Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Sorbs

The Sorbs had a fortified refuge here, and a "Civitas Vitin" was first mentioned in a deed, issued by German king Otto I. in 961. The place came into the possession of Dedo in 985, and his grandson Thimo von Wettin expanded the castle and the sphere of influence of the Counts of Wettin in the 11th century. Subsequently, the Wettins, who provided the margraves, electors and kings in Saxony, Great Britain, Belgium, Bulgaria and Poland, became one of the most important ruling families in Germany. In 1288, however, the first ancestral seat passed to the Archdiocese of Magdeburg. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle and town were repeatedly plundered by the Swedes, and in 1660 two fires almost destroyed the entire town. Nikolaikirche was built in the 12th century in Romanesque style as a civic church next to the old city wall, later redesigned in Gothic style and rededicated around 1290 in honor of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of boatmen and fishermen. Remnants of these Romanesque and early Gothic predecessors have been preserved in the masonry of the chancel and in the basement of the church tower. Between 1500 and 1615 the church was completely rebuilt and enlarged: the chancel was raised and fitted with large late Gothic windows. In 1589 the Romanesque church tower was raised and crowned with Renaissance brick gables. The nave was demolished and rebuilt as a Gothic hall church with two entrance portals and eight windows.

The Sorbs had a fortified refuge here, and a "Civitas Vitin" was first mentioned in a deed, issued by German king Otto I. in 961. The place came into the possession of Dedo in 985, and his grandson Thimo von Wettin expanded the castle and the sphere of influence of the Counts of Wettin in the 11th century. Subsequently, the Wettins, who provided the margraves, electors and kings in Saxony, Great Britain, Belgium, Bulgaria and Poland, became one of the most important ruling families in Germany. In 1288, however, the first ancestral seat passed to the Archdiocese of Magdeburg. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle and town were repeatedly plundered by the Swedes, and in 1660 two fires almost destroyed the entire town.

Nienburg is about 5 km northeast of Bernburg. Nienburg was mentioned in a document from the Gernrode monastery in 961. Around 970, the Jewish traveler Ibrahim ibn Jaqub, who came from Moorish Spain, mentions the place. For several centuries, Nienburg was on the eastern outer border of the Carolingian and German empires. A castle belonging to the Carolingians was probably built here in the 9th century. Between 930 and 950 the "New Castle" (= Nienburg) was built. The Benedictine abbey, founded in Thankmarsfelde in 970, was relocated to the fort in 975 with the aim of evangelizing the then Sorbian population of the region. In 1004 the first monastery church was consecrated in the presence of King Heinrich II, who was on a military campaign against the Poles. The church burned down in 1042. The 1042-1060 built successor was by Emperor Heinrich III. promoted. This building had a gallery transept in the west and a crypt under the chancel, of which a window can still be seen today. After a fire in 1242, the church was renovated. Moreover, the walls of the 11th century building continued to be used and increased. However, after another fire in 1280, the nave was designed as a three-nave, three-bay hall church. As a result of the Reformation and the Peasants' War, the monastery was handed over to the princes of Anhalt-Köthen in 1563, who converted the cloister building from 1680 to 1690 to use it as a palace and widow's residence. In 1871, the palace was sold to an industrialist who converted the building into a malt factory. A complex that is abandoned over long periods of course attracts people to carve in names and dates.

Nienburg is about 5 km northeast of Bernburg. Nienburg was mentioned in a document from the Gernrode monastery in 961. Around 970, the Jewish traveler Ibrahim ibn Jaqub, who came from Moorish Spain, mentions the place. For several centuries, Nienburg was on the eastern outer border of the Carolingian and German empires. A castle belonging to the Carolingians was probably built here in the 9th century. Between 930 and 950 the "New Castle" (= Nienburg) was built. The Benedictine abbey, founded in Thankmarsfelde in 970, was relocated to the fort in 975 with the aim of evangelizing the then Sorbian population of the region. In 1004 the first monastery church was consecrated in the presence of King Heinrich II, who was on a military campaign against the Poles. The church burned down in 1042. The 1042-1060 built successor was by Emperor Heinrich III. promoted. This building had a gallery transept in the west and a crypt under the chancel, of which a window can still be seen today. After a fire in 1242, the church was renovated. Moreover, the walls of the 11th century building continued to be used and increased. However, after another fire in 1280, the nave was designed as a three-nave, three-bay hall church. As a result of the Reformation and the Peasants' War, the monastery was handed over to the princes of Anhalt-Köthen in 1563, who converted the cloister building from 1680 to 1690 to use it as a palace and widow's residence. In 1871, the palace was sold to an industrialist who converted the building into a malt factory. The buildings of the former monastery/palace are badly ruined. In 1996, a fire caused by children playing caused great damage.

Nienburg is about 5 km northeast of Bernburg. Nienburg was mentioned in a document from the Gernrode monastery in 961. Around 970, the Jewish traveler Ibrahim ibn Jaqub, who came from Moorish Spain, mentions the place. For several centuries, Nienburg was on the eastern outer border of the Carolingian and German empires. A castle belonging to the Carolingians was probably built here in the 9th century. Between 930 and 950 the "New Castle" (= Nienburg) was built. The Benedictine abbey, founded in Thankmarsfelde in 970, was relocated to the fort in 975 with the aim of evangelizing the then Sorbian population of the region. In 1004 the first monastery church was consecrated in the presence of King Heinrich II, who was on a military campaign against the Poles. The church burned down in 1042. The 1042-1060 built successor was by Emperor Heinrich III. promoted. This building had a gallery transept in the west and a crypt under the chancel, of which a window can still be seen today. After a fire in 1242, the church was renovated. Moreover, the walls of the 11th century building continued to be used and increased. However, after another fire in 1280, the nave was designed as a three-nave, three-bay hall church. As a result of the Reformation and the Peasants' War, the monastery was handed over to the princes of Anhalt-Köthen in 1563, who converted the cloister building from 1680 to 1690 to use it as a palace and widow's residence. In 1871, the palace was sold to an industrialist who converted the building into a malt factory.

Nienburg is about 5 km northeast of Bernburg. Nienburg was mentioned in a document from the Gernrode monastery in 961. Around 970, the Jewish traveler Ibrahim ibn Jaqub, who came from Moorish Spain, mentions the place. For several centuries, Nienburg was on the eastern outer border of the Carolingian and German empires. A castle belonging to the Carolingians was probably built here in the 9th century. Between 930 and 950 the "New Castle" (= Nienburg) was built. The Benedictine abbey, founded in Thankmarsfelde in 970, was relocated to the fort in 975 with the aim of evangelizing the then Sorbian population of the region. In 1004 the first monastery church was consecrated in the presence of King Heinrich II, who was on a military campaign against the Poles. The church burned down in 1042. The 1042-1060 built successor was by Emperor Heinrich III. promoted. This building had a gallery transept in the west and a crypt under the chancel, of which a window can still be seen today. After a fire in 1242, the church was renovated. Moreover, the walls of the 11th century building continued to be used and increased. However, after another fire in 1280, the nave was designed as a three-nave, three-bay hall church. As a result of the Reformation and the Peasants' War, the monastery was handed over to the princes of Anhalt-Köthen in 1563, who converted the cloister building from 1680 to 1690 to use it as a palace and widow's residence. In 1871, the palace was sold to an industrialist who converted the building into a malt factory.