Bitterfeld-Wolfen is a town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated in south-eastern Saxony-Anhalt, west of the river Mulde, in an area dominated by heavy industry and lignite mining. The town was formed by merger of the towns of Bitterfeld and Wolfen and the municipalities of Greppin, Holzweißig and Thalheim on 1 July 2007.

Geography

Bitterfeld-Wolfen is 25 km northeast of Halle (Saale) and about 35 km north of Leipzig. Eastward lies the Muldestausee lake, southward the Goitzsche lake with docks and westwards the lido of Sandersdorf. The town lies in a nature reserve, Bitterfelder Bergbaurevier.

Neighbouring municipalities

Adjoining municipalities are from the north and clockwise Raguhn-Jeßnitz, Muldestausee, Delitzsch, Sandersdorf-Brehna and Zörbig.

Climate

The average air temperature in Bitterfeld is 10.0 °C and the yearly rainfall 518 mm.

History

Town fusion

On 1 July 2007 the independent towns of Wolfen and Bitterfeld and the municipalities of Greppin, Thalheim and Holzweißig were merged to form the present-day town of Bitterfeld-Wolfen. Bobbau was absorbed in September 2009.

Historical Population

(of the present-day town) ¹ Census results ² 2011 Census ³ Source: Bitterfeld-Wolfen Town Hall Source: Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen-Anhalt

Bitterfeld

Bitterfeld has approximately 15,000 inhabitants (2006). It was first documented in 1224. Part of the Electorate of Saxony, it came to the Prussian Province of Saxony in 1815. Until the administrative reform of 2007 it was the capital of the district of Bitterfeld.

Wolfen

Wolfen has approximately 24,000 inhabitants (2006). It is located north of Bitterfeld. Wolfen was first documented around 1400. The discovery of lignite in 1846 and the construction of an Agfa dye factory in 1895 brought industry and population growth.

Twin towns – sister cities

Bitterfeld-Wolfen is twinned with: