Bitterfeld-Wolfen is a town in the district Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated in south-eastern Saxony-Anhalt, west of the river Mulde, in an area that is dominated by heavy industry and lignite mining. The town was formed by merger of the towns Bitterfeld and Wolfen and the municipalities Greppin, Holzweißig and Thalheim on 1 July 2007.
Bitterfeld-Wolfen is 25 kilometres (16 mi) northeast of Halle (Saale) and about 35 kilometres (22 mi) north of Leipzig. Eastward lies the Muldestausee lake, southward the Goitzsche lake with docks, and westwards the lido of Sandersdorf. The town lies in a nature preserve, Bitterfelder Bergbaurevier.
Bitterfeld has approximately 15,000 inhabitants (2006). It was first mentioned in 1224. Part of the Electorate of Saxony, it came to the Prussian Province of Saxony in 1815. Until the administrative reform of 2007, it was the capital of the district of Bitterfeld.
Wolfen has approximately 24,000 inhabitants (2006). It is located north of Bitterfeld. Wolfen was first mentioned around 1400. The discovery of lignite in 1846, and the construction of an Agfa dye factory in 1895 brought industry and population growth.
|