Counter stones
The counter stones , consisting of the large and the small counter stone, are two distinctive, free-standing rock formations of the devil's wall in the urban area of Ballenstedt in the Harz foreland, in the Harz district of Saxony-Anhalt .
Geographical location
The counter stones are located in the northern Harz foreland of the Harz / Saxony-Anhalt Nature Park . In the south-eastern spur of the Teufelsmauer they rise between Ballenstedt in the south and the somewhat distant district of Badeborn in the north, mostly only a few meters above their surroundings. North lies the district Asmusstedt the airfield Ballenstedt . To the west-south-west, the Schierberge also join as a part of the Teufelsmau , which like the Gegensteine belong to the Gegensteine – Schierberg nature reserve .
description
The large counter stone ( 243.6 m above sea level ; ⊙ ) can be climbed using steps and stairs cut into the rock. A cross was erected on its summit in 1863 on behalf of the Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg, which was renewed in 1993. From the summit you can enjoy a wide view of the Harz foreland and the Hochharz.
The Kleine Gegenstein (approx. 230 m above sea level ; ⊙ ) is about 450 m west of the Großer Gegenstein . To the north of it was a site in GDR times that was used by the Society for Sport and Technology for training purposes (including driving school); the Ballenstedt shooting and motorsport facility is now located there .
fairy tale
The counter stones are mentioned in the fairy tale Die Gegensteine by Friedrich Gottschalck .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Map services of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation ( information )
- ↑ Friedrich Gottschalck : Fairy tales The counterstones , in The sagas and folk tales of the Germans , Halle 1814
