Kiel (pop. 235,782) is a major seaport city in northern Germany. It lies near the eastern (Baltic) end of the Kiel Canal, which links the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. Much shipping goes from Kiel to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The city’s other industries include shipbuilding; fish processing; printing; and the manufacture of ceramics, machinery, and precision instruments. Kiel is an important naval training center and the site of Christian-Albrechts University, founded in 1665. It serves as the capital of the state of Schleswig-Holstein.
Count Adolf IV, a German noble, founded Kiel in the 1200’s. Kiel was heavily damaged during World War II (1939-1945). It was rebuilt along modern lines. Its central shopping and commercial district, with streets reserved for pedestrians only, is a model of city planning. The older section includes the Church of St. Nicholas and many cultural facilities.
