Ever wondered how a small farming village transformed into a municipality along a vital waterway? Gro\u00df Lindow’s story is one of connection, industry, and growth.
Gro\u00df Lindow sits in the Oder-Spree district of Brandenburg. It is a municipality with a rich history.
Let’s travel back to 1354. Gro\u00df Lindow was first documented as Lyndow. It was a small farming village. The Carthusian monastery in Frankfurt (Oder) owned it. Later, in 1540, it belonged to the University Viadrina. Lyndow even served as a border and customs point. It marked the boundary with Saxony.
Around 1700, Oberlindow emerged. It became part of the Burgsdorf estate in Müllrose. This new location led to Lindow being called Unterlindow. Neulindow was established in 1766 by colonists. It joined Oberlindow in 1934. The merging of Ober- and Unterlindow created Gro\u00df Lindow in 1950.
Gro\u00df Lindow’s landscape changed with the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Kanal. The canal connects the Spree and Oder rivers. In 1739, a settlement near the Wei\u00dfenspring lock was noted. The lock’s foundation was laid on July 12, 1702. The name Wei\u00dfenspring comes from a freshwater spring flowing from white sand.
Friedrich II granted the hammer mill to War Councillor Kienitz in 1765. Kienitz had been there since 1754. He was tasked with settling 30 foreign families. He also had to start a pipe factory. At the time, the pipe factory and Wei\u00dfenspring were in the Kayserm\u00ühlsche forest. This area belonged to the Biegen office.
Schlaubehammer was first mentioned in 1545. It was called “vff dem Eysenhammer.” This hammer mill was likely founded in 1533. By 1647, it was known as Schlaube Hammer. This name reflected its location on the Schlaube River. The mill closed by 1739. A sawmill replaced it.
For a short time, from September 1945 to 1947, Ober- and Unterlindow, Wei\u00dfenspring, and Schlaubehammer were districts of Frankfurt (Oder). In 1947, they returned to the Lebus district.
Gro\u00df Lindow was officially formed on July 1, 1950. It combined Oberlindow and Unterlindow. Since 1817, Oberlindow, Unterlindow, Schlaubehammer, and Wei\u00dfenspring belonged to the Lebus district. In 1952, they became part of the Fürstenberg district. In 1961, it became Eisenhüttenstadt-Land. Since 1993, these places are in the Oder-Spree district of Brandenburg.
The Friedrich-Wilhelm-Kanal shaped Gro\u00df Lindow. A monument near the Wei\u00dfenberger Lock commemorates its renovations from 1827 to 1868. The locks were destroyed at the end of World War II. This stopped ship traffic. The canal bed was filled in four places during road construction in 1952/53. In 1999, the northern bank became a “Treidelpfad.” This path is popular for walks, bike rides, and skating. An electric-powered Treidelkahn was put into service on a section of the canal.
Today, Gro\u00df Lindow is mainly a residential and recreational area. Craft and service businesses cater to these needs. The village offers six restaurants. General and dental practices provide medical care.
Gro\u00df Lindow’s coat of arms features a blue wave. It represents the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Kanal. Two green linden branches symbolize the origin of the name Lindow, which means “linden tree.” Linden trees are still present in the village. New ones have been planted. Gro\u00df Lindow is a place where history and nature intertwine. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of its community.