Ilfeld

Ilfeld is a village and a former municipality in the district of Nordhausen, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated at the south foot of the Harz, at the entrance to the Bährethal, 8 miles (13 km) north from Nordhausen by the railway to Wernigerode. Since 1 January 2012, it has been part of the municipality of Harztor.

Establishments in 1911

It contains a Lutheran church, a celebrated gymnasium, once a monasterial school, with a fine library. Until 1903 the Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Hanover ran a consistory in Ilfeld competent for the former County of Hohnstein. Furthermore there were manufactures of parquet-flooring, paper and plaster of Paris, while another industry in the town is brewing. It is also of some repute as a health resort.

History

Ilfeld and Neustadt in the Harz were at the core of a County, first named Bilstein, then Ilfeld and from 1160 on – by marriage – County of Hohnstein. By the end of the 13th century the Counts had split their territory among several lines, resulting from repeated divisions among the respective male heirs.