Cottbus is the second largest city in the German state of Brandenburg and the political and cultural center of the Lower Sorbian-speaking Sorb minority, with a population of roughly 95,000 to 100,000 as of 2024. Founded when Sorbs built a castle on a sandy island in the River Spree in the 10th century and first documented in 1156, it grew wealthy on wool production and the medieval textile trade; the largest bilingual city in Germany, with street signs in both German and Lower Sorbian, it is home to the Brandenburg University of Technology and to the Cottbuser Ostsee, Germany's largest artificial lake, created by flooding a former lignite mine.
Facts
Area (sq km) Founding Year Founding Year Population Estimate Year Elevation (m) Latitude51.760806 degrees north 1 FAQs
What does the Wendish Museum in Cottbus show?
It presents Sorbian and Wendish history and culture.
The Wendish Museum presents Sorbian and Wendish history and culture. Its exhibition covers prehistory and early history, folk art, visual arts, language, writing, literature, music, folk costumes, way of life and customs, Wendish coins and medals, and the postal history of the Sorbs.
Sources
1. Cottbus (Wikidata)
P1082 (population)
population 95,140 (2025)
P625 (coordinate location)
latitude 51.760806, longitude 14.331861
P2044 (elevation above sea level)
elevation 76 m
P2046 (area)
area 164.28 sq km
P1082 (population), P585 (point in time)
population 95140 (2025)
View the Source2. Cottbus (Wikipedia)
History
The settlement was established in the tenth century, when Sorbs erected a castle on a sandy island in the River Spree.
Source text, founding-year: 1156
The first recorded mention of the town's name was in 1156.
- In Group: Cities of Western Europe (World), Wikipedia; part-of country and UN M49 subregion
View the SourceWikidata: Cottbus
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