Calau
Calau (German pronunciation: [ˈkaːlaʊ], Lower Sorbian: Kalawa, pronounced [ˈkalawa]) is a small town in the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district, in southern Brandenburg, in eastern Germany. It is situated 14 km south of Lübbenau, and 27 km west of Cottbus. Calau is also called the home of the Kalauer. GeographyThe Town of Calau is situated in the middle of Lower Lusatia, about 27 km west of Cottbus at the eastern edge of the Lower Lusatian Ridge Nature Park as well as at the southern edge of the famous Spree Forest. The area around Calau is strongly characterized by former lignite mining sites, which are valuable retreat areas for animals and plants nowadays. Many places are left to nature after recultivation, The Heinz Sielmann Foundation adopted numerous areas, others are managed near-natural and sustainably by the state forest administration. Foresters offer walking tours through the region. Particularly the "Geologische und Naturlehrpfad Luttchensberg" is a sight to see. Town subdivisions
HistoryThe town was first mentioned, as Calowe, in 1279.[4] Its name is of Slavic origin and comes from the old Sorbian and Polish word kał, which means "swamp" or "bog".[4] The town was at various times ruled by Bohemian, Hungarian, Saxon and Polish monarchs, before it was annexed by Prussia in 1815. It was located on an important trade route, called the "Salt Road", which was used to transport salt from Halle to Lusatia and further east to Poland.[5] From 1815 to 1947, Calau was part of the Prussian Province of Brandenburg. From 1952 to 1990, it was part of the Bezirk Cottbus of East Germany. PopulationThere are only a few people with Sorbian roots living in Calau today, although the Sorbs were quite a large minority in 1843 with about 30.8 percent of the overall population. In following years the number of Sorbs decreased rapidly, and in 1900 only 3.5 percent of the population were Sorbs. Demography
PoliticsMayorWerner Suchner (independent) was elected in 2009 with 55,3 % of the vote.[7] Municipal AssemblyThe municipal assembly (Stadtverordnetenversammlung) consists of 18 "Stadtverordneten" plus the "Buergermeister" (town mayor).
(Stand: Kommunalwahl am 28. September 2008) International relationsHistorical sites
Economy and infrastructureThe transmitter station Calau, which belongs to the Deutsche Telekom radiates a variety of VHF-and TV-programmes of the rbb for Brandenburg. Its radio mast is a reinforced concrete tower of 190 m height, the so-called "Langer Calauer", in the southwest of town. It was built in 1982. TrafficThere are no Bundesstraßen going through Calau, the motorway junction Calau is seven km to the northwest at the A 13. Calau is situated at the railroad lines Cottbus–Leipzig and Lübbenau–Senftenberg. EdificationSchools
Personalities
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External linksWikimedia Commons has media related to Calau. |