Varel

Varel (German pronunciation: [ˈfaːʁəl] ⓘ) is a town in the district of Friesland, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated near the Jade River and the Jade Bight, approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of Wilhelmshaven and 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of Oldenburg. With a population of 23,984 (2020) it is the biggest town in the district of Friesland.

Varel
Town
Pedestrian area in Varel
Pedestrian area in Varel
Flag of Varel
Flag
Coat of arms of Varel
Coat of arms
Location of Varel within Friesland district
Varel is located in Germany
Varel
Varel
Varel is located in Lower Saxony
Varel
Varel
Coordinates: 53°23′49″N 08°08′10″E
CountryGermany
StateLower Saxony
DistrictFriesland
Subdivisions32 districts
Government
 • Mayor (2021–26) Gerd-Christian Wagner[1] (SPD)
Area
 • Total113.53 km2 (43.83 sq mi)
Highest elevation
12 m (39 ft)
Lowest elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (2021-12-31)[2]
 • Total23,957
 • Density210/km2 (550/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
26316
Dialling codes04451
Vehicle registrationFRI
Websitewww.varel.de
Aerial view of Varel

Geography

Varel is located south of the Jade Bight at the North Sea on the Geest. Over time, the city expanded into lower areas as the construction of dykes helped to secure these areas from floods.

The environment of Varel is shaped by agriculture, forests and the sea.

Neighbour municipalities

Jade in the district of Wesermarsch is the Eastern neighbour municipality of Varel. In the South of Varel one will find the municipalities Rastede and Wiefelstede which are part of the district of Ammerland. The municipality of Bockhorn is located in the West of Varel. Bockhorn is also part of the district of Friesland.

Segmentation of the city

Varel is segmented into 21 localities. Besides the downtown area these are Altjührden, Borgstede, Büppel, Dangast, Dangastermoor, Grünenkamp, Hohelucht, Hohenberge, Jeringhave, Jethausen, Langendamm, Moorhausen, Neudorf, Neuenwege, Obenstrohe, Rallenbüschen, Rosenberg, Seghorn, Streek and Winkelsheide. Further villages in the municipality are Almsee, Bramloge, Brunne, Jethausermoor, Logemoor, Plaggenkrug, Rahling, Rotenhahn, Schwarzenberg, Tange, Vareler Schleuse and Wilkenhausen.

Usage of areas

A little more than three fourths of the area of Varel is agricultural land. The size of the forest – around ten percent of the total size – is remarkably high for a city at the North Sea coast.[3]

Castle church

The castle church is the oldest building in Varel. The first part of the church is believed to have been built in 1144.[4] The tower was added between 1200 and 1250, originally as twin towers, which were rebuilt in today's form first in 1651 and then in 1737. The altar, font and pulpit were carved in 1613 – 1618 by Ludwig Münstermann. The altar is nearly 10 metres (33 ft) high and is one of the main works of Northern German Mannerism.

Before the Protestant Reformation, the patron saint was Saint Peter. Today, the castle church is a Lutheran church, with no patron saint. The church was formerly one of the buildings of the castle, which was demolished in the 19th century soon after a fire destroyed most parts of it.

Notable people

International relations
Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Varel is twinned with:

See also

References
  1. "Direktwahlen in Niedersachsen vom 12. September 2021" (PDF). Landesamt für Statistik Niedersachsen. 13 October 2021.
  2. "LSN-Online Regionaldatenbank, Tabelle A100001G: Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes, Stand 31. Dezember 2021" (in German). Landesamt für Statistik Niedersachsen.
  3. Varel, Stadt. "Zahlen, Daten, Fakten". Stadt Varel.
  4. "Stadt Varel - Sehenswürdigkeiten". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  5. Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce Archived 26 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, 5 June 2002; retrieved on 11 September 2009.
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