Wonder what it was like to live here centuries ago? Welcome to Jürgensgaard. This area whispers tales of medieval settlements and charitable beginnings.
Jürgensgaard is more than just a neighborhood in Flensburg today. It is a place with roots reaching back to the Middle Ages. But let’s dive into Jürgensgaard’s intriguing past.
Imagine a time well before modern Flensburg. Perhaps as early as the High Middle Ages, a small village dotted this landscape. However, this settlement didn’t last. It was abandoned by the 13th century.
Around the same time as the Franciscan monastery was founded in Flensburg’s city center, something else arose here. A hospital was established for those suffering from leprosy and the plague. This was the St. Jürgen Hospital. Monks from the Holy Spirit Monastery cared for the sick here.
During the Reformation, the hospital became part of a larger foundation. It merged with the Holy Spirit Hospital and the Franciscan monastery. The medieval St. Jürgen Hospital was torn down in 1582. However, two plots of land remained.
These plots, belonging to the former hospital, became known as “Jürgensgaarde” by the mid-17th century. The original Jürgensgaard farm likely stood near the old hospital. It probably started as the hospital’s farm.
The area’s name honors Saint George. In Low German and Danish, Saint George is known as Jürgen or Jørgen. The “gaard” part of the name often indicates a manor house in Angeln.
Over time, more farms appeared in the Jürgensgaard area. In 1825, Jürgensgaard had only five residents. By 1840, there were four small farms and two tenant houses. The population grew to 169 by 1871.
During the German Empire, Jürgensgaard grew enough to become its own rural community. This community included areas of today’s Blasberg, Kielseng and Bredeberg. The neighboring St. Jürgen was incorporated in 1874.
Flensburg expanded rapidly, especially with the construction of naval buildings in Mürwik. In 1900, Jürgensgaard was incorporated into Flensburg. This made the entire Jürgensby area part of the city.
The Jürgensgaarder Straße got its official name on September 28, 1900. This centuries-old road connected Jürgensby. But it became insufficient for the growing area. A new road was planned to reach the Mürwik Naval School.
The first section of this new road, Bismarckstraße, was completed around 1911. Bismarckstraße connects much of Jürgensgaard. It also links the district with Fruerlund. Glücksburger Straße remains another key street. It runs from Hafermarkt through Jürgensgaard to Sender.
In 1912, the Zeppelin “Hansa” flew over Flensburg. A photo captured St. Jürgen Church with three “Jürgenshofe” farms nearby. These were the farms of Philipp Lassen, Brix and Lorenzen.
Today, Jürgensgaard is a vibrant part of Flensburg. Remember its origins as a place of both rural life and care for the afflicted. Its story continues to unfold with each passing year.