Bad Langensalza

Bad Langensalza
The historical centre of Bad Langensalza

Coat of arms
Bad Langensalza
Location of Bad Langensalza within Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis district
Coordinates: 51°6′29″N 10°38′48″E / 51.10806°N 10.64667°E / 51.10806; 10.64667Coordinates: 51°6′29″N 10°38′48″E / 51.10806°N 10.64667°E / 51.10806; 10.64667
Country Germany
State Thuringia
District Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis
Government
 • Mayor Matthias Reinz (Ind.)
Area
 • Total 123.11 km2 (47.53 sq mi)
Elevation 202 m (663 ft)
Population (2017-12-31)[1]
 • Total 17,305
 • Density 140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 99941–99947
Dialling codes 03603
Vehicle registration UH
Website www.badlangensalza.de

Bad Langensalza (until 1956: Langensalza) is a spa town of 17,500 inhabitants in the district of Unstrut-Hainich, Thuringia, Germany.

History

Langensalza in 1750.

It was first mentioned in historical records ca. 932, as a village named "Salzaha". The town's name was changed to Langensalza ca. 1578, and "Bad" or "Bath" was added to the name in 1956.

In 1075, Langensalza was the site of a battle, in which Emperor Henry IV won over the rebelling Saxons and Thuringians.

The town was plundered and damaged by fires during the Thirty Years' War (c. 1632). Fires again destroyed large parts of the town in 1711, including complete destruction of the town hall, which was rebuilt between 1742-1752.

War again affected the town during 1756-1763, during the Seven Years' War; it was the scene of a battle in February 1761. In 1815 Langensalza became part of the Prussian Province of Saxony. In 1866 it was again the site of a battle between Prussia and Hanover during the Austro-Prussian War.[2]

American troops occupied the town in 1945.

Local council

The elections in May 2014 showed the following results:[3]

Party / ListVote shareSeats
CDU29,4 %7
The Left20,2 %5
SPD14,7 %3
FDP20,4 %5
WIR (=We)15,3 %4

Main sights

Langensalza is something of a tourist spot, with picturesque ruins of a medieval castle, and sulphur baths nearby.

The sulphur baths were discovered in 1811, and opened to the public as a curative bath in 1812. A new version of the public sulphur bath was opened in 1928. Salt and mineral water springs were discovered in 1996, which prompted the opening of many new curative facilities.

Bad Langensalza contains a botanical garden, the Botanischer Garten in Bad Langensalza which opened in 2002, and also borders National Park Hanich, founded in 1999.

International relations

Bad Langensalza is twinned with:

Notable people

Christoph Wilhelm Hufeland

References

  1. ↑ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden, Gemeinschaftsfreie Gemeinde, erfüllende/beauftragende Gemeinden, Verwaltungsgemeinschaft/Mitgliedsgemeinden in Thüringen". Thüringer Landesamt für Statistik (in German). September 2018.
  2. ↑ Wikisource Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Langensalza". Encyclopædia Britannica. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 174.
  3. ↑ Bekanntmachung des Thüringer Landesamt für Statistik, abgerufen am 24. März 2016
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