Benz (Usedom)

Benz

Windmill of Benz, with church and lake Schmollensee in the background

Coat of arms
Benz

Coordinates: 53°56′N 14°04′E / 53.933°N 14.067°E / 53.933; 14.067Coordinates: 53°56′N 14°04′E / 53.933°N 14.067°E / 53.933; 14.067
Country Germany
State Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
District Vorpommern-Greifswald
Municipal assoc. Usedom-Süd
Government
  Mayor Karl-Heinz Schröder
Area
  Total 24.50 km2 (9.46 sq mi)
Population (2013-12-31)[1]
  Total 998
  Density 41/km2 (110/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 17429
Dialling codes 038379
Vehicle registration OVP
Website www.gemeinde-benz.de

Benz is a municipality on the island of Usedom in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. In an area that has been occupied since the Stone Age, the first documentation of the village dates to 1229 and during historical times, possession of it has changed several times, including by Sweden and Prussia.

It is a famous spot for visitors, due to its scenic location between hills and lakes, the picturesque windmill, the old church St. Petri, and the graves of notable people, such as the German painter Otto Niemeyer-Holstein. The windmill, an Erdholländermühle, that was in operation until the later half of the twentieth century is open to the public, where they may learn about its historic, architectural, and technological importance. Portions of the church date to the fifteenth century.

A series of drawings and paintings by Lyonel Feininger bears the name of Benz. He created many drawings and paintings of sites in Benz. A tour of the town takes visitors to many of the sites that appear in his works. The path of the tour is marked with plaques in the ground, enabling self-guided tours. Feininger continued to use the site as the subject for works of art until his death, despite his return to living in the United States.

The Polish name of Benz is Benice.[2]

References

  1. "Bevölkerungsstand der Kreise, Ämter und Gemeinden in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 31.12.2013". Statistisches Amt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (in German). 23 September 2014.
  2. Mapa Polski 1:500 000 Wojskowy Instytut Geograficzny Sztabu Generalnego W.P., Warszawa 1947

External links

Media related to Benz (Usedom) at Wikimedia Commons

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