Pirna

Pirna is a Große Kreisstadt in the rural district of Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge in the Free State of Saxony, Germany.

Geography
Pirna is located at the beginning of the Elbtalkessel, where the Wesenitz and the Gottleuba flow in the Elbe. In the south of Pirna is the Osterzgebirge. Pirna is named Tor zur Sächsischen Schweiz (door to the Sächsische Schweiz).

Nearby towns
Direct in the north of Pirna is the capital of Saxony, Dresden. Nearby towns are Bad Gottleuba-Berggießhübel, Bahretal, Dohma, Dohna, Dürrröhrsdorf-Dittersbach, Heidenau, Lohmen, Stadt Wehlen and Struppen. All these towns are in the rural districts of Sächsische and Schweiz-Osterzgebirge.

History
Stone Age
The first relics of human settlers are from the last ice age. In the neolithic age, farmers lived in this region. In the 6th century the Sorbs settled in Pirna.

Middle Ages
With the foundation of the Mark Meißen in the 10th century, it became possible to confirm when the Pirna area had been settled. The castle of Prina was built during the 12th century. Henry III, Margrave of Meissen established the rights of the town of Pirna officially. At this time, the river Elbe was important for trade. The town was first mentioned in writing in 1233. Wenceslaus II of Bohemia bought the town in 1293, so the town was Bohemian until 1405. In 1307, a convent, a complex where nuns lived, was founded in the district.

Population change
The table below lists the population change of Pirna since 1300. Since 1960 the population was counted on December 31 every year.Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen statistics
til 1899
 1300 - 1,500
 1550 - 3,538
 1801 - 4,397
 1834 - 5,556
 1871 - 8,905
 1875 - 10,581
 1880 - 11,670
 1890 - 13,8521900 til 1989
 1910 - 19,525
 1925 - 30,460
 1933 - 33,656
 1939 - 36,325
 1946 - 37,426 1
 1950 - 38,676 2
 1960 - 41,111
 1981 - 48,387
 1984 - 47,601since 1990
 1995 - 39,194
 1998 - 42,728
 2000 - 42,108
 2002 - 40,853
 2004 - 40,259
 2005 - 40,110
 2006 - 39,751
 2007 - 39,438

Notes

 Other websites 

 Homepage of Pirna (german)
 The historical old town of Pirna (german)
 board of trustees (german)
 The history of the town (von Hugo Jensch) (german)

Category:Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge Rural District