Werben (Elbe)

For Werben in the district Spree-Neiße, see Werben, Brandenburg.

Werben (Elbe)
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Coat of arms of Werben (Elbe) Coat of arms
Werben (Elbe)
Location of Werben (Elbe) within Stendal district 250px
Coordinates:
Country	Germany
State	Saxony-Anhalt
District	Stendal
Municipal assoc.	Arneburg-Goldbeck
Government
• Mayor	Volkmar Haase
Area
• Total	53.39 km2 (20.61 sq mi)
Population (2013-12-31)
• Total	1,151
• Density	22/km2 (56/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	39615, 39606
Dialling codes	039393
Vehicle registration	SDL
Website	www.werben-elbe.de

Werben (Elbe) is a town in the district of Stendal, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

Geography

It is situated on the left bank of the Elbe River, approximately seven kilometres west of Havelberg. It is part of the Verbandsgemeinde ("collective municipality") Arneburg-Goldbeck. The town's official name is Hansestadt Werben (Elbe), referring to its status as a former member of the Hanseatic League.

History

Werben was first documented in 1005 and placed an influential role during the medieval wars between the Saxons and Polabian Slavs; its name is of Slavic origin. Part of the Altmark, it received town rights in 1151 from Albert the Bear and received an influx of Hollanders in 1160. It became a participant of the Hanseatic League in 1358. While part of the Margraviate of Brandenburg, Werben was the scene of the 1631 Battle of Werben during the Thirty Years' War. Werben became part of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1701. It became part of the Prussian Province of Saxony in 1815 after the Napoleonic Wars and the new state of Saxony-Anhalt after World War II.

Werben's architecture is reminiscent of the Biedermeier style (Biedermeierstadt). Twice a year, the "Biedermeiermarkt" is held, a weekend festival in remembrance of this period.