Princess Ilse, Cultural heritage spring in Ilsenburg, Germany.
Princess Ilse is a mineral spring in the Ilse valley that flows from the ground and continues through the surrounding landscape. The site marks where a historic timber-framed hotel once stood and welcomed visitors for decades.
A hotel named after the spring opened in the valley in 1871 and quickly became a popular destination. After fire destroyed it in 1887, the building was reconstructed several times over the following years.
The spring takes its name from a legend about a princess who vanished into a fairy realm with shimmering palaces. Visitors can sense how the story has woven itself into the character of this natural place over many generations.
The spring is located in the open valley and is relatively easy to reach, especially for hikers on local trails. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and watch for the wet areas created by the flowing water.
The legend was first written down by Marie Petersen in 1850, telling of a woman who lost her way during a chase and entered a fairy realm. This early account gave the story its permanent connection to the spring.
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