Pulsnitz () or Połčnica (

Upper Sorbian Upper Sorbian (), occasionally referred to as "Wendish", is a minority language spoken by Sorbs in Germany in the historical province of Upper Lusatia, which is today part of Saxony. It is grouped in the West Slavic language branch, together ...

) is a town in the district of Bautzen, in the

Free State of Saxony Free may refer to: Concept * Freedom, having the ability to do something, without having to obey anyone/anything * Freethought, a position that beliefs should be formed only on the basis of logic, reason, and empiricism * Emancipate, to procure ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. It is situated on the small river

Pulsnitz Pulsnitz () or Połčnica ( Upper Sorbian) is a town in the district of Bautzen, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the small river Pulsnitz, 11 km southwest of Kamenz, and 24 km northeast of the centre of Dresden. ...

, 11 km southwest of

Kamenz Kamenz () or Kamjenc ( Sorbian) is a town (''Große Kreisstadt'') in the district of Bautzen in Saxony, Germany. Until 2008 it was the administrative seat of Kamenz District. The town is known as the birthplace of the philosopher and poet Gotthol ...

, and 24 km northeast of the centre of

Dresden Dresden (, ; Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; wen, label=Upper Sorbian, Drježdźany) is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city, after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth larg ...

. Pulsnitz became famous for its

Pfefferkuchen (), or , are a honey-sweetened German cake molded cookie or bar cookie that has become part of Germany's Christmas traditions. It is similar to gingerbread. Etymology The etymology of ''Leb-'' in the term ''Lebkuchen'' is uncertain. Prop ...

, a type of Christmas cookie, when in 1558 the bakers of Pulsnitz received permission to bake them. Today there are still eight ''Pfefferküchlereien'' bakeries. In 1745 the ''Pfefferküchler'' Tobias Thomas was known to be practising his craft in Pulsnitz as well as in Thorn, Prussia now

Toruń )'' , image_skyline = , image_caption = , image_flag = POL Toruń flag.svg , image_shield = POL Toruń COA.svg , nickname = City of Angels, Gingerbread city, Copernicus Town , pushpin_map = Kuyavian-Pom ...

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...

, where the famous Thorner Kathrinchen were made. Pulsnitz is informally known as ''Pfefferkuchenstadt'' meaning "Gingerbread Town". The first

Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...

missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...

to arrive in India,

Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg (10 July 1682 – 23 February 1719) was a member of the Lutheran clergy and the first Pietist missionary to India. Early life Ziegenbalg was born in Pulsnitz, Saxony, on 10 July 1682 in a devout Christian family. His f ...

was born in Pulsnitz on July 10, 1682. The town Pulsnitz absorbed the former municipality Friedersdorf in 1994, and

Oberlichtenau Oberlichtenau is a village and a former municipality in the district of Bautzen, in Saxony. Since 1 January 2009, it is part of the town Pulsnitz. History General history The Population was 1425 by 2008 and 1588 by 2000, in accordance with en ...

in 2009.

Gallery

File:Marktplatz Pulsnitz - mit altem Rathaus.jpg, Market square Pulsnitz - with old town hall File:Pfefferkuchen Museum Pulsnitz - Haus des Gastes - Marktplatz.jpg, Pepper Cake Museum Pulsnitz - House of the Guest - Market Square File:Pulsnitz Ernst Rietschel Denkmal.jpg, Town hall File:Rietschel denkmal pulsnitz.jpg, Memorial for

Ernst Rietschel Ernst Friedrich August Rietschel (15 December 180421 January 1861) was a German sculptor. Life Rietschel was born in Pulsnitz in Saxony the third child of Friedrich Ehrgott Rietschel and his wife Caroline. From the age of 20 he became an art ...

File:Pulsnitzer pfefferkuchen.jpg, ''Pulsnitzer Spitzen'' File:Pfefferkuchen.JPG, ''Pulsnitzer Pfefferkuchen'' File:Pulsnitz Postmeilensäule.jpg, Post milestone from 1731

Notable people

(1682-1719), first Protestant missionary and Indian linguist *

, one of the most important sculptors of his time *

Julius Kühn Julius Gotthelf Kühn (23 October 1825 – 14 April 1910) was a German academic and agronomist and he was one of the founders of Plant Pathology. Kuhn's father was a land owner and he gained experience in agriculture and botany on his father's la ...

, an important agricultural scientist, he founded the first agricultural institute to be taken seriously at a German university *

Curt Haase Curt Haase (15 December 1881 – 9 February 1943) was a German general (''Generaloberst'') in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He commanded the III Corps during the Invasion of Poland and France. He later commanded the 15th Army in German-occu ...

, politician (NSDAP) *

Klaus Staeck Klaus Staeck (born 28 February 1938 in Pulsnitz) is a German lawyer and publisher who is best known in Germany for his political graphic design work. From 2006 to 2015 he was president of the Akademie der Künste at Berlin. Early life and educat ...

, graphic artist *

Linda Wenzel Linda Wenzel, identified in Germany as Linda W., is a German born Al-Khansaa Brigade member for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, who was captured by Iraqi troops during the Battle of Mosul, and was convicted of joining ISIL and entering ...

References

External links

* {{Authority control Populated places in Bautzen (district) West Lusatia