{{short description|Borough of Harzgerode in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany}} {{mi| {{One source|date=December 2025}} {{Expand German|date=December 2025 |topic=geo}} }} {{Infobox German place |type = Borough |Town = [[Harzgerode]] |name = Alexisbad |image_coa = |image_photo = Alexisbad Harz, DDR. Former Deutsche Reichsbahn Erholungsheim May 1990.jpg |image_caption = Former [[Deutsche Reichsbahn (East Germany)|Reichsbahn]] recreation home |coordinates = {{coord|51|38|58|N|11|7|1|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}} |state = Saxony-Anhalt |district = Harz |elevation = 310 |area = |population = 52 |Stand = |postal_code = 06493 |area_code = 039484 |licence = HZ, QLB |website = }} <!-- Missing image removed: [[Image:Kapelle alexisbad.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Alexisbad chapel]] --> '''Alexisbad''' is a small [[spa town]], part of [[Harzgerode]] in the [[Harz (district)|district of Harz]], [[Saxony-Anhalt]], [[Germany]].
==Geography== [[File:Alexisbad, Hartz, Germany-LCCN2002713760.jpg|thumb|left|Alexisbad about 1900]] Alexisbad is located about {{convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}} northwest of the Harzgerode town centre on the [[Bundesstrasse 185]] road to [[Ballenstedt]]. It is situated in the valley of the [[Selke (river)|Selke]] river and its [[Schwefelbach]] and [[Friedenstalbach]] tributaries, in the lower eastern outskirts of the [[Harz]] mountain range, about {{convert|310|m|ft|abbr=on}} 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 (hydrosphere)|spring]], is used for [[drinking water]], while the Selkebrunnen supplies the [[bathing|baths]].<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Alexisbad|volume=1|page=577}}</ref> It has its own station on the [[narrow gauge railway|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.{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}}
==History== The Selke valley is the site of the former [[Order of Saint Benedict|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, Holy Roman Emperor|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.
When the Ascanian [[Principality of Anhalt|Princes of Anhalt]] had the region developed as a [[mining]] area, a gallery was excavated for [[pyrite]] in 1692. Mining was resumed under Prince [[Frederick Albert, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg|Frederick Albert of Anhalt-Bernburg]] from 1759 onwards, and [[sulfur]] was produced by [[destillation]]. The healing properties of the waters were first examined in 1766, however, initial attempts to establish a medical care and spa business were not successful. [[File:Alexius Friedrich Christian Fürst von Anhalt-Bernburg.jpg|thumb|Alexius of Anhalt, {{circa|1795}}]] In 1809 Prince Frederick Albert's successor Duke [[Alexius Frederick Christian, Duke of Anhalt-Bernburg|Alexius Frederick Christian Anhalt-Bernburg]] had the waters again analyzed by the physician [[Karl Ferdinand von Graefe]], who stressed the content of [[iodine]], [[fluorine]], and [[iron]]. A spa town including a casino was laid out according to plans by [[Carl Friedrich Schinkel]], who also designed a [[tea house]] for Alexius' consort [[Marie Friederike of Hesse-Kassel|Marie Friederike]], which later was turned into a [[Protestant Church|Protestant]] chapel at the behest of Duchess [[Princess Friederike of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg|Friederike of Anhalt-Bernburg]].
Alexisbad soon became a fashionable health resort. Among the first guests was the composer [[Carl Maria von Weber]] in 1820. On 12 May 1856, the ''[[Verein Deutscher Ingenieure]]'' (Association of German Engineers, VDI) was founded here during a vacation of several academics.
== Tourism == [[File:Köthener Hütte.JPG|thumb|left|Köthen Hut]] The economy of the village is dominated by [[tourism]]. There are several hotels, pensions and restaurants. Hiking trails lead into the attractive local countryside. Typical destinations are:
*The Betrothal Urn (''Verlobungsurne'') - a monument at a good viewing point above the town (checkpoint 177 in the [[Harzer Wandernadel]] hiking system). *The ''Luisentempel'', a [[monopteros]] built in 1823 on a prominent rock above Alexisbad and named after [[Princess Luise of Anhalt-Bernburg]] (1799–1882) *The Köthen Hut (''Köthener Hütte''), checkpoint 195 in the [[Harzer Wandernadel]] hiking system. The hut may be reached on a steep zigzag path that runs from the B 185 road below where there is a small, unsigned, parking bay. Otherwise walkers need to start from Alexisbad, Harzgerode or Mägdesprung.
==Notable people== The author [[Walter Kempowski]] (1929–2007) spent his summer holidays in Alexisbad in 1939. He perpetuated the resort as ''Sophienbad'' in his 1971 autobiographic novel ''[[An Ordinary Youth]]''.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Commons category}}
{{Borough of Harzgerode}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Spa towns in Germany]] [[Category:Harzgerode]] [[Category:Villages in the Harz]]