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Ilsenburg (Harz)

Ilsenburg
Ilsenburg about 1900
Ilsenburg about 1900
Coat of arms of Ilsenburg
Coat of arms
Ilsenburg   is located in Germany
Ilsenburg
Ilsenburg
Coordinates: 51°52′0″N 10°41′0″E / 51.86667°N 10.68333°E / 51.86667; 10.68333Coordinates: 51°52′0″N 10°41′0″E / 51.86667°N 10.68333°E / 51.86667; 10.68333
Country Germany
State Saxony-Anhalt
District Harz
Government
 • Mayor Denis Loeffke (CDU)
Area
 • Total 63.10 km2 (24.36 sq mi)
Elevation 267 m (876 ft)
Population (2015-12-31)
 • Total 9,475
 • Density 150/km2 (390/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 38865–38871
Dialling codes 039452, 03943
Vehicle registration HZ

Ilsenburg is a town in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt in Germany. It is situated under the north foot of the Harz Mountains, at the entrance to the Ilse valley with its little river, the Ilse, a tributary of the Oker, about six 6 miles (9.7 km) north-west of the town of Wernigerode. It received town privileges in 1959. Owing to its surrounding of forests and mountains as well as its position on the edge of the Harz National Park, Ilsenburg is a popular tourist resort.

The old castle, Schloss Ilsenburg, lying on a high crag above the town, was originally an imperial stronghold and probably built by King Henry I. In 995 Emperor Otto III resided in Elysynaburg, which Henry II bestowed in 1003 upon the Bishop of Halberstadt, who converted it into a Benedictine monastery. The school attached to it enjoyed a great reputation towards the end of the 11th century. The abbey was finally devastated during the German Peasants' War in 1525.

After the Reformation the castle passed to the counts of Wernigerode, who restored it and made it their residence until 1710. Higher still, on the edge of the plateau rises the Ilsenstein, a granite peak standing about 500 ft (150 m) above the valley, crowned by an iron cross erected by Count Anton von Stolberg-Wernigerode in memory of his friends who fell in the Napoleonic Wars of 1813-1815. Around this rock cluster numerous legends.


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Wikipedia

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