| After the
subjugation of the Slavs around 1139, Zarrentin came under the rule of Heinrich, Earl of
Badewede. In the course of Christianization, German farmers came to settle, churches and
monasteries were built. The eastern part of the convent of the Cistercian nuns, is still
preserved. Under the influence of nearby trade routes as well as salt shipping on the
Schaale river and lake Schaalsee, Zarrentin gained the function of a market place in the
17th century. Today, in the ‘Amstrasse’ Street, you can still
recognise the ancient function of this one-street village by the structure and
emplacements of the buildings. In 1843, Zarrentin was united with the ward of
Wittenburg
and obtained, after its population reached 2000, the rights of a town. Originally, this
town was, as mentioned already, build as a one-street village, with a continuing street
(‘Thomas-Muenzer-Strasse — Breite Strasse — Toepferstrasse). In 1905, the
market place obtained its actual shape, next to this, the appearance of the town is
characterised by simple half-timbered houses dating from the 18th or the 19th
century. In the 20ies and 30ies, Zarrentin worked on obtaining recognition as a climatic
health resort. The opening of guest houses and the gastronomy trade, the building of the
sea-side promenade and of the beach bathing site are the expression of this striving to
make the town evolve into a destination for excursions and holidays. |
