Ballenstedt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Country | Germany |
| State | Saxony-Anhalt |
| District | Quedlinburg |
| Population | 7,978 (June 30, 2005) |
| Area | 57.03 km² |
| Population density | 140 /km² |
| Elevation | 236 m |
| Coordinates | 51°43′ N 11°13′ E |
| Postal code | 06493 |
| Area code | 039483 |
| Licence plate code | QLB |
| Mayor | Wolfgang Schneider (FDP) |
| Website | www.ballenstedt.de |
Ballenstedt is a town in Germany. It belongs to the district of Quedlinburg in Saxony-Anhalt. The German touristic route Straße der Romanik leads through Ballenstedt.
The castle in Ballenstedt was the seat of the Ascanian dynasty of rulers. The most prominent Ascanian Albert I of Brandenburg founded the Mark Brandenburg in the year 1157, and was its first Markgraf. Albert I held, like his father, the title Graf von Ballenstedt. Albert I's grave lies within the gates of the Ascanian monastery in Ballenstedt. A monument for Albert is located in the city park.
Ballenstedt became known as a residential town for the retired. The former house of painter and author Wilhelm von Kügelgen and the castle are now museums. The Ballenstedt castle theatre is the oldest theatre in Saxony-Anhalt.
Ballenstedt is also the seat of the Verwaltungsgemeinschaft ("collective municipality") Ballenstedt/Bode-Selke-Aue, which consists of the following municipalities (population in 2005 between brackets):
- Ballenstedt * (7.978)
- Ditfurt (1.832)
- Hausneindorf (831)
- Hedersleben (1.740)
- Heteborn (396)
- Radisleben (473)
- Wedderstedt (470)
