Nienburg, Lower Saxony, Germany

🇩🇪 Nienburg is a town and capital of the Nienburg district, in Lower Saxony, Germany.

Geography Situated on the scenic German Timber-Frame Road, Nienburg lies on the river Weser, approximately 55 km (34 mi) south-east of Bremen, and 45 km (28 mi) north-west of Hanover. Nienburg is the largest town in the Middle Weser Region.

Structure Nienburg, including quarters • Erichshagen • Holtorf • Langendamm • Schäferhof/Kattriede • Nordertor • Leintor • Lehmwandlung • Alpheide.

History The major reason for the emergence and development of Nienburg into the largest city in the Middle Weser region was its location at a convenient ford in the Weser River, leading to multiple trade routes radiating from the location. As early as 1025 the location was referred to as Negenborg, i.e. New Castle. In 1215 it began to be referred to as a city, a civitas, when Count Henry I of Hoya began the residence of his ruling line. From 1582 until 1866 the Guelph (Welf) Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg controlled the county, except for Napoleonic French rule from 1803 to 1813. In 1871, it became part of the German Empire.

During World War II, it was the location of German prisoner-of-war camps Oflag X-B and Stalag X-C, in which French, Polish, Belgian, Romanian, Serbian, Italian and Soviet POWs were held.

The former County of Wölpe was the seat of the Grafen (counts) von Wölpe with its associated castle. The castle (Burg Wölpe) was destroyed in the Hildesheim Diocesan Feud in 1522.