Biesenthal

Biesenthal is a town in the district of Barnim in Brandenburg, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Amt ("municipal federation") Biesenthal-Barnim.GeographyThe town is located on the Finow river, about 31km northeast of Berlin (centre). The surrounding Biesenthal Basin is part of the Barnim Plateau and the Barnim Nature Park, characterised by numerous kames and glacial lakes stemming from the Weichselian glaciation.HistoryIn the early Middle Ages, the region was settled by Polabian Slavs. Conquered by the Ascanian margraves of Brandenburg, Bizdal was first mentioned in a 1258 deed. A local parish was already documented in 1265; the present-day fieldstone church was probably erected at this time. The settlement on the Via Imperii trade route to Berlin was vested with market rights by Margrave John V in 1315.