Suggested changes to copy of article Ballenstedt in English Ballenstedt is a town which is located on the northern edge of the eastern Harz Mountains It belongs to the Queslinburg district kreis in Saxony Anhalt A Roman style road leads into Ballenstedt In Ballenstedt there is a castle which was the seat of the Ascanian family The founder was Albert I of Brandenburg who in 1157 was the first Markgraf of the Brandenburg March Mark Albert I like his father held the title Graf von Ballenstedt Albert I s grave lies within the Ascanian monastery in Ballenstedt In the city park a monument to Albert is located built from Frithjof Meussling Ballenstedt is noted for more than its cemetary The former house of Luegelgens next to the castle Schlosss serves today as a museum Also the castle Schloss is used as a museum The Ballenstedter Schloss Theater is the oldest theatre in Saxony Anhalt After the change of 1989 the first democratically selected mayor of Ballenstedt Wolfgang Gurke changed the destiny of the city considerably Likewise for many years the prominent family Kiep resided whose members include Ottl Kiep diplomat and Walther Leisler Kiep