Wars. In the mid 19th century, several citizens emigrated to Australia, where they founded the town of Prenzlau, Queensland west of Brisbane.

In World War II the Oflag II-A prisoner-of-war camp was located just south of Prenzlau on the main road to Berlin. The town centre was largely destroyed. The East German authorities had it rebuilt with large panel Plattenbau buildings.

Demography

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Prenzlau: Population development
within the current boundaries (2020)[3]
YearPop.±% p.a.
1875 18,512—    
1890 20,823+0.79%
1910 24,327+0.78%
1925 24,572+0.07%
1939 27,697+0.86%
1950 22,960−1.69%
1964 23,267+0.09%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1971 24,890+0.97%
1981 26,020+0.44%
1985 26,326+0.29%
1990 25,900−0.33%
1995 23,847−1.64%
2000 22,737−0.95%
2005 20,904−1.67%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2010 20,078−0.80%
2015 19,275−0.81%
2016 19,279+0.02%
2017 19,110−0.88%
2018 19,024−0.45%
2019 18,970−0.28%
2020 18,849−0.64%

Climate

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Climate data for Prenzlau (Grünow) (1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 2.6
(36.7)
3.6
(38.5)
8.0
(46.4)
14.2
(57.6)
18.2
(64.8)
21.8
(71.2)
24.7
(76.5)
24.4
(75.9)
19.6
(67.3)
13.3
(55.9)
7.2
(45.0)
3.6
(38.5)
13.6
(56.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.4
(32.7)
0.8
(33.4)
3.8
(38.8)
8.7
(47.7)
13.0
(55.4)
16.3
(61.3)
18.8
(65.8)
18.7
(65.7)
14.7
(58.5)
9.6
(49.3)
4.9
(40.8)
1.8
(35.2)
9.5
(49.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −2.1
(28.2)
−2.1
(28.2)
0.2
(32.4)
3.4
(38.1)
7.1
(44.8)
10.8
(51.4)
13.3
(55.9)
13.4
(56.1)
10.2
(50.4)
6.2
(43.2)
2.3
(36.1)
−0.7
(30.7)
5.2
(41.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 32.2
(1.27)
20.8
(0.82)
28.8
(1.13)
22.5
(0.89)
44.1
(1.74)
61.4
(2.42)
72.2
(2.84)
54.2
(2.13)
41.3
(1.63)
35.9
(1.41)
33.6
(1.32)
27.7
(1.09)
489.3
(19.26)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 15.2 12.5 12.3 10.3 12.6 12.6 13.6 13.2 11.5 13.9 13.9 16.4 160.7
Average relative humidity (%) 87.7 84.2 79.4 71.9 72.7 73.4 70.8 70.2 76.2 84.6 89.9 89.4 79.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 47.3 72.6 134.4 216.1 241.7 240.7 228.4 218.4 172.6 112.8 50.9 34.4 1,813.1
Source: World Meteorological Organization[4]

Politics

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Seats in the town's assembly (Stadtverordnetenversammlung) as of 2014 local elections:

Twin towns – sister cities

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Prenzlau is twinned with:[5]

Notable people

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Natalia Alexeievna of Russia in 1776
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References

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  1. ^ Landkreis Uckermark Wahl der Bürgermeisterin / des Bürgermeisters, accessed 4 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Bevölkerungsentwicklung und Bevölkerungsstandim Land Brandenburg Dezember 2022" (PDF). Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg (in German). June 2023.
  3. ^ Detailed data sources are to be found in the Wikimedia Commons.Population Projection Brandenburg at Wikimedia Commons
  4. ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Partnerstädte". prenzlau.eu (in German). Prenzlau. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
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