Waldheim, Saxony
| Waldheim | ||
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Town center
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 Waldheim
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Location of Waldheim within Mittelsachsen district
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| Coordinates: 51°4′N 13°1′E / 51.067°N 13.017°ECoordinates: 51°4′N 13°1′E / 51.067°N 13.017°E | ||
| Country | Germany | |
| State | Saxony | |
| District | Mittelsachsen | |
| Municipal assoc. | Waldheim | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Steffen Blech | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 41.62 km2 (16.07 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 266 m (873 ft) | |
| Population (2015-12-31) | ||
| • Total | 9,082 | |
| • Density | 220/km2 (570/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) | |
| Postal codes | 04736 | |
| Dialling codes | 034327 | |
| Vehicle registration | FG | |
| Website | www.stadt-waldheim.de | |
Waldheim is a town in Mittelsachsen district, in Saxony, Germany.
It is situated in the valley of the Zschopau River, 9 km (5.6 mi) southwest of Döbeln, and 28 km (17 mi) north of Chemnitz. The municipal area comprises Waldheim proper, the localities of Reinsdorf, Massanei, Heiligenborn, and Schönberg, as well as parts of the former Ziegra-Knobelsdorf municipality with the localities of Gebersbach, Heyda, Knobelsdorf, Meinsberg, Neuhausen, and Rudelsdorf, which were incorporated in 2013.
Waldheim station is a stop on the Riesa–Chemnitz railway, served by Regionalbahn trains of Deutsche Bahn and the private Vogtlandbahn railway company.
Waldheim in the Margraviate of Meissen was first mentioned in 1198. Waldheim Castle first appeared in a 1271 deed, the surrounding settlement received town privileges in 1286. The castle was turned into a Augustinian monastery in 1404. The population turned Protestant in 1537.
In 1588 Waldheim Castle was again rebuilt as a hunting lodge by Elector Christian I of Saxony. In 1716 Augustus II the Strong inaugurated a penitentiary, almshouse and orphanage in the castle, which is used as a prison (Justizvollzugsanstalt) up to today. The later author Karl May served a sentence here from 1870 to 1874. In the Nazi era, Waldheim became notorious as a detention centre for political opponents, convicted for preparation of high treason, undermining military morale or just listening to banned Feindsender radio stations. Among the inmates were several resistance fighters like Eva Schulze-Knabe, who was convicted by the People's Court in 1942 and freed at the end of World War II.
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Wikipedia