Flensburg - St. Jürgen

With a population if about 90.000, Flensburg is, after Kiel and Lübeck, the third largest town in Schleswig-Holstein.

Flensburg was founded at the latest by the middle of the 12th century at the end of the Flensburg Firth by Danish settlers, who were soon joined by German merchants. The place was considered a safe haven with protection from strong winds. Two important trade routes of the time crossed here and the large number of herrings in the firth was a factor for economic well-being. These herrings (pickled in salt) were sent across Europe in medieval times.

In 1284 Danish King Erik Glipping granted the new town town charter, the content of which suggests a very lively trade. Duke Waldemar IV of Schleswig confirmed the town charter. Flensburg quickly became the most important city in the Duchy of Schleswig, a Danish fiefdom with the Danish king as feudal lord, which, in contrast to Holstein, which is adjacent to the south, did not belong to the Holy Roman Empire.

During Denmark's war against the Hanseatic League and Holstein, Danish mercenaries first conquered and looted the city in 1426, followed by Holstein and Hanseatic mercenaries in 1431.

The harbour. Seen in the background is St. Jürgen (= St. George).

The church was built in the neo-Gothic style between 1903 and 1907. Where the church is now, was in medieval time Flensburg´s "St.Jürgen Hospital" for leprosy and plague patients.