Heilbad Heiligenstadt
Fantastic things:
The historic capital of the Eichsfeld region (population approx. 17,000) is located in the centre of Germany. With many well-preserved traditional buildings, additional modern buildings and much greenery, this neat and well-kept town invites you to go for a stroll. Spa treatments for diseases of the musculoskeletal system and cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic and psychosomatic disorders.
Enchanting places:
Hanstein Castle Ruin, Gleichenstein Castle (bird of prey show), Teufelskanzel and the tidy villages in this charming low mountain landscape with their Baroque churches.
Hanstein Castle in the Eichsfeld region. No matter from which direction you approach the old Hanstein Castle... rising above a giant rock formation with its defiant towers, it appears like the ghost of an armoured knight. From ancient times, the castle has been considered the guardian of the Werra Valley and it is one of the most picturesque and romantic castle ruins in the heart of Germany. From the Southern tower, you may enjoy the panorama of the beautiful Eichsfeld region, the Brocken in the Harz Mountains and the Meißner Mountain landscape. The castle's 700th anniversary was celebrated in 2008. Initiated in the 1990s, the Medieval Festival traditionally takes place on the first weekend in August and, as always, will be the highlight event of the year. Visitors may look forward to Sascha Borysenko and his stuntmen group and their exciting performance fight on the battlement. At Hanstein Castle, people young and old will feel transported back to the Middle Ages. Travelling merchants offer their wares; craftsmen exhibit historic crafts and children may sometimes participate. Players amuse the crowds with music and all kinds of entertainment and the air is filled with the aromas of sweet and savoury specialties. Additional planned events at the castle will be announced on time at www.burghanstein.de.
Enchanting places:
Theodor Storm Literature Museum - with storyteller (by appointment)
Eichsfeld Museum of Local History - Strecker Bird Collection
Guided city tour by night with night watchman
In Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Tilman Riemenschneider was born around 1460, Heinrich Heine was baptised and Theodor Storm lived and worked here as district judge from 1856 to 1864.
Some fairy tales from our region include Snow-White, Rose-Red and the Bear, The Wishing-Table and Rumpelstiltskin. Accommodations at the Klausenhof Hotel in the Brothers Grimm rooms (contact for special offers).
After a visit to Hanstein Castle, it is worth your while to stop in at the old Klausenhof Inn located below the castle. In the historic restaurant rooms, in the Knights' Hall and the medieval tavern with stone oven, fountain and public bath, you may feel the whiff of centuries gone by blow through the cracks. Here, on the old escort road connecting the Werra and the Leine Valleys, travellers and wanderers have found shelter and accommodations for centuries. From sleeping on straw with your sleeping bag to lodging in the castle Kemenaten or accommodation in the Prince's Room, there is something for every taste. Nature lovers get to explore the charming landscape on the ‘green band' with a hike all around Höheberg Hill to Lindewerrablick, to Teufelskanzel or to the canemaker village Lindewerra, on bicycle along the Werra-Leine bicycle route or by boat on the Leine and Werra Rivers. Enjoy Eichsfeld hospitality with a stop at the romantic lime tree garden at the Klausenhof Inn where you may listen to the birds sing from the early morning hours to nightfall, enjoy a refreshing drink, Eichsfeld sausage specialties and flavourful dishes of the regional fresh herb cuisine. In their Eichsfeld Sausage and Home Butchering Museum, the Röhrig family shows how the traditional Eichsfelder Feldgieker sausage specialty is made; other museums open to visitors are the Old Cartwright Shop and Hanstein
Castle Garden with Museum Vineyard.
Phone: 03606/677145
Fax: 03606/603079
eMail: verkehrsverband_heiligenstadt@t-online.de
www.heilbad-heiligenstadt.de
