Blankenburg (Harz)

Blankenburg (Harz) is a town and health resort in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, at the north foot of the Harz Mountains, southwest of Halberstadt.

It has been in large part rebuilt since a fire in 1836, and possesses a castle, with various collections, a museum of antiquities, an old town hall and churches. There are pine-needle baths and a hospital for nervous diseases. Gardening is a speciality. In the vicinity is a cliff or ridge of rock called Teufelsmauer (Devils Wall), from which fine views are obtained across the plain and into the deep gorges of the Harz.

Geography

The town of Blankenburg (Harz) lies on the northern edge of the Harz mountains at a height of about 234 metres. It is located west of Quedlinburg, south of Halberstadt and east of Wernigerode. The stream known as the Goldbach flows the district of Oesig northwest of the town centre.

Borough divisions

The borough includes the following parishes:

• Börnecke
• Cattenstedt
• Derenburg
• Heimburg
• Hüttenrode
• Timmenrode
• Wienrode

In addition there are the following unofficial names for districts in the town:

• Gehren
• Helsungen
• Michaelstein
• Oesig
• Regenstein
• Sonnenbreite

Neighbouring settlements

Clockwise from the north:

• Municipality of Nordharz
• County town of Halberstadt
• Town of Thale
• Municipality of Oberharz am Brocken
• Town of Wernigerode

History

The first traces of settlement date to the Old Stone Age, but the first recorded mention of Blankenburg goes back...
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