enlightened prince Frederick Albert completely moved his residence from Bernburg to Ballenstedt Castle and induced a time of prosperity, including the erection of a castle theatre in 1788, the oldest theatre in Saxony-Anhalt and the domain of composers like Albert Lortzing and Franz Liszt. A part of the re-unified Duchy of Anhalt from 1863 on, Ballenstedt became known as a residential town for the well-to-do retired like Princess Friederike of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, who died at Ballenstedt Castle in 1902, or the painter and author Wilhelm von Kügelgen, whose house is now a museum. Politics Seats in the municipal assembly () as of 2004 elections: Christian Democratic Union: 8 (41.2%) The Left: 4 (18.2%) Free Voters: 3 (12.6%) Free Democratic Party: 3 (12.5%) Social Democratic Party of Germany: 1 (7.5%) Independent: 1 (5.4%) The coat of arms is derived from the insignia of the Counts of Ballenstedt, which is also the origin of the coat of arms of Saxony. It was first manifested in 1560 after Ballenstedt received town rights. Places of interest Ballenstedt Castle: Baroque three-winged building, renovated in the 18th century, grave of Albert the Bear Castle Park: created by Peter Joseph Lenné; castle and castle park belong to the Saxony-Anhalt Garden Dreams project Ballenstedt Castle Theatre: played by Albert Lortzing and Franz Liszt Großer Gasthof castle hotel: originally built in 1733 as an armoury, converted in 1756 by the Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel ducal master builder, Martin Peltier de Belfort, into a guest house Local History Museum, opposite the Großer Gasthof in the upper part of the avenue Kügelgen House, Kügelgenstr. 35a Yellow House (Gelbes Haus), on the exit to the town towards Rieder, built as a roadside toll house Allee: representative, a kilometre long approach to the castle, centre point of the town Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus): timber-framed building erected in 1683 New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus): representative building, built in 1906 based on a design by Berlin architect Alfred Messel St. Nicholas' Church: Late Gothic church, built in 1326, burnt down in 1498, rebuilt in 1501 Town wall, can still be seen in Wallstraße Wall towers along the town wall (Oberturm, Unterturm, Marktturm – the latter is accessible, key in the restaurant opposite) Swimming baths, built 1907-08 Teufelsmauer (Harz) Gegensteine nature reserve Bismarck Tower, Opperode Roseburg (castle) Oberhof Ballenstedt Transport Ballenstedt is located at the Bundesstraße (federal highway) 185, leading to the Bundesstraße 6 and the Bundesautobahn 14. Train