Ballenstedt

As the former ancestral seat of the Ascanians (the dynasty of the great Margrave Albrecht the Bear) and the residence of the Dukes of Anhalt-Bernburg, the history of this city has been closely linked to that of Anhalt’s noble family for over 900 years.

Sights in Ballenstedt

Situated on the 'Romanesque Road', it still exudes a palpable elegance with its architectural and scenic highlights. The Schlossallee, the longest inner-city avenue in Saxony-Anhalt, the castle ensemble with the oldest preserved and performed theater in Germany, are to be mentioned in the first place.

The main attraction for visitors to the city is the castle ensemble on the Schlossplatz with the Residenzschloss, the city's landmark, complemented by the theater, the Marstall and the rebuilt "Grosser Gasthof". As the ancestral seat of the Anhalt dynasty of princes, the palace is also the cradle of Anhalt. Not to be forgotten is the "Garden Dreams" palace park, which was redesigned according to plans by Peter Joseph Lenné around 1858 and delights with its water features based on the Italian model.