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{{About|the town in the Harz Mountains of Germany}}
{{Infobox German location
|type              = Stadt
|image_photo       = Thale asv2018-10 img21 view from chairlift.jpg
|image_caption     = View from Harz range (''[[Roßtrappe]]'')
|image_coa         = DE-ST 15-0-85-330 Thale 1996 COA.svg
|coordinates       = {{coord|51|45|N|11|3|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|image_plan        = Thale in HZ.png
|state             = Sachsen-Anhalt
|district          = Harz
|elevation         = 156
|area              = 137.6
|Gemeindeschlüssel = 15085330
|postal_code       = 06502
|area_code         = 03947, 03946, 039456
|licence           = HZ
|divisions         = 
|website           = [http://www.thale.de/ www.thale.de]
|mayor             = Maik Zedschack<ref>[https://wahlergebnisse.sachsen-anhalt.de/wahlen/bmbm/index.html Bürgermeisterwahlen in den Gemeinden, Endgültige Ergebnisse], [[Statistisches Landesamt Sachsen-Anhalt]], accessed 8 July 2021.</ref>
|leader_term       = 2021&ndash;28
|party             = CDU
}}

'''Thale''' ({{IPA|de|ˈtaːlə|pron}}) is a town in the [[Harz (district)|Harz]] district in [[Saxony-Anhalt]] in central [[Germany]]. Located at the steep northeastern rim of the [[Harz]] mountain range, it is known for the scenic [[Bode Gorge]] stretching above the town centre.

==Geography==
The town is situated on the river [[Bode (river)|Bode]], approximately {{convert|8|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of [[Quedlinburg]]. Served by [[Transdev Sachsen-Anhalt]] trains, [[Thale Hauptbahnhof]] is the terminus of the [[Magdeburg–Thale railway]] line. The town has access to the [[Bundesstraße 6n]] highway.

=== Divisions ===
The town Thale consists of Thale proper and the following ''Ortschaften'' or municipal divisions:<ref name=Hauptsatzung>[https://www.bodetal.de/ihre-stadt-online/fileadmin/upload/B%C3%BCrgerservice/Rathaus_online/Satzungen/Hauptsatzung_2015.pdf Hauptsatzung der Stadt Thale] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127150038/https://www.bodetal.de/ihre-stadt-online/fileadmin/upload/B%C3%BCrgerservice/Rathaus_online/Satzungen/Hauptsatzung_2015.pdf |date=2020-11-27 }}, December 2014.</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Allrode]]
*[[Altenbrak]] (incl. Alsmfeld and [[Wendefurth]])
*[[Friedrichsbrunn]]
*[[Neinstedt]]
*[[Stecklenberg]]
*[[Treseburg]]
*Warnstedt
*[[Weddersleben]]
*[[Westerhausen]]
{{div col end}}

== History ==
[[File:Kloster Wendhusen2.JPG|thumb|left|Wendhusen Abbey, [[westwork]]]]

The settlement of Thale probably emerged at the beginning of the 10th century. It was documented in 936 in connexion with the neighbouring Wendhusen Abbey, which had been founded around 825 AD as a chapter of canonesses (''Kanonissenstift''). Established by an [[Eastphalia]]n comital family and based on the model of [[Herford Abbey]], it was one of the first monasteries in the medieval [[Duchy of Saxony]]. After Queen Dowager [[Matilda of Ringelheim|Matilda]], wife of the late King [[Henry the Fowler]], tried in vain to relocate the convent in 936, it came under the guardianship of the newly established [[Quedlinburg Abbey|Quedlinburg]] chapter.

The adjacent village was first mentioned in a 1231 deed as ''Dat Dorp to dem Dale'' (from 1288 it was given the [[Latin]]ised description ''de valle'', and from 1303 as ''von Thale''). In the late Middle Ages, the estates were held by the Saxon [[County of Regenstein|Counts of Regenstein]], vassals of the [[Bishopric of Halberstadt|Halberstadt prince-bishops]]. The monastery premises were stormed and devastated in 1525 during the [[German Peasants' War]].

From 1445 the records show that there had been an [[ironworks]] in Thale. It was rebuilt from [[Peace of Westphalia|1648]] onwards after the devastations of the [[Thirty Years' War]] as the ''Berghaus zum [[Wild man|Wilden Mann]]'', but was fully destroyed in 1670. After the secularised [[Principality of Halberstadt|Halberstadt]] territories were incorporated by [[Brandenburg-Prussia]], a small [[hammer mill]] was established in 1686 out of which a new ironworks later developed that benefited especially from its proximity to the ore deposits and the availability of wood. It lasted until 1714. In 1740 a business was opened again. For a short time this ironworks was owned by the [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussian]] king [[Frederick the Great]]. 
[[File:Thale Karte 1912.JPG|thumb|left|1912 map of Thale]]
Part of the Prussian [[Province of Saxony]] since 1815, the first wrought-iron wagon axle to be made in the German lands was manufactured here in 1831. In 1835 the oldest sheet steel enamel works in Europe was founded in Thale. Following the town's connexion to the railway network in 1862 with a line to [[Berlin]] the place flourished as did the number of workers. Whilst the  [[iron industry]] had only 350 workers in 1872, by 1905 there were as many as 4,400. In particular, the production of [[Vitreous enamel|enamel]] contributed to Thale's international renown; in its heyday Thale produced no less than 10% of the world's production. In 1910 [[Karl Liebknecht]], [[Rosa Luxemburg]] and [[Clara Zetkin]] spoke to Thale's workers. From 1916 [[Stahlhelm|steel helmets]] were produced in Thale. In the [[World War II]] Thale had the [[monopoly]] on this product (from 1934).

Tourism blossomed from the 19th century onwards in connexion with the [[radon]] rich water of the [[Hubertus Spring]], which had been opened up in 1836. As a result, various literary figures visited the place, including [[Heinrich Heine]] (''[[Die Harzreise]]'') and [[Theodor Fontane]] and especially the Bode Gorge. In addition tourists from Berlin enjoyed the summer resort of Thale. This encouraged the connexion of Thale in 1862 to the railway line from [[Wegeleben]]. In 1909 a branch line from [[Blankenburg (Harz)]] followed. In 1922 the resort was given [[town rights]]. From 12 to 14 June 2009 Thale was the venue for the [[Saxony-Anhalt Day]] held under the motto ''Thale sagenhaft'' ("Legendary Thale"), and attracted around 200,000 visitors.

=== Incorporation of other municipalities ===
Warnstedt was incorporated in 2003.<ref>[https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Laender-Regionen/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Namens-Grenz-Aenderung/2003.html Gebietsänderungen vom 01.01. bis 31.12.2003], [[Statistisches Bundesamt]]</ref> In 2009 a total of seven municipalities were incorporated on four separate dates.<ref>[https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Laender-Regionen/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Namens-Grenz-Aenderung/2009-inklusive-umstellung-januar.html Gebietsänderungen am 01.01.2009], [[Statistisches Bundesamt]]</ref><ref>[https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Laender-Regionen/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Namens-Grenz-Aenderung/2009-januar-dezmber.html Gebietsänderungen vom 02. Januar bis 31. Dezember 2009], [[Statistisches Bundesamt]]</ref> Westerhausen was added in 2010.<ref>[https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Laender-Regionen/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Namens-Grenz-Aenderung/2010.html Gebietsänderungen vom 01. Januar bis 31. Dezember 2010], [[Statistisches Bundesamt]]</ref> Allrode became a part of the town of Thale in 2011.<ref>[https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Laender-Regionen/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Namens-Grenz-Aenderung/2011.html Gebietsänderungen vom 01. Januar bis 31. Dezember 2011], [[Statistisches Bundesamt]]</ref>

The changes in area are shown in a separate table.

{| width="50%" class="wikitable"
! width="50%" bgcolor="#e4e0e4" | Former municipality
! width="50%" bgcolor="#e4e0e4" | Date
|-
| [[Allrode]] || align="center" | 1 January 2011 
|-
| [[Altenbrak]] || align="center" | 1 July 2009 
|-
| [[Friedrichsbrunn]] || align="center" | 23 November 2009 
|-
| [[Neinstedt]] || align="center" | 1 January 2009 
|-
| [[Stecklenberg]] || align="center" | 23 November 2009 
|-
| [[Treseburg]] || align="center" | 1 July 2009 
|-
| Warnstedt || align="center" | 21 December 2003 
|-
| [[Weddersleben]] || align="center" | 1 January 2009 
|-
| [[Westerhausen]] || align="center" | 1 September 2010 
|}

;Area of the town of Thale

{| width="35%" class="wikitable"
! width="70%" bgcolor="#e4e0e4" | Date
! width="30%" bgcolor="#e4e0e4" | Area
|-
| align="center" | 21 December 2003 || align="right" | 38.13&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
|-
| align="center" | 1 January 2009 || align="right" | 50.13&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
|-
| align="center" | 1 July 2009 || align="right" | 78.47&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
|-
| align="center" | 23 November 2009 || align="right" | 102.79&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
|-
| align="center" | 1 September 2010 || align="right" | 120.21&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
|-
| align="center" | 1 January 2011 || align="right" | 137.62&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>
|}

=== Population growth ===
The growth of population ''(from 1995 censuses were taken every 31 December)'':<ref>[http://www.verwaltungsgeschichte.de/quedlinburg.html Contains data up to 1939]</ref>
{|
| valign="top" width="50%" |
* 1825 – 1,406
* 1875 – 3,311
* 1880 – 3,683
* 1890 – 6,292
* 1925 – 13,545
* 1933 – 13,557
* 1939 – 13,520
* 1946 – 18,082 ''(29 October)''
* 1950 – 17,968 ''(31 August)''
* 1960 – 17,391 ''(31 December)''
| valign="top" width="50%" |
* 1971 – 17,620 ''(1 January)''
* 1981 – 16,830 ''(31 December)''
* 1984 – 16,423 ''(31 December)''
* 1990 – 17,560 ''(3 October)''
* 1995 – 16,230
* 2000 – 14,539
* 2001 – 14,167
* 2002 – 13,877
* 2003 – 13,631
|}

== Politics ==

=== Town council ===
{{update section|date=July 2021}}
[[File:Thale Rathaus.jpg|thumb|Thale town hall]]
<small>(according to the official result of the elections for the Thale town council on 7 June 2009; Voter participation: 42.88%, Changes from the previous election in brackets)</small>

* [[Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands|CDU]] – 59.2%, 17 seats (unchanged)
* [[The Left (Germany)|Die Linke]] – 13.3%, 4 seats (unchanged)
* [[Freie Demokratische Partei|FDP]] – 8.2%, 2 seats (+1)
* [[Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands|SPD]] – 7.4%, 2 seats (-1)
* [[Bündnis 90/Die Grünen|GRÜNE]] Bürger Fraktion – 4.9%, 3 seats (+3)
* Wählergruppen – 4.1%, 1 seat (-1)
* Einzelbewerber – 2.9%, 0 seats (-1)

=== Coat of arms ===
The coat of arms was approved on 11 July 1996 by the Magdeburg Regional Council (''Regierungspräsidium'').
<!--
[[Blasonierung]]: „In Silber ein gezinnter blauer Turm mit spitzem goldbeknauften roten Dach und offenem Tor, über dem Tor belegt mit einem silbernen Schild, darin eine rote Hexe auf einem Besen reitend.“

Der Turm stellt die 1340 erwähnte Burg Thale dar, die im 10. Jh. zum Schutz des Klosters Wendhusen erbaut und um 1365 zerstört wurde. Die Hexe im silbernen Schild steht für das allgemein verständliche Symbol des Hexentanzplatzes. Die Entwicklung des Ortes ist eng verbunden mit dem Hexentanzplatz und dem Bodetal. Der Berg hatte bereits eine vorgeschichtliche Bedeutung und war ein Wall der Harzbewohner gegen die feindlichen Heere im dreißigjährigen Krieg. Das offene Tor soll auf die Gastlichkeit des Ortes hinweisen.

=== Historische Wappen ===
==== Wappen zu nationalsozialistischer Zeit ====
Das Wappen wurde am 19. Mai 1937 durch den Oberpräsidenten der Provinz Sachsen verliehen und vom Magdeburger Staatsarchivrat [[Otto Korn]] gestaltet.

Blasonierung: „In Silber ein breiter blauer Torturm mit Zinnen und rotem Satteldach, belegt mit einem von Silber und Rot im Winkelmaßschnitt gevierteten Schilde.“

Der aufgelegte Schild ist der Wappenschild des um 1650 ausgestorbenen Adelsgeschlechts von Thale (van deme Dale, de Valle), dessen namengebender Stammsitz Thale war. Der Turm deutet auf die 1340 erwähnte Burg.

==== Wappen zu DDR-Zeiten ====
Das Wappen wurde 1953 vom Rat der Stadt bestätigt.

Blasonierung: „In Silber ein gezinnter blauer Turm mit spitzem, beknauftem rotem Dach und offenem Tor, über dem Tor ein Silberschild: schräglinks geteilt durch ein rotes Zahnradteil, oben ein aufrechtstehender schwarzer Hammer, unten aus dem Schildrand hervorbrechend eine grüne Tanne.“

Der Turm bezieht sich vermutlich auf eine früher existierende Burg der Herren von dem Dale. Der Inhalt des Schildes symbolisiert einerseits die örtliche Eisenindustrie, andererseits die Harzlandschaft.
-->

=== Partnerships ===
Since 1990 Thale has had a town partnership with [[Seesen]] ([[Lower Saxony]]) on the northwest edge of the Harz and, since 1998, with the French town of [[Juvisy-sur-Orge]], 18&nbsp;km from Paris, as well as [[Tillabéri]] in [[Niger]], northwest of the River Niger.

== Culture and places of interest ==
[[File:Thale St Petrikirche.jpg|thumb|left|upright|St. Peter's Church (1908)]]
[[File:Warnstedt Windmühle.JPG|thumb|upright|Windmill in Warnstedt]]
[[File:Thale asv2018-10 img10 view from Witches Point.jpg|thumb|View from [[Hexentanzplatz (Harz)|Witches' Dancefloor]] above Thale]]
[[File:Hexentanzplatz Bodetal 1900.jpg|thumb|View from the Witches' Dancefloor at Thale around 1900]]
[[File:Emailwandbild Thale.jpg|thumb|Enamel wall picture near [[Thale Central Station]]]]

=== Museums ===
* [[Wendhusen Abbey]] which specialises in the theme of "canoness chapters" (''Kanonissenstifte'')
* [[Thale Smelting Museum]]
* [[Walpurgis Hall]]

=== Buildings ===
* The former [[Wendhusen Abbey]], dating to the Carolingian period
* The [[Hotel Zehnpfund]], built in 1863 and once the biggest summer hotel in Germany
* St. Peter's Church, completed in 1906
* The Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart (''Herz-Jesu-Kirche''), completed in 1910 and 1911
* The prominent windmill in the village of Warnstedt

{{clear left}}

=== Other cultural sites ===
* [[Hexentanzplatz (Harz)|Hexentanzplatz]] ("Witches' Dancefloor")
* Harz [[Mountain Theatre, Thale]]
* Wildlife park (''Tierpark'')
* [[Sommerrodelbahn]]
* Bau-Spiel-Haus
* Funpark
* Central Theater (cinema)
* [[Homburg Watchtower]] (''Homburgswarte'')

=== Natural monuments ===
* [[Bode Gorge]] - Thale is the gateway to the Bode Gorge which is overlooked by the [[Hexentanzplatz (Harz)|Hexentanzplatz]] ("Witches' Dancefloor"), accessible on the [[Bode Gorge Gondola Lift]], and the [[Roßtrappe]], to which a [[Roßtrappe Chair Lift|chair lift]] runs. At the ''Hexentanzplatz'' is a large open-air theatre and a zoo.
* [[Teufelsmauer (Harz)|Teufelsmauer]] - near the villages of [[Weddersleben]] and Warnstedt lies the Teufelsmauer, one of the oldest [[nature reserves in Germany]].
* [[Harz Witches' Path]] - The Harz Witches' Path (''Harzer Hexenstieg''), a long-distance footpath, runs from Thale for just under 100&nbsp;km across the Harz to [[Osterode am Harz|Osterode]], passing various sights along the way including the [[Brocken]], [[Torfhaus]], [[Dammgraben]] and the [[Upper Harz Ponds]].

==Population history==

{|
| valign="top" width="25%" |
* 1825 - 1,406
* 1910 - 15,000
* 1939 - 13,535
* 1946 - 18,082
* 1950 - 17,968
| valign="top" width="25%" |
* 1960 - 17,391
* 1971 - 17,620
* 1981 - 16,830
* 1984 - 16,423
* 1999 - 15,153
|}

==Media==
Thale is the setting of [[Theodor Fontane]]'s novel ''Cécile''. Fontane stayed in Thale a number of times between 1868 and 1884.

=== Sons and daughters of the city ===
* [[Bernhard Rensch]] (1900–1990), evolutionary biologist, zoologist, behavioral researcher, neurophysiologist and philosopher
* [[Albrecht Becker]] (1906–2002), production designer, photographer and actor 
* [[Harald Duschek]] (born 1956), ski jumper
* [[Volker Herold]] (born 1959), actor

=== Personalities associated with Thale ===
[[File:Theodor Fontane.png|thumb|150px|Theodor Fontane in 1883]]
* [[Friedrich Wilhelm Leopold Pfeil]] (1783–1859), forestry scholar, spent time relaxing and hunting in the forest near Thale
* [[Theodor Fontane]] (1819–1898) stayed in Thale 1868, 1877, 1881, 1882, 1883 and 1884, wrote the novel playing in Thale ''Cécile'' 
* [[Karl Bonhoeffer]] (1868–1948), psychiatrist, neurologist, medical expert, married to Paula von Hase, had a summer house in [[Friedrichsbrunn]] since 1913 
* [[Hans Schemm]] (1891–1935), NSDAP-Gauleiter, directed the bacteriological-chemical laboratory Hubertusbad until 1921
* [[Axel von dem Bussche]] (1919–1993), officer and resistance fighter, knight-owner in Thale
* [[Werner Oberländer]] (1921–2002), footballer at Stahl Thale and [[Eintracht Braunschweig]], with both clubs he played at the highest level of football
* [[Gojko Mitić]] (born 1940), actor, played various roles in the Harz mountain theater
* [[Leni Riefenstahl]] (1902–2003), Nazi film director and actress, attended girls' boarding school in the village

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{EB1911 poster|Thale}}
{{wikivoyage|Thale}}
{{portal|Harz}}
* [http://www.bodetal.de/index.php Official site for the City of Thale], with tourist info, etc.

{{Cities and towns in Harz (district)}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Thale| ]]
[[Category:Towns in the Harz]]