Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) Area 31.36 km² Local time Monday 10:58 AM | Elevation 132 m (433 ft) Postal codes 04416 Population 24,020 (31 Dec 2008) Postal code 04416 | |
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Weather 9°C, Wind S at 8 km/h, 52% Humidity Points of interest Kanupark Markkleeberg, Markkleeberger See, Kees’scher Park, Deutsches Fotomuseum, Strandbad Markkleeberg‑Ost | ||
Markkleeberg is a town in the Leipzig district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is on the river Pleiße, approximately 7 km south of Leipzig.
Contents
Map of Markkleeberg, Germany
History
The town now called Markkleeberg has its origins in several towns that have been merged over the years. The center of modern-day Markkleeberg used to be called Oetzsch. It was merged with the smaller outlying district Markkleeberg in 1911 and renamed Oetzsch-Markkleeberg. Oetzsch-Markkleeberg was in turn merged with Gautzsch and the whole town was called "Markkleeberg", although Markkleeberg was the smallest, because it sounded most Germanic at a time of Nazi-led Germanisation.
The etymology of Markkleeberg may be 'clover hill market town '.
The name of Oetzsch has most likely a Wendish origin. In 1316 it was mentioned in a document as "Euschiz". The village originally had the form of a Rundling.
In 1813 much of the Battle of Leipzig took place where today's Markkleeberg is situated.
During 1944-1945, a forced labor camp for women was established in the town, initially a subcamp of the Ravensbrück concentration camp and later of Buchenwald. In early April 1945 the surviving inmates were transferred to the Mauthausen-Gusen camp in Austria.
Today, Markkleeberg is a growing town, thanks to its proximity to Leipzig.
Historical population
(Source since 1998: Statistical bureau of Saxony)
Culture
Markkleeberg is a well known tourist destination. Cospudener See and Markkleeberger See as well as a lot of parks and Kanupark Markkleeberg are close to the city.
Twinned Towns
Markkleeberg has five twinned towns: Pierre-Benite (France), Zarensti (Romania), Neusäß (Germany), Hemmingen (Germany) and Boville Ernica (Italy).