Bad Langensalza

Infobox German Location
image_photo = Bad Langensalza Hungerturm.jpg
image_caption = Hunger Tower
Art = Stadt
Wappen = Wappen_Bad_Langensalza.pnglat_deg = 51 |lat_min = 6 |lat_sec = 29
lon_deg = 10 |lon_min = 38 |lon_sec = 48
Lageplan = Bad Langensalza in UH.pngBundesland = Thuringia
Landkreis = Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis
Höhe = 202
Fläche = 123.11
Einwohner = 18567
Stand = 2006-12-31
PLZ = 99941–99947
PLZ-alt = 5820
Vorwahl = 03603
Kfz = UH
Website = [http://www.bad-langensalza.de/ www.bad-langensalza.de]
Bürgermeister = Bernhard Schönau
Partei = FDP

Bad Langensalza (until 1956: Langensalza) is a city in the County of Unstrut-Hainich, Thuringia, Germany, with a population of c. 18,500 (2006).

History

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

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

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

War again affected the city during 1756-1763, during the Seven Years' War. In 1815 Langensalza became part of the Prussian Province of Saxony. In 1866 it was the site of the Second Battle of Langensalza between Prussia and Hanover during the Austro-Prussian War.American troops occupied the city in 1945.

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 borders National Park Hanich, which was founded in 1999.

Sister cities

* Oostkamp, Belgium
* Bad Nauheim, Germany

External links

* [http://www.bad-langensalza.de/ Official site]