DEUTSCHLAND	GERMANY
Bundesland: Schleswig-Holstein
Kreis: Rendsburg-Eckernförde

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Eckernförde is situated at the Baltic Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein, at the end of the Eckernförder Bucht (Eckernförde Bay) on the east side of the town and the lake Windebyer Noor on the west side. Eckernförde has a population of about 23,100 (2006).

Ekerenvorde was first mentioned in a document of 1197. A castle that founded by the Danes at the end of the 12th century was mentioned as Ykernaeburgh in 1231. At least since 1302 Eckernförde had the status of a town. In the 18th century, the town flourished as a fishing port. When the first sea bathing facilities were founded in 1831 in nearby Borby (since 1934 part of Eckernförde), tourism became an important factor for Eckernförde. Fishing, however, remained an important source of income until the late 20th century. In 1848, the German inhabitants of the Duchy of Schleswig, which until then was governed by the Danish Crown only as a personal union, protested against plans of Denmark to incorporate Schleswig into the Danish kingdom. In the Schleswig-Holstein War of 1848–1851, Eckernförde in 1849 was the site of a Danish invasion attempt. After the defeat of the Schleswig-Holstein troops in 1850, Schleswig was agin incorporated into Denmark. However, Prussia conquered Schleswig in the Prussian-Danish War of 1864 and in the following years Eckernförde lost much of its importance as a trading place. The harbour of Eckernförde also suffered from the rapid development of the military port of Kiel. Until 1970, it was the seat of the administration of the Eckernförde district, which then was merged with the district Rendsburg.

The top picture on glass no. 2322 shows the old town hall which goes back to a construction of the 16th century. The spire depicted in the background is part of the church of Sankt Nikolai which was built in the 15th century.

The two monuments depicted in the bottom pictures are the Denkmal der Südschanze (monument of the south entrenchment) [left] and the Denkmal der Nordschanze (monument of the north entrenchment) [right], which were erected in 1870.