gewann

Gewann is a term used in the cadastral and land registry systems of German-speaking countries. It designates a defined tract of land within a Flur, which itself is part of a Gemarkung. A Gewann is a cadastral unit used to describe land by its boundaries and use, and it is typically named rather than numbered. The unit often reflects historical field patterns and landscape features.

Geographically, a Gewann may comprise one or more Flurstücke (parcels) and its boundaries are usually tied to older field boundaries, hedges, roads, or natural features. In the land register, the exact location is described by a sequence such as Gemarkung – Flur – Gewann – Flurstück number. Gewanne are common in rural areas where land use has long-standing boundaries; in urban areas they may be less common or less significant for everyday description.

Purpose and usage are primarily administrative and descriptive. Gewanne help organize land for taxation, agricultural planning, and rural land management. They also provide a stable reference in property descriptions, historical land use, and agricultural records. While modern cadastres increasingly rely on precise parcel coordinates, Gewann names and boundaries continue to appear in maps and documents, preserving traditional land-use units and helping to identify contiguous fields or pastures.

Etymology and scope: the term is of Germanic origin and has been used for centuries to denote a defined land area associated with ownership and use. Although its prominence varies by region and over time, Gewann remains a recognizable element of historical and contemporary land description in many German-speaking areas.