ZERBST  , a

town of Germany, in the duchy of Anhalt, situated on the Nuthe, II m . N.W. of Dessau and 27 M . S.E. of Magdeburg by the railway Dessau-Leipzig . Pop . (1900) 17,095 . It is still surrounded in part by old walls and bastions, while other portions of the whilom fortifications have been converted into pleasarit promenades . It contains five churches, one of which (St Nicholas), built in 1446-88, is a good example of the late Gothic style as developed in Saxony, with its spacious proportions, groined vaulting, and bare simple pillars . The town hall dates from about 148o, but it was disfigured by additions in the beginning of the 17th century . It contains the municipal museum, among the chief treasures of which is a Luther Bible illustrated by Lucas Cranach the younger . The palace (1681—1750) has been used as a depository of archives since 1872 . There are several quaint old houses, with high gables, in the market-place, in the middle of which stand a Roland column, of about 1445, and a bronze figure known as the Butterjungfer (butter-girl), of uncertain origin and meaning, but now regarded as the palladium of the town . The old Franciscan monastery, with fine cloisters, founded in 1250, contains the gymnasium; a Cistercian nunnery of 1214 has been converted into barracks; and the Augustinian monastery of 1390 has been a hospital since 1525 .

Gold and silver articles, silk, plush, cloth, leather, soap, starch, chemicals and carriages are among the chief manufactures . Iron-founding is carried on; and several breweries are engaged in the preparation of Zerbster bitter beer, which enjoys considerable repute . Zerbst is an ancient town, mentioned in 949 . In 1307 it came into the possession of the Anhalt family, and from 1603 till 1793 was the capital of the collateral branch of Anhalt-Zerbst . In 1/93 it passed to Anhalt-Dessau .