COTTBUS

'Cottbus' (Lower Sorbian: 'Chośebuz') is a city in Brandenburg, Germany, situated around 125 km southeast of Berlin on the Spree river. As of 31 December, 2005, its population is 106,415. [1]

Contents

History

Culture and education

Partner cities

External links

History

The settlement was established in the 10th century, when Sorbs erected a castle on a sandy island in the Spree river. The first mention of the town's name is from 1156. In the 13th century German settlers came to the town and thereafter lived together side by side with the Sorbs. In medieval times Cottbus was known for wool, and the town's drapery was exported to all of Brandenburg, Bohemia and Saxony. In 1462 Cottbus was acquired by the Prince-Electors of Brandenburg who came to rule the Duchy of Prussia in 1618. In 1815 the surrounding districts of Upper and Lower Lusatia were ceded by the Kingdom of Saxony to the Kingdom of Prussia ruled from Brandenburg.
From 1949 until German Reunification in 1990 Cottbus belonged to the German Democratic Republic.

Culture and education

Cottbus is the cultural centre of the Lower Sorbian minority. Many signs in the town are bilingual, and there is a Lower Sorbian-medium ''Gymnasium'', but Sorbian is rarely spoken on the streets.
Next to Cottbus is the famous Park of Branitz, created by Prince Hermann von Pückler-Muskau after 1845.
Cottbus is also home to the Brandenburg Technical University (BTU) and the math/science-oriented Max-Steenbeck-Gymnasium, one of Germany's best schools in international competitions.
Every year Cottbus celebrates East Europian film Festival.

Partner cities

★ Montreuil-sous-Bois, France, since 1959

★ Grosseto, Italy, since 1967

★ Lipetsk, Russia, since 1974

★ Zielona Góra, Poland, since 1975

★ Targovishte, Bulgaria, since 1975

★ Košice, Slovakia, since 1978

★ Saarbrücken, Germany, since 1987

★ Gelsenkirchen, Germany, since 1995

★ Nuneaton and Bedworth, United Kingdom, since 1999

External links

★ Official Website (Sorbian)

★ Homepage of Brandenburg Technical University

★ Tourist attractions in Cottbus