1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Wurzen

WURZEN, a town of Germany in the kingdom of Saxony, on the Mulde, here crossed by two bridges, 15½ m. by rail N.E. of Leipzig on the main line (via Riesa) to Dresden. Pop. (1905) 17,212. It has a cathedral dating from the 12th century, a castle, at one time a residence of the bishops of Meissen and now utilized as law courts, several schools and an agricultural college. The industries comprise iron-founding, weaving and brewing, and the making of machinery, carpets, cigars, furniture, leather and paper.

Wurzen was founded by the Sorbs, and was a town early in the 12th century, when Herwig, bishop of Meissen, founded a monastery here. In 1581 it passed to the elector of Saxony, and in the Thirty Years' War was sacked by the Swedes.