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 Hexentanzplatz, Thale, Germany
N 51° 44.158 E 011° 01.817
32U E 640192 N 5733622
An old Saxon Cult Site, now a tourist attraction.
Waymark Code: WMPW6V
Location: Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany
Date Posted: 10/28/2015
Views: 13
The "Witches' Dance Floor" in Germany's Harz mountains is an old Saxon cult site, dating back to Pagan days.
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According to folklore, the forest and mountain spirits, called Hagedisen met here for their rituals every year during the night from April 30 to May 1. This date is known in German folklore as Walpurgis Night and pagan rituals honoring the ancient spirits are still celebrated throughout Germany, although the custom has become extremely commercialized, similar to America's Halloween. |
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The site itself is cashing in on the commercialization with a hotel, a restaurant and a theme park.
Main attraction of the park is the Upside-Down Witch-house, surrounded by a group of carvings and up-side-down trees.
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Another attraction is the "Witch's Circle", a sculpture group featuring the devil, his "assistant" Homunculus and Wadelinde, the grandmother of all witches.
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The Devil and the Homunculus are sitting on boulders, inviting visitors to enter the circle.
Witch Wadelinde is pushing the last remaining boulder to complete the circle and to capture all souls within it. It was a rather foggy day, when we visited the place, but that just added to the mythical feeling all around. |
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Additional Requirement?:
Am Ort des Geschehens bin ich mit der Seilbahn von Thale aus gelandet. Mein alter Hund hätte den Weg nach oben nicht mehr geschafft.
What's the Real Story?:
The place really was a Saxon cult site. During excavations in the 19th century, a blood altar used to sacrifice animals was discovered on the mountain top.
However, the myth about the dancing witches only started in the 9th century, when invading Christian Franks prohibited the Saxons from exercising their rituals. According to legend, at Walpurgis Night in 773, King Charlemagne ordered his soldiers to guard the place and not let any Saxons enter. The Saxons, however dresses up as devils and witches riding on broomsticks and scared the Frankish guards away.
Website Source: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
Visit the location. If an action is required, test the action. Post a story and photograph of what happened. Do your best to keep your GPSr out of the photos.
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