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Blankenburg kennel Div. of EFW Inc "Training with the Gentle Touch" |
Dedicated to the Memory
of My Beloved Dad
( 1931 - 1993)
"Time flies, suns rise and shadows fall. Let them go by ... Love is forever"
He
loved the Harz Mountains, where he was born and raised; he loved nature; and he
loved dogs. I can picture him reunited with all the ones he lost at the Rainbow
Bridge, especially Molly, the German Shepherd, his childhood companion...
Blankenburg
is where his family's roots started in the early 1600's.
A
short historical
description of this beautiful city, which is nestled in the foothills of the
Harz Mountains, Germany:
Blankenburg's
first recorded documentation dates back to 1123 AD, when Lothar von
Supplingenburg erected a castle near the village. In the middle of the 12th
century during a fight between Barbarrossa, King of the Stauffen and his
opponent Heinrich the Lion, King of the Welfen, the castle was completely
destroyed. In 1181 Barbarrossa gave the area as a fief to the Earls of
Blankenburg and the "House of the Earls of Blankenburg" , and along with it the
town, were established. The new founded town was surrounded by a 1.5 km long
wall with 42 watch-towers and 3 gates, to protect Blankenburg against the
Bishops of Halberstadt.
Since
almost all of the trading routes of the Eastern regions of the Harz Mountains
passed through the area, the Earls took advantage of this by charging dues to
all traders for granting safe passage. From the profits they built a new castle
in place of the destroyed one. During the time to follow until the 16th century
it evolved into a notable Renaissance castle, later to be modified as a Baroque
castle.
In
the 1800's the town realized its possibilities for economical stability by
opening health baths and spas. Today the town still remains a known health
resort.
For
more information on Blankenburg visit its Website at
http://www.harztourist.de/wettbewerb/frameeng.htm