Darlingerode

Darlingerode is a town in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt in Germany. It is situated at the northern edge of the Harz mountains between the well-known timber-work town Wernigerode and Drübeck.

The village has roundabout 2.400 inhabitants, it consists of the southern part Darlingerode itself and the northern Altenrode.

The name of the village may sound strangely familiar, but "darling" isn't its root - it was known as Turincwartesrot in early medieval times, since a man called Turincwart settled down there and inherited or donated the place, buildings, mice and men to the monastery Fulda, between 780 und 820. Perhaps it was deserted for a long time - the first time we hear again of it is 1086, in a paper of Burchard II., bishop of Halberstadt. This date is regarded as the foundation of the village, and, consequently enough, the 900-year-jubilee was celebrated in 1986. It is assumed that Otto III , German king, held a court's day in Darlingerode. In 1517, Martin Luther visited the monastery Himmelpforten near the village. We know that for sure. It is said he argumented there with the head of his order Staupitz about the so-called Ablasshandel. This may be a legend, nevertheless a memorial stone was erected 400 years later there. In 1525 the monastery was taken and nearly destroyed by rebellious peasants from Darlingerode and Wernigerode, the monks fled, returned for some decades, but left it in the end. Nowadays just some remains of the outer walls are to be seen. During the 30-year-war the inhabitants probably were connected with people who fled into the near woods and defied the German, Danish and Swedish soldiers, they were called Harzschützen.

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