DEUTSCHLAND	GERMANY
Bundesland: Schleswig-Holstein
Kreis: Schleswig-Flensburg

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Schleswig is situated at the western end of the Schlei, a fjord of the Baltic Sea which separates the two peninsulas Angeln to the north and Schwansen to the south, about halfway between Schleswig-Holstein's capital, Kiel, and Flensburg at the Danish border. Schleswig is the capital of the district Schleswig-Flensburg. The municipality of Schleswig has a population of about 23,700 (2012). [https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schleswig,_Schleswig-Holstein]

The Viking settlement of Hedeby, located south of the modern town, was first mentioned in 804. It was a powerful settlement in the Baltic region, dominating the area for more than 200 years. In 1050, following several destructions, the population was moved to the opposite shore of the Schlei, becoming the city of Schleswig. In 1066 Hedeby was finally destroyed, and Schleswig remained as a part of the Danish kingdom. In 1544 Gottorf Castle became the residence of the local rulers. The dukes of Gottorf were vassals of the Danish kings and ruled over much of present day Schleswig-Holstein. In 1721, when the Great Northern War ended, the dukes of Gottorf lost their power and their land became Danish crown land. After the Second Schleswig War (1864), Schleswig was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schleswig,_Schleswig-Holstein]

The cathedral of St. Peter [left, no. 4413: background left] is the main church of the city of Schleswig and was the cathedral of the Catholic bishop of Schleswig until the diocese was dissolved in 1624. It is now a church of the North Elbian Evangelical Lutheran Church, the seat of the Lutheran Bishop of Schleswig and Holstein. The first cathedral was built when the diocese was established in 947 AD. A Romanesque basilica was built between 1134 and ca. 1200. One of the naves of this basilica still can be seen today. After the collapse of two towers and some parts of the basilica in 1275, the High Gothic Hall Choir was constructed and completed around 1300. The Late Gothic Hall Church was built from 1200 to 1408 and was finally completed in the 16th century. The external appearance including the construction of the Gothic revival western tower was accomplished in 1888–1894. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schleswig_Cathedral]

The Chemnitz-Bellmann monument [left], located on the Schützenkoppel, was created in 1894–1896 by the sculptor Paul Peterich. The monument commemorates the authors of the Schleswig-Holstein anthem Schleswig-Holstein meerumschlungen, Carl Gottlieb Bellmann (music) and Matthäus Friedrich Chemnitz (text). The song was first performed on 24 July 1844 at the Schleswiger Sängerfest (Schleswig singers' festival) in the place where later the monument was erected. The next performances took place at the 'Deutsche Volks- und Sängerfest' in Eckernförde and the 'Norddeutsche Sängerfest' in Lübeck (June 1845), followed by the 'Sängerfest in Würzburg' (August 1845). [http://www.bildindex.de]