Twistringen

Twistringen
Coat of arms
Twistringen
Location of Twistringen within Diepholz district
Coordinates: 52°48′N 08°39′E / 52.800°N 8.650°E / 52.800; 8.650Coordinates: 52°48′N 08°39′E / 52.800°N 8.650°E / 52.800; 8.650
Country	Germany
State	Lower Saxony
District	Diepholz
Government
• Mayor	Karl Meyer
Area
• Total	114.22 km2 (44.10 sq mi)
Elevation	49 m (161 ft)
Population (2015-12-31)
• Total	12,219
• Density	110/km2 (280/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	27239
Dialling codes	04243
Vehicle registration	DH
Website	www.twistringen.de

Twistringen is a town in the district of Diepholz, Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approximately 30 km northeast of Diepholz, and 30 km southwest of Bremen. The source of the Delme river is located in the city. The most important attraction in Twistringen is the museum of straw processing.

Twistringen was first mentioned in a document in 1250 as "Thuisteringe". In this writing all towns, which had to pay early contributions for the maintenance of the bridge over the Weser in Bremen. There was a parish in the city since approximately 825. After the Reformation in 1525, the parish Twistring was re-Catholicized in 1618. Located in a predominantly Protestant area, Twistringen was a Catholic enclave of the Prince-Bishopric of Münster. It has been a part of the Diocese Osnabrück since 1824. Today, Twistringen is still mainly Catholic.

Under French rule from 1811 to 1813, a modern road connection, the Napoleon Road (now called B 51) was built in Twistringen. In 1817, it became part of the Kingdom of Hanover.

Only after the construction of the rail connection between Bremen and Osnabrück in 1873, did Lutherans settle in the town again. These founded a Protestant-Lutheran congregation in 1891 and inaugurated their own church in 1894.

There was also a small Jewish community in Twistringen. Until 1938, there was a synagogue, which is still commemorated by a plaque. Somewhat outside of the center of Twistringen, there is still a Jewish cemetery.