Alexisbad

Alexisbad
Borough of Harzgerode
Former Reichsbahn recreation home
Alexisbad
Coordinates: 51°38′58″N 11°7′1″E / 51.64944°N 11.11694°E / 51.64944; 11.11694Coordinates: 51°38′58″N 11°7′1″E / 51.64944°N 11.11694°E / 51.64944; 11.11694
Country	Germany
State	Saxony-Anhalt
District	Harz
Town	Harzgerode
Elevation	310 m (1,020 ft)
Population
• Total	42
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	06493
Dialling codes	039484
Vehicle registration	HZ, QLB

Alexisbad is a small spa town, part of Harzgerode in the district of Harz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

Alexisbad is located about 2 km (1.2 mi) northwest of the Harzgerode town centre on the Bundesstrasse 185 road to Ballenstedt. It is situated in the valley of the Selke river and its Schwefelbach and Friedenstalbach tributaries, in the lower eastern outskirts of the Harz mountain range, about 310 m (1,020 ft) above sea level. The settlement is surrounded by the Harz/Saxony-Anhalt Nature Park.

In earlier years, the spa town was known for its medicinal waters, of which the Alexisbrunnen, an iron-rich spring, is used for drinking water, while the Selkebrunnen supplies the baths. It has its own station on the narrow gauge steam railway section from Gernrode to Harzgerode, which is part of the historic Selke Valley Railway network operated by the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways company.

The Selke valley is the site of the former Benedictine Hagenenrod Abbey, a filial monastery of Nienburg Abbey founded in 975. The Nienburg monks obtained market, minting and customs rights by King Otto III in 993. About 1000, the local Schwabengau counts of Ballenstedt, progenitors of the noble House of Ascania, served as Vogt protectors. Though the estates were placed under protection by Pope Alexander III in 1179, the monks later resettled to Naumburg and the premises, devastated during the German Peasants' War in 1525, decayed.