He followed the order and the signals rang out far beyond the city walls. The imperial troops were well aware of the cavalry signals from the Battle of Breitenfeld. Assuming that the city was occupied by the Swedes, the troops withdrew in the direction of Lützen. This meant that Delitzsch was spared from plunder.
The legend is still experienced in Delitzsch today, but in a mixed form. In another legend from 1937, a watchman guarded the town of Delitzsch. He had a daughter. She was quite lonely. One day she asked her father to teach her to play the trumpet so that she could pass the time when she was bored. One day she was supposed to stand in for her father as a watchman. As she was looking around from the lookout, she noticed a cloud of dust in the distance that was rolling towards the town. When she soon saw riders, she sensed that the town was in trouble and gave a warning signal to the citizens to the ramparts. The enemies awaited them in arms and a bloody reception. When the Swedish riders found the citizens ready to defend themselves and there was no booty to be had, they turned around and sped away.
The legend of the tower keeper's daughter, who played the Swedish signals, is revived today on special occasions and festivals by an actress playing the tower keeper's daughter.
Built on a hill
Delitzsch was first mentioned in a document in 1166 with the name "delce". The Slavic word means hill and is due to the fact that the first castle complex was on a hill. In 1291, Delitzsch was first referred to as a town. In 1392, the "Holy Spirit" hospital with the chapel of St. Fabian and Sebastian was built, and from 1394 to 1396 the town wall and the Hallesche and Breite towers were built. This was soon followed by the conversion of the town hall into the town hall (1401) and the construction of the town church of St. Peter & Paul in the center of Delitzsch (from 1404). The hospital church of St. George was built in 1516. Two years later, the foundation stone for St. Mary's Church was laid. After the division of the Electorate of Saxony, Delitzsch belonged to the Duchy of Saxe-Merseburg.
From 1728 to 1810, Delitzsch was the base of the Electorate of Saxony's army. After the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Saxony had to give up parts of its territory and from then on belonged to Prussia. It was only after the administrative reform in 1952 that Delitzsch became a town in the Leipzig district and from 1990 onwards a part of Saxony again. With the invention of the steam engine and the advancing industrialization, innovations such as the railway (1859: Berlin-Leipzig railway line), gas lighting (1865) and the public drinking water supply (1902-1904) came to the town.
A Stroll Through Time
How about a stroll through the old town with the market square, the town hall and the town church? Here you can still discover medieval architecture, for example the small alleys and narrow streets with the old houses, such as the town clerk's house or the mayor's house with the magnificent entrance portals. The fortifications that surround the old town are also part of the town's history. Last but not least, the town church with the "Mount of Olives group", which was made by the Leipzig master Hans in 1408 and is located on the southeast facade of the church, is charming. A spectacle worth seeing takes place every day at 12 noon: directly above the church clock of the Protestant town church of St. Peter and Paul are two small figures representing Adam and Eve. With each stroke of the bell, Eve tries to entice Adam to take a bite of the apple.
A must for every visitor to Delitzsch is the baroque castle, which was originally built as a ladies' castle in the 17th century. Here you can take a look into the princely chambers or the castle kitchen. After climbing the 50-meter-high observation tower, you will be rewarded with a beautiful view over Delitzsch. In addition to numerous events, you can say "I do" in a romantic atmosphere. A relaxed stroll through time takes visitors to the baroque garden right next to the castle, which was laid out in the French style in 1692. The city park in Delitzsch also offers relaxation. With its wide lawns and fountains, it is just as inviting to linger as the rose garden, which enchants visitors with its splendor of flowers in summer. Also worth seeing is the city cemetery, which was laid out like a park in 1878.
For music lovers, Delitzsch offers two special organ treasures. The Rühlmann organ is located in the town church of St. Peter and Paul. The instrument, built by Wilhelm Rühlmann from Zörbig near Bitterfeld in 1889, has 70 pipes and was made in a neo-Gothic design. In the Catholic church of St. Mary, organ lovers can marvel at the Weimbs organ from 2013, which differs from its historical counterparts in its modern, colorful design. More information about both organs can be found on special tours on the topic of "Fascination with Organs."
Important personalities
Leipzig is known as a book city, and yet it was a man from Delitzsch who printed the first book in Saxony in a Leipzig workshop. Marcus Brandis was born in Delitzsch in 1455. On September 28, 1481, he printed Giovanni Nanni's "Glosa Apocalipsim," the first book in Saxony. Another well-known personality from Delitzsch is Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg. The naturalist, who traveled with Alexander von Humboldt, was born in Delitzsch on April 19, 1795.
A company that is still based in Delitzsch today was founded in 1817 with the purchase of the pharmacy "Zum weissen Adler". It was Carl Christian Freyberg who turned this pharmacy on the market into the company "Delicia" and by 1888 was already industrially producing veterinary medicines, rat and mouse control agents and plant protection products. Albert Böhme and his brother-in-law Karl Hommel from Delitzsch began producing sweets in 1895 and founded a family business. The well-known Delitzscher Schokoladenfabrik GmbH can still be found in exactly the same place today.
When enjoyment meets history...
... then you are in Delitzsch. The town always offers a different kind of market experience on the first weekend in May. When the market fills up with stands from more than 100 specialty retailers, artisans, direct marketers and garden centers, it is the spring and gourmet market in Delitzsch. Strolling through the market, visitors experience a special taste experience with delicacies from all over Europe. And at the end of the year - more precisely on the second weekend of Advent - the northern Saxon town also has something special to offer. Then the market shines in a special light, and traders offer not only the delicacies at the "French Gourmet Market" but also unique pieces made of ceramics, wood and wicker.
Visitors to the city can experience a different kind of pleasure on a guided tour. Whether on a tour during the day, where you discover places of historical significance, or at night, when you find the "dark corners" of the city and the stories of witches, torture and dungeons make everyone shudder. The fortifications with their towers offer another interesting tour of discovery and a unique view of Delitzsch. Here you not only learn how the medieval complex worked, but also something about the defense against enemies in the Thirty Years' War. The herbalist Barbara has a lot to say about healing centers, herbs and pharmacies. She informs guests about the history of medicine, the mud bath and the city's historical healing center.
Once a year the Middle Ages come to life
In addition to the markets in spring and during Advent, the Peter & Paul Festival is another highlight in Delitzsch. In the Middle Ages, on Peter and Paul Day, the people of Delitzsch bought indulgences to forgive their sins. Since the Reformation, indulgences have no longer existed, but June 29th is still celebrated today. On the weekend after June 29th, the Middle Ages and all the legends surrounding the town come to life again. The celebrations include a parade that shows the history from the construction of Delitzsch Castle in the 10th century, the first annual fair in 1400 and the Thirty Years' War to Hermann Schulze-Delitzsch and the town of today. A field camp with various historical troops is set up behind the castle.
surrounding area – something for every taste
In the immediate vicinity of Delitzsch you will find numerous cycle paths with different themes. The "Coal-Steam-Light" cycle route runs for over 120 kilometers past large open-cast mining equipment, lakes and other witnesses to coal mining and coal processing. You can also enjoy nature from Delitzsch on the "Schlossweg", a connecting route to the Mulde cycle path, to Hohenprießnitz.
If you prefer to explore the region on foot, there are various options for that too. On the way around Lake Grabschützer, hikers can experience the beautiful nature. At the stations that accompany the educational trail, you can learn a lot about the formation of coal, its mining and the creation of new landscapes. The route is seven kilometers long and, thanks to its gentle gradient, is also suitable for inexperienced hikers and walkers. Things get a little more historical if you choose the Luther Trail in Saxony. The circular hiking trail connects places associated with the Reformation at 27 stations. The Luther Trail does not lead directly through Delitzsch, but is easy to reach by bus or train. For example, you can hike from Eilenburg towards Bad Düben via Löbnitz or in the opposite direction to Leipzig.
Important facts at one glance
Delitzsch is one of the five major district towns in the North Saxony district. The city has 12 districts with around 25.500 residents. Halle/Leipzig Airport is only about 15 minutes away. The city is located in the economic triangle with Leipzig and Halle/Saale and is connected to the motorway and rail network towards Munich, Berlin and Dresden.