Grimma, Saxony, Germany

🇩🇪 Grimma is a town in the Free State of Saxony, Central Germany, on the left bank of the Mulde, 25 km (16 mi) south-east of Leipzig and 16 km (9.9 mi) south of Wurzen. Founded in c. 1170, it is part of the Leipzig district.

Geography: Location The town is in northern Saxony, 25 km (16 miles) south-east of Leipzig and 16 km (9.9 mi) south of Wurzen.

Flooding The river Mulde flows through the town, a significant section of which is situated in a floodplain. Massive floods in 2002 washed away the old Pöppelmannbrücke bridge and caused significant damage to buildings in the town. In the summer of 2013 there was further flood damage.

Suburbs • Großbardau; • Döben; • Hohnstädt; • Höfgen; • Beiersdorf; • Kaditzsch; • Schkortitz; • Naundorf; • Neunitz; • Grechwitz; • Dorna; • Kleinbardau; • Bernbruch; • Waldbardau; • Nerchau; • Thümmlitzwalde; • Großbothen; • Mutzschen.

History Grimma is of Sorbian origin and was first documented in 1065. The Margraves of Meissen and the Electors of Saxony often resided at the castle in the town.

The town was chosen as one of three government elite boarding schools, the 'Princely Schools of Saxony', in 1550. The purpose of these schools was to educate future civil servants and to prepare them for further studies at universities which is why a number of historical personalities are biographically related to this rather small town. The Gymnasium St. Augustine still exists today as one of only a few public boarding schools in Saxony.

Grimma was the scene of witch trials between 1494–1701. At least two women were executed as witches.

Due to the town being located at the second main railway line between Leipzig and Dresden (via Meissen), the town developed well in the 19th century.

The town was affected by heavy flooding in 2013. Work had by this time started on the construction of flood barriers, but their completion had been delayed by local opposition

In 2017, the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference held their international, triennial convention in Grimma.

Culture Grimma has been the site of many historic structures, including a town hall dating from 1442, a famous school (the Fürstenschule) erected on the site of a former Augustinian monastery in 1550, and a school of brewing.