Hexentanzplatz

The Hexentanzplatz in the Harz mountains is a plateau, which lies high above the Bode Gorge, opposite the Rosstrappe in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.HistoryThe Hexentanzplatz is reputedly an Old Saxon cult site, at which celebrations were held in honour of the so-called Hagedisen, particularly on the night of 1 May. The place did not become known as the Hexentanzplatz until the cult was banned by the invading Christian Franks. According to tradition the site was guarded by Frankish soldiers in order to enforce the ban and they were chased off by Saxons dressed as witches and riding on broomsticks. Another old Saxon cult site is found on the Brocken.Above the Hexentanzplatz are the remains of the Sachsenwall, a wall of granite rocks and possibly part of a larger fortification, more than 1,500 years old.TourismSince the middle of the 19th century there has been a mountain hotel of the same name on the Hexentanzplatz.On the plateau is the Thale Mountain Theatre (Bergtheater Thale) one of the oldest open-air theatres in Germany with 1,350 seats, which was founded in 1903 by Ernst Wachler.In the Walpurgishalle Museum, built by painter Hermann Hendrich, the legends of the surrounding Harz mountains and scenes from Goethe’s Faust are brought to life. A sacrifice stone (Opferstein) is also exhibited there, which recalls ancient fertility rites.