Coswig
Town
Coat of arms
Location of Coswig within Wittenberg district
Coswig Show map of Germany Coswig Show map of Saxony-Anhalt
Coordinates: 51°53′N 12°26′E / 51.883°N 12.433°E / 51.883; 12.433
Country	Germany
State	Saxony-Anhalt
District	Wittenberg
Government
• Mayor (2017–24)	Axel Clauß[1]
Area
• Total	295.73 km2 (114.18 sq mi)
Elevation	83 m (272 ft)
Population  (2021-12-31)[2]
• Total	11,494
• Density	39/km2 (100/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes	06869
Dialling codes	034903
Vehicle registration	WB
Website	www.coswigonline.de

Coswig is a town in the district of Wittenberg of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Elbe, approx. 12 km west of Wittenberg, and 15 km east of Dessau.

History

The Castle of Coswig was mentioned first in 1187. There is no evidence for slav settlements before this date. In 1215 Coswig is called an "Oppidium". During this time it was one of the most important cities North of the river Elbe. In the 16th century Coswig was already connected to a drinking water pipe from Wörpen. Weaving, pottery and farming played the most important role in economics. The city was nearly completely destroyed by Hispanic troops during the Schmalkaldic War. From 1603 to 1793, Coswig belonged to Anhalt-Zerbst. The Castle was constructed at the end of the 17th century. The railway station was inaugurated on 10 September 1841. In 1987 the city celebrated its 800th-year of existence.

Geography

The town Coswig consists of Coswig proper and the following Ortschaften or municipal divisions:^[3]

Sights

• Coswig Castle
• Nicolaikirche (church)
• New Apostolic Church
• Coswig Ferry, a reaction ferry across the Elbe to Wörlitz
• Bismarck Tower
• Amtshaus and Townhall

Politics

Turnout at the last election on June 13, 2004, was 43,6%.

Town Council: 20 seat to the following parties:

• 7 seats - CDU
• 4 seats - Linkspartei.PDS
• 3 seats - SPD
• 3 seats - Bürgerblock
• 2 seats - FWG
• 1 seats - FDP

Twin town

• Stadtallendorf, Hesse, since 1993

Sons of the city

• Franz Hübner (1840-1914), missionary and bishop of the New Apostolic Church
• Hermann Cohen (1842-1918), philosopher, founder of the Marburger Schule
• Paul Mahlo (1883-1971), mathematician
• Manfred Kuschmann (1950-2002), long-distance athlete, European champion in 10,000 metres 1974

People associated with Coswig

• Caroline Bardua (1781-1864), painter, one of the first bourgeois women who could build up an existence as a free-lance artist, worked in Coswig Castle
• Heinrich Berger (1844-1929), military musician, conductor and composer