Geithain

Geschichte

Geithain is a town in the Leipzig district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany.GeographyGeithain is 30km northwest of Chemnitz and 40km southeast of Leipzig. It lies in hilly country by the wooded area Wickershain and the river Eula.HistoryThe first documented mention of the town was in the year 1186 in a document, which described the donation of earnings from the Wickershainer Marion Church to the Bishop of Merseburg through the Duke Dedo von Rochlitz.The name of the town has its origins in the Old Sorbian word "Chytan" (Chyten) and describes the place of Chyten, where "Chyt" (Chit) is a Sorbian first name.In 1209 there was another documented mention of Geithain and the already established Nicolai Church. In this year the establishment of a hospital and a chapel (of St. James) was ordered by Konrad II of Groitzsch (1190–1210), the Margrave of Lausitz. Also, although Geithain is described as a town in this document, a charter with the first mayor (Silvester Phil) is first evident for the year 1335. From 1346 cisterns and wooden water conduits were constructed in Geithain, which were used until 1904.Gaithain was administered in the Middle Ages by a Vogt, who had his seat in the Freihof, first mentioned in 1349. The Geithain powder-tower, today one of the sights of the town, was part of the Freihof and was inserted with this into the town's fortifications.1936 was the 750th year anniversary of Geithain. They had a celebration for 3 days around 1 September.