Sachsen-Anhalt (-Anhalt)

axony-Anhalt is a state in the Snortheast of the Federal Republic of , surrounded by the states of Brandenburg (to the northeast and east), Saxony (to the southeast), (to the southwest and south), and Lower Saxony (to the west and northwest). Alarge part of the state was formerly Area 20,445 km2 / part of Saxony which, at that time, 7,894 sq miles Population 2.7 million also included the often partitioned state of Anhalt. It became a free state of the German Empire in 1918. In 1945 it became a province, and, in 1947, the state of Saxony-Anhalt was created, only to be broken up into districts in 1952. In 1990 the state of Saxony- Anhalt was finally reestablished. In terms of its population density and area, Saxony-Anhalt falls in the middle among the federal states. The north is more agricultural in character; the south, where the population density is somewhat higher than in the north, is more industrialized. The climate is influenced by its proximity to the sea and shows considerable variations due to a landscape which alternates from medium altitude mountain ranges to wide valleys. The north has abundant rainfall while the valleys of the rivers Saale, Unstrut, and Bode are among the driest areas in Germany. The state stretches along both sides of the River Elbe. The partially flat, partially gently rolling north with its great pine

282 A CULINARY JOURNEY THROUGH GERMANY of the same name) can be of the same name) rivers rivers 283 – Red Riding Hood) based in in the m) Rotkäppchen in the region are the chemical and building the chemical are in the region 1,142 The industrial of //Merseburg, centers getables, wheat and sugar beets and sugar getables, wheat and of cattle and the breeding nges begin. The nges begin. /Schönebeck and Hettstedt/Sangershausen lie in the Magdeburg/Schönebeck and Hettstedt/Sangershausen of industry branches The predominant south and southeast. represented industriesmaterials as as well engineering and the design and of mining the unregulated Through production of vehicles. found in Saxony-Anhalt. Well known is the sparkling wine is the sparkling known Well found in Saxony-Anhalt. production ( Freyburg. forests (Altmark) is part (Altmark) forests of the north German the south, To lowlands. medium-sized mountain ra highest mountain is the Brocken ( eastern part of the mountains. In the center the cultivation of lies where the fertile Börde Magdeburger ve rye supplies pigs take Altmark place; the and potatoes, and the The of fruit the cultivation south is suited for and wine. of Europe, the Saale-Unstrut area northern most viniculture wine region (between the two Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt) lignite, the state has suffered severe environmental damages. The mining of rock salt and potash (as table salt and fertilizer respectively) is a centuries-old tradition. Saxony-Anhalt is rich in churches from the Romanesque period such as the cathedrals in Magdeburg, Naumburg, and Merseburg and the churches in and . But the region is closely connected with German literature as well. The Merseburger Zaubersprüche from the 9th century are the oldest evidence of German literature, and the Sachsenspiegel from the 13th century (a record of prescriptive law) is the oldest book of law in the . Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock was born in Quedlinburg in 1724; Novalis in Wiederstedt in 1772. In 1483 the reformer was born in Eisleben, where he died in 1546. In 1518 another reformer, Philipp Melanchthon, began teaching activities at the University of . Beginning in 1505, Lucas Cranach the Older worked in Wittenberg as painter at the Elector’s court. The scientist Otto von Guericke (born in 1602 in Magdeburg) is well known, especially through his research on the properties of a vacuum and his experiments (Magdeburger Halbkugeln – the Magdeburg hemisperes). In 1695 August Hermann Francke, a protestant theologian, teacher, and social reformer founded the Francke’schen Stiftungen (Francke’sche Foundation), an orphanage, a school for Latin, and a teacher’s seminary in Halle upon Saale. Worthy of mention as well is Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, a Prussian officer born in Magdeburg in 1730, who aided the troups of George Washington in winning victory over the British in the United States War of Independence. Von Steuben Day Parades take place in his honor throughout the United States. The archeologist Johann Joachim Winckelmann was born in in 1717. His colleague Robert Koldewey (born in

284 A CULINARY JOURNEY THROUGH GERMANY and . Well Johann it had its 1681, sician in l, known , founded by 1717 Bach worked 1932 1900. to ) carried out the nn was born in In ), was born in Bauhaus l. Georg Philipp l. Georg 1855 1925 1928 in Dessau The Sebastian Sebastian mu court as Köthen. The composer Kurt Weil his especially through Opera” Penny “Three ( Saxony-Anhalt is known Saxony-Anhalt of music as in the area wel Telema in Magdeburg Händel Friedrich Georg upon Saale in in Halle 1685. Magdeburger Börde Magdeburger 1917. ) also taught. to 1931 285 1898 s, had an deciding influences, had on German of the region though is the though of the region k, apricots, still n, and, last but The most significant purveyor of raw materials for the The most significant materials purveyor of raw Saxony-Anhalt has many nature preserves, nature- and preserves, nature- nature has many Saxony-Anhalt om Calbe, asparagus om the Saale-Unstrut kitchens kitchens national parks as well as biosphere preserves as parks and bird as well national biosphere sanctuaries. tourism, an important In these areas too, plays role. Walter Gropiu onions the are known fr the from and milk Altmar wine, and sparkling fr regio certainly not least, cheese fom the Harz mountains. architecture and industrial architecture design. From Blankenburg in the Harz mountains in the Harz in Blankenburg from of Babylon excavation Klee, Paul Kandinsky, the artists where Wassily in Dessau center of views to paint was commissioned (who Feininger and Lyonel 1929 and from of Halle the city Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt) SOUPS Altmärker Hoch- beef broth zeitssuppe royale, with ground meat dumplings and asparagus tips Linsensuppe mit sweet-and-sour soup of beef broth, lentils, Birnen smoked pork, sautéed onions, pears and mirepoix Weihnachtssuppe soup made with red wine, spices, pieces of gingerbread and cream Zerbster asparagus soup with chunks of asparagus; Spargelsuppe sprinkled with chopped hard-boiled eggs and parsley

FISH SPECIALTIES Havelberger stew made of chopped fish fillet, potatoes, Bierfisch bacon, dark beer and gingerbread Hecht in Sahne- baked pieces of pike in cream sauce soße Lachs mit Sauer- baked casserole made with layers of kraut sauerkraut and sliced salmon Maräne Arendsee marane sautéed in almond butter Schill mit Meer- strips of pike-perch simmered in its own rettich juice, with horseradish and melted butter Wickelaal pieces of eel wrapped in sage leaves and Arendsee sautéed

MEAT AND SAUSAGE SPECIALTIES Alter Dessauer pork patty Altmärkischer boiled beef and tripe, stored in an Tiegelbraten earthenware pot; served cold

286 Bernburger Käl- calf’s heart braised in a sauce made with berherz mit Wein- pears, lemon juice, juniper berries, port, red birnen wine and beef broth Bördeländer Ka- sautéed rabbit legs served with steamed ninchenkeulen vegetables (onions, carrots, celeriac, tomato paste and green peas) Däg’lbraod oven-baked dish made of beef, lamb and (Tiegelbraten) herbs

Gebratene Kalbs- sautéed calf’s kidneys with sauce made of A CULINARY JOURNEY THROUGH GERMANY nieren mit Knob- beef broth, garlic and pureed vegetables lauchsoße (asparagus, carrots, red beets, Savoy cabbage)

Hähnchen auf sautéed young chicken served with a potato- Hallorenart and-vegetable stew Harzer Fein- grilled pork fillet with mushrooms and schmeckerspieß glazed onions Harzer Lamm in lamb marinated in buttermilk and sautéed Buttermilch Harzer Wurzel- boiled beef brisket with root vegetables fleisch (carrots, celeriac, leeks) Ilsenburger Bär- meat pie made with a layer of bacon, wild lauchkuchen garlic, butter, eggs, sour cream, cheese and slices of smoked pork chop on top, and baked in a spring form pan Kalbsklump in dumplings of ground veal fillet, eggs and Zitronensoße seasonings; served in lemon sauce

287 Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt)

Kaninchenragout pieces of rabbit in a marinade of Unstrut in Unstrutwein wine, onions, carrots and spices; sautéed with bacon and flavored with red-currant jam and cream Köthener Schus- stew made of pork, raw potatoes and small terpfanne firm pears Lehm, Bötel und pork shank with sauerkraut and green-pea Stroh puree Leber auf slices of calf’s or pork Kelbraer Art liver, coated with flour and pan-fried; served with sautéed onions and herbs Lendenwürfel cubed beef fillet braised with diced cucumber, red wine and cream; flavored with paprika and curry Letzlinger Heide- herb-crusted roast saddle of lamb; served Lamm mit Majo- with potato balls sprinkled with marjoram rankartoffeln Lützener cold platter: various sausages, poached pork Schlachtplatte kidneys, sliced cold pork, raw and boiled ham Magdeburger baked casserole made with layers of onions, Börde-Topf sliced potatoes, mutton cubes and pork with cabbage Naumburger roast mutton with green beans and potato Hammelbraten dumplings Rübeländer thin slices of boiled beef brisket served in a Zwiebelfleisch sauce of onions, cabbage, vinegar, beef broth and red-currant jam Schwarze sausage made of pig’s blood, liver, meat and Leberwurst crackling

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