Did you know Bargteheide began in the 13th century? It emerged from the parish of Sülfeld. Bargteheide became its own church village. Delingsdorf, Fischbek, Hammoor, Klein-Hansdorf and Tremsbüttel belonged to Bargteheide.
Let’s delve into Bargteheide’s past. The earliest written record of Bargteheide is from the 14th century. A sales document from 1314 mentions “brektehegel”. That’s Bargteheide’s old name.
Bargteheide’s location was key. It sat on the trade route between Hamburg and Lübeck. Travelers, merchants, and drivers used it as a rest stop. This attracted craftsmen, traders, and innkeepers. Bargteheide’s market became important. Markets were held as far back as the 15th century. Bargteheide’s Kram, Vieh, and Pferdemärkte were regionally significant into the 20th century. Bargteheide supplied neighboring villages. It was on the Hanseatic trade route. The market and trade made Bargteheide more than just a farming village.
Until the late 15th century, Bargteheide belonged to the estate of Tremsbüttel. In 1475, the Duke of Sachsen-Lauenburg bought Tremsbüttel. Bargteheide was under their rule for almost a century. In 1571, it fell to the Duchy of Holstein-Gottorf.
In the mid-17th century, Bargteheide had 12 large farms. It also had about 20 smaller cottager sites. The agricultural reform in Schleswig-Holstein took place in Bargteheide around 1769/70. A survey map from that time shows the layout of fields. It also shows the location of farms and workshops.
Bargteheide became too confined within its original village layout. More settlements grew along Alte Landstraße. They also appeared on roads leading out of the village. Even though Tremsbüttel was the administrative center, Bargteheide remained central and economically important.
In 1867, Schleswig-Holstein became part of Prussia. Administrative offices moved from Tremsbüttel to Bargteheide. Bargteheide gradually expanded its central functions. With the introduction of the Royal Prussian Rural Community Order in 1867, Bargteheide became a rural community. Until the Bargteheide district was formed in 1888, the community acted as a parish bailiwick. As part of Prussian judicial reform, the royal district court also moved to Bargteheide. The Hamburg-Lübeck railway line, with a station in Bargteheide, contributed to structural change within the town.
The railway connected Bargteheide to Hamburg and Lübeck. This made Bargteheide a desirable place to live. Suburban residential streets developed around the turn of the century. Central services included a post office and telegraph service. There was also an electricity supply, a savings bank, a local health insurance fund, a drugstore, doctors, small factories, and a primary school.
By World War I, Bargteheide had grown into a rural community. It had significant urban supply functions. From 1867 to 1939, the population rose from 1,200 to 3,000. The population doubled during and after the war. This was due to the arrival of refugees and evacuees.
On April 1, 1957, Bargteheide became an independent municipality. It had a full-time administration and mayor’s office. This laid the administrative groundwork for urban development. Housing programs, infrastructure measures, and the development of a commercial area followed. Schools, sports facilities, and cultural promotion were expanded. The granting of town rights in 1970 marked the successful completion of this development.
Today, Bargteheide has about 16,000 residents. It is the economic, educational, and cultural center of the surrounding area. The area has about 15,000 residents. Bargteheide offers a wide range of housing options and high living standards. New residential areas shape the town. It is nestled in the Holstein landscape. Bargteheide serves its central function with modern shops. It is known as a “friendly shopping town.” It is also home to modern and efficient craft and service businesses.
Bargteheide is a beauty. It is worth visiting for a day or two. It has green meadows and flower-lined lanes. Tall majestic trees line the background. Bargteheide is known for its historical timber-framed houses. The church has stood here for more than 700 years. The Local History Museum is a great place to learn more about the area’s history. Take the “Street Name Tour” to learn how the streets got their names. Stop at the Utspann, an old community center from the 1770s, now a popular restaurant.