Markranstädt () is a town in the Leipzig district, in Saxony, Germany. It is situated 11 km southwest of the city of Leipzig and has close to 15,000 inhabitants. Geography Location Markranstädt is located about south-west of Leipzig city centre, between Saxony-Anhalt and the Leipzig housing estate , to the west of the Kulkwitzer See. It is the only municipality in the Landkreis Leipzig that lies west of the city. Divisions Markranstädt is a municipality consisting of the town itself and the following six Ortschaften (localities), each containing several Ortsteile or divisions: Frankenheim (incl. Lindennaundorf and Priesteblich) Großlehna (incl. Altranstädt) Göhrenz (incl. Albersdorf) Kulkwitz (incl. Gärnitz and Seebenisch) Quesitz (incl. Döhlen and Thronitz) Räpitz (incl. Meyhen, Schkeitbar and Schkölen) History The first documentary mention of Markranstädt was in 1285 as the seat of a court. Probably founded as a subsidiary settlement of the neighbouring monastic settlement Altranstädt, it was mentioned as a marketplace in 1287 and as a small town in 1354. The name is also derived from its foundation: it was founded as Ranstädt (ran = "place on cleared land"), while meanwhile Ranstädt became known as Altranstädt (literally "Old Ranstadt"). Ranstädt then obtained the right to hold markets, hence the current name "Markranstädt". In the year 1633, during the Thirty Years War, the town was burned by the . The fire destroyed, amongst other buildings, the town hall and all its records. The plague epidemic of 1634 and the famine of 1639 led to a drastic population decline. In the year 1650 Markranstädt numbered fewer than 150 inhabitants. The next local disaster happened in 1671, as 31 houses were destroyed by a large fire. At the beginning of the 18th century the town began to recover again. In 1706 and 1707, the "Treaties of Altranstädt" were signed. Markranstädt had its brush with world history on 23 July 1807, when Napoléon Bonaparte, together with his entourage, stayed overnight in the guesthouse Zum Rosenkranz. In the course of the Völkerschlacht in 1813 the town was once again adversely affected. Markranstädt experienced an economic boom toward the end of the 19th century. It was concentrated in the furrier business, but machine-building flourished also. A car factory and Markranstädter Brewery were established. The town was well known until World War II for Markranstädter Pilsener beer. Culture There are frequent musical events in the local church and the town celebrates the "Kinderfest" yearly, which