Founded in the 13th century, Kiel had become a very popular city by the 19th century. Urban construction was done systematically in Kiel, thus streets branch off from the eight corners of the market square. Main street was Holstenstrasse going off to the north-south. Side streets led to the sea and town wall. At the northern access point a castle was built, and this is where the town started to expand in the late 18th century.

This small university town was member of the Hanse and home to citizens and craftsmen. Kiel started to grow rapidly after it was declared Prussian naval port in 1864. Barracks, areas for the working class and big shipyards developed. With the new market, city hall and municipal an urban development area arose.

Today about 240,000 people live in the capital of Schleswig Holstein. As the most northern metropolis of Germany Kiel is also the terminal point of the Kiel Canal, the most used artificial waterway in the world. Furthermore, Kiel is known as base of the German navy and for Kiel‘s sprats, a speciality of the regional kitchen.

Photo: Kiel Town hall with Town hall Tower and Kiel Opera House; in front 'Kleiner Kiel'

More information: http://www.kiel-sailing-city.de/en.html

Photo: Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock